Step 1: Reading the Information Carefully
Step 2: Make sure you understand the vocabulary, points and themes of the piece.
Step 3: Take a break from the material. Digest the information, make it part of your knowledge base by applying already known personal knowledge and experiences.
Step 4: Write out what the article talks about as though you were talking to someone about the article without the article open.
Step 5: Compare grammar and vocabulary to make sure it is phrased in your unique communication style and structure.
Step 6: Give credit to unique ideas by citations. *If information is common knowledge no citation is needed even if found in an article.
Handymandanonline This is a good website that checks for similarities in language and vocabulary between the original work and the paraphrasing to preserve original scholarly content.
