As you might remember from the previous post about summarizing, paraphrasing includes "re-writing" or "re-stating" what is given in the original text (or selected parts of it).
The purpose of this writing style is making the given information look simpler (in terms of language) and easier to memorize (because they are your own words after all). Paraphrasing is always applied to selections from a text (i.e. the parts that you intent/want to use in your writing or speech).
One really crucial point about paraphrasing is:
when you paraphrase, include the writer's opinion not your own. In other words, only summarize the information in the text - just the way it is given. Do not attempt to include your own commentary in your paraphrasing; because you know that you must insert the accurate citation of the original text right after your paraphrasing. This means that your own opinion/commentary must come in separate sentences after the paraphrasing sentence is ended by and closed with the full stop.
P.S.:
1. Although light and funny, this picture is intentionally attached to this post to highlight 2 things:
(a). The human's mental and linguistic talents and abilities to "recreate" what they want to (vs the very limited options that this photo provides in the context of animal communication), and
(b). How difficult sometimes it might be to "rephrase" what you have heard/read.
2. See the "Quoting" post for the exploration of further interesting details about the techniques of writing :)
3. Keywords in exam questions are usually: rewrite, restate, rephrase, or reintroduce.
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