JOURNAL 3

ENG121_WK3_Journal_Entry_Paraphrasing_Anchor_ExampleFINAL.pdf

ENG 121: English Composition I

Example Journal Entry: Paraphrasing

Purpose: Use this example student journal entry to explore important elements that make this an

exemplary submission. Hover over the information symbol ( ) or select the numbers within the text to

read about what the student has done well in this journal entry.

Paraphrasing

In the essay, “Good Boy, Beau. Stay,” the writer, Anna Quindlen, uses her dog, Beau, as an example of

how we should all live our lives. She tells us that we should live for the moment. Quindlen doesn’t really

use dialogue in her essay, which is interesting. So, even though she doesn’t use it, I thought I would talk

about what impact I think this might have on her essay. (1) In some places, Quindlen describes [

conversations that have occurred. In paragraph 3, Quindlen describes a conversation she had with another

editor about columns on deceased dogs.] She doesn’t recount the conversation in detail, though.

Additionally, she also paraphrases the conversation that she has with the veterinarian at the beginning of

the essay. (2)[Again, she doesn’t restate the conversation about euthanasia word for word. Instead, she

only quotes the words spoken by one person, the receptionist, who calls out “Beau” in paragraph 1.] I

always assumed that dialogue was pretty important to stories, yet Quindlen’s story works even though she

doesn’t really include it. (3)[Perhaps the reason why she doesn’t include it is because none of her

conversations are crucial to recount.] If she had inserted dialogue, it may have shifted the attention away

from Beau and onto either Quindlen or the person she was talking to. Even the receptionist, the only

person who speaks, says the dog’s name. So, the attention is brought back to the dog. ( )[In the case of my 4

essay, I think it may be important to incorporate at least a little dialogue. I am trying to show who my

grandmother is as a person.] So, people need to hear her to understand her. Not including dialogue may

have worked for Quindlen, but I’m not sure it would work for me.

References

Quindlen, A. (2010). Quindlen: How an old dog teaches me tricks about life. The Daily Beast. Retrieved

from http://www.newsweek.com/quindlen-how-old-dog-teaches-me-tricks-about-life-97257

Comments (color and number coded):

ENG 121: English Composition I

1. In this journal, the student practices paraphrasing sections of Quindlen's essay instead of directly

quoting it. A paraphrase is when you put the author's words and meaning into your own words, but you

still need to properly cite it in APA format. Return

Paraphrases are used when you need the main idea of a section for support, particularly when the quotes

are not significant enough be used directly.

The paraphrase in this section is: "Quindlen describes a conversation she had with another editor about

columns on deceased dogs". It gives the main idea of Quindlen's piece without having to use direct

quotes.

2. This is another example of how the student paraphrases the actions and words being spoken in

Quindlen's essay. The student has chosen to paraphrase instead of directly quote because she does not

need the support of a direct quote, but simply a shortened paraphrase version of events. Return

3. Here the student explains the importance of the paraphrases that she chose as support for the journal.

Return

4. This journal concludes by explaining how the student will also incorporate paraphrasing, but also

dialogue, into her own personal essay. Return