Changing factual information into your own words HELP

[nutcracker]

Ok, I am doing my structered questions assignment, about the cell and all the different bits in it.

I am really struggling though, to change the info from books into my own words, as obviously the way they describe it is correct and put far better than I can put it.

I can use quotes and have done, but at this rate each answer will be one huge quote.

Have tried reading and then closing the book to rewrite in my own words, but as son as the book closes, i can't remember a damn thing.

Access a theasaurus?

If they describe it from inside out, why not describe from outside in to help you break the structure of the books description.

Much sympathy. Facts are tough to re-word(!)

It is regarded as plagiarism even if you do not use the exact words but follow the main theme of the work.

But you can't change the main theme of the work Jazzi, thats impossible. If a book is explaining the function of the mitochondria organelle, then there is only so much of it I can put into my own words isn't there.

I have used to quotes to describe the main functions, and any majorly important bits, but I am really struggling with how to write anything else without it either being a quote or just a rehash of the words in the book.

God this is hard, who's idea was it for me to do this again ?

try using images eg engine, fuel, waste products etc - and break down into little bits rather than remember it in one go?

How do you mean? are you trying to write it into 'laymans terms?'

I have to describe the functions of all of the organelles in a cell ie mitochondria, ribosomes etc etc.

I am okish at describing the structure of each one as the descriptions of those can be more flexible and more easily reworded, but the function can't really be changed into my words, because it is how it is.

Am i making any sense at all lol.

Think i need a lunch break.

The function tends to have lots of terms in it that can't be changed, is what I mean, so surely then it has to be a quote ?

Just write it as it is then, but make sure that you reference the book in the your reference list.

Are you concerned about talking in a jargon that you dont normally use and thinking it will look odd?

If so- dont, - for example if you say

'mitochondrion is a membrane enclosed organelle found in most eukaryotic cells etc etc-'

although to you it may just look like 'jargon'- its better than putting 'mitochondrion is found in a cell'

As long as you reference it, you will get marks ( good way to practice referencing aswell)

I did the same assignment and felt that if I wrote too much- it would look as it I had just copied it from a book and did not understand it- but in hindsight, I wish I had done just that- because the few people that did, got better marks.

Its all about referencing and quoting your sources- even if you copy it word for word- as long as you reference it you will be ok!

Yes thats exactly it emma. I've gone to write a few things and thought, 'no way will they think i have written that and had a clue what it meant'.

I am worried about going into too much or not enough detail.

We haven't been shown how to do the referencing yet, which i think is quite bad tbh, as some people there haven't got a clue how to do it. I have a vague idea and some old handouts o it from before, but most have no clue.

Keep a reference folder open as you write and put everything you use in there as you go along.

You'll get the hang of it, there are some good online guides, though make sure they tie in with the way your tutors expect it to be done.

You can make slight changes to the order of words in the sentence, then just put (Earthymama,2007)after it, then not everything is a direct quote, but you are acknowledging your sources. (As long as you are only using the one book that I've written in 2007, of course!)

Why teach Referencing AFTER giving an assignment! [hmmm]

Christ knows earthymamma. Our study skills teacher has been sked to cover it for the past 3 weeks running, and still hasn't.

Instead we have been learning about note taking, which yep is important but not right now.

Think I might call it a day and start again tommorow, I am to stressed out now, and the kids will be home soon.

Right nutty- im just doing our dinner.

I will do a brief explanation of referencing later- you will get marks for it. Students at our uni FAIL assignments solely on the referencing so its good to get an idea.

Dont worry that it looks as if its impossible that you could ever know the correct terminology for anatomy etc- they are more concerned that are finding the correct info and putting it into the assignment.

Cheers emma

Basically - as an example you would put in brackets after your quotes, the author and the year that the book/journal was published

blah blah blah blah (Watts, 2007)

and then in your reference list you would put the author, year, title, town/city of book publisher and then book publisher

example

Watts E, 2007, talking bollocks on the internet Birmingham, Birmingham publishing.

For your assignment, if you are using a chunk of info, just put your reference in at the end of your paragraph. ( they are not expecting you to be shit hot at it yet)

With regards to writing to much indepth info about something- you cant be marked down for too much info, dont worry about waffling about stuff that you may have no clue about- as long as you are looking at the right stuff, you will be ok.

sorry

Watts E, 2007 talking bollocks on the internet, Birmingham, Birmingham Publishing

Sorry to hijack but Boondle - get yourselfback to teh school/university thread as I want to know if I knew you at UWIST!

any good nutty? did my 'crash course' in referencing help or hinder you????

Thanks emma, it did help. I feel a bit more like i know what i am doing now.

Got to do my english homework over the weekend, but i like english so i'm not overly worried about that as the tutor thought my first piece was brilliant