In order to further conduct research, students need to experience paraphrasing. They should be able to summarize a text. These texts may be presented in a speech, audio recording, photograph, chart or graph, to name a few. Even when they are paraphrasing, students should cite their summary or paraphrasing appropriately. Shoose the correct paraphrased summary of a speech, photograph, graph, or chart below: Today, technology is all around us. It seems as if everyone has a cell phone or other electronic device. When you go to the store, everyone is looking down at their cell phones. No one... Show more

In order to further conduct research, students need to experience paraphrasing. They should be able to summarize a text. These texts may be presented in a speech, audio recording, photograph, chart or graph, to name a few. Even when they are paraphrasing, students should cite their summary or paraphrasing appropriately.

Shoose the correct paraphrased summary of a speech, photograph, graph, or chart below:

Today, technology is all around us. It seems as if everyone has a cell phone or other electronic device. When you go to the store, everyone is looking down at their cell phones. No one talks anymore. People depend on cell phones too much for entertainment, for socializing and for school work.

When children or even adults get bored, the first thing they turn to are their cell phones to play video games or search the Internet. After conducting a survey in my classroom of 4th graders, 75% of the students claimed they played noneducational video games after school every day for at least one hour. That would be a total of at least thirty hours a month just wasting time with video games. Time could be spent entertaining themselves doing other activities like reading a good book or running and playing with friends. Entertaining themselves with video games on the cell phone could be replaced with a more productive activity.

Instead of speaking face-to-face with people, many people would rather text or email friends in their spare time. “Communication is important to be successful when a person can see the other person’s body language. People also can fully understand the message implied by the other person by analyzing their tone of voice and facial expressions,” states Carolyn Beddy who is a communications expert. When a person can’t see their complete body, a person may miss part of the message being relayed to them. Even when speaking over Skype or video call, it still is not as effective as speaking to someone in person. You would be able to see their hand gestures and attitude by looking at someone when they are directly in front of you.

For school work, students resort to their cell phones instead of using their brains. Even though computers can do a lot of things, no technological device can think or reason. People must still think for themselves. Even though they may consult the Internet for information, they must still think about how they are going to answer questions on a worksheet. The computer can’t provide an exact answer that requires the student’s thoughts. Therefore, students may use the Internet on their cell phones to help with their homework, but it is not a replacement for their brain.

To conclude, people spend way too much time on their phones. Entertainment and social events should be done in person. Doing schoolwork requires thinking and a brain, not necessarily a computer. Next time you are waiting at a doctor’s appointment, talk to the people next to you. You might be able to make a new friend.

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Grade 4 English Speaking / Listening - Paraphrasing texts, recordings and visuals

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10 Questions

1. Look at the chart. Which of the following paraphrases the third column?

The apple consists of about five things.An apple has many different vitamins in them.An apple gives you energy through its calories.The eight minerals in an apple make it healthy for a person.

2. Look at the picture. Which of the following paraphrases the picture?

Gardening is usually done in the country on a farm.People can have a garden on the rooftop in a major city.People use wheelbarrows when gardening.Growing vegetables is a great way to be healthy.

3. Read the speech - Do People Depend on their Cell Phones Too Much?
Which of the following statements paraphrases the second paragraph in the speech?

Students need to use their brain and think instead of using a cell phone to help with schoolwork.People play video games too much when they could be doing something more worthwhile.It is better to learn a message from someone by standing face-to-face with them.Cell phones are being used too much for fun, communicating and for school assignments.

4. Look at the chart. Which of the following paraphrases the first column?

An apple has many different vitamins in it.An apple gives you energy through its calories.The apple consists of about five things.The eight minerals in an apple make it healthy for a person.

5. Read the speech - Do People Depend on their Cell Phones Too Much?
Which of the following statements paraphrases the fourth paragraph in the speech?

It is better to learn a message from someone by standing face-to-face with them.Students need to use their brain and think instead of using a cell phone to help with schoolwork.Cell phones are being used too much for fun, communicating and for school assignments.People play video games too much when they could be doing something more worthwhile.

6. Read the speech - Do People Depend on their Cell Phones Too Much?
Which of the following statements paraphrases the first paragraph in the speech?

Students need to use their brain and think instead of using a cell phone to help with schoolwork.People play video games too much when they could be doing something more worthwhile.It is better to learn a message from someone by standing face-to-face with them.Cell phones are being used too much for fun, communicating and for school assignments.

7. Look at the picture. Which of the following paraphrases the picture?

Children are cooling off in the fountains on a hot day.Children are running between fountains for fun.Children decided to get dressed to play in the fountains.Fountains provide water to drink.

8. Look at the pie graph. It shows how much money was spent on insurance, bills, taxes and salaries. It also shows how much money was gained in profit for a business. Which of the following paraphrases the pie graph?

Most of the money was spent on outgoings and only a small amount was gained for the business.Only a small amount of money was spent on outgoings, but the business made a large profit.The least amount of money spent was on salaries.More money was spent on taxes than anything else.

9. Read the speech - Do People Depend on their Cell Phones Too Much?
Which of the following statements paraphrases the third paragraph in the speech?

It is better to learn a message from someone by standing face-to-face with them.People play video games too much when they could be doing something more worthwhile.Cell phones are being used too much for fun, communicating and for school assignments.Students need to use their brain and think instead of using a cell phone to help with schoolwork.

10. Read the speech - Do People Depend on their Cell Phones Too Much?
Which of the following statements paraphrases the first paragraph in the speech?

Cell phones are being used too much for fun, communicating and for school assignments.Students need to use their brain and think instead of using a cell phone to help with schoolwork.People play video games too much when they could be doing something more worthwhile.It is better to learn a message from someone by standing face-to-face with them.