Pompous Proverbs

Paraphrasing Practice

• See if you can “translate” these proverbs, or familiar sayings.

Proverbs to paraphrase

• Male cadavers provide no testimony.

Proverbs to paraphrase

• Male cadavers provide no testimony.

Cadaver = dead bodyMale cadaver = dead manDead men tell no tales.

Proverbs to paraphrase

• Integrity is the superlative strategy.

Hint: type define:superlative in Google’s search box

Proverbs to paraphrase

• Integrity is the superlative strategy.

Hint: type define:superlative in Google’s search box

Honesty is the best policy.

Proverbs to paraphrase

• It is futile to attempt to indoctrinate a superannuated canine with innovative manuevers.

• Everything is legitimate in matters pertaining to ardent affection and international armed conflicts.

Proverbs to paraphrase

• It is futile to attempt to indoctrinate a superannuated canine with innovative manuevers.

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

• Everything is legitimate in matters pertaining to ardent affection and international armed conflicts.

All’s fair in love and war.

More “Pompous Proverbs”

• Similar sire, similar scion.

• Precipitancy generates prodigality.

• Members of an avian species with identical plumage congregate.

• The person emitting the ultimate cachinnation possesses thereby the optimal cachinnation (KAK'-e-na-shun).

More “Pompous Proverbs”

• Similar sire, similar scion.

Like father, like son.

• Precipitancy generates prodigality.

Haste makes waste.

More “Pompous Proverbs”

• Members of an avian species with identical plumage congregate.

Birds of a feather flock together.

• The person emitting the ultimate cachinnation possesses thereby the optimal cachinnation (KAK'-e-na-shun).

He laughs best who laughs last.

Strategies for paraphrasing

• How did you figure out the proverbs?

Strategies for paraphrasing

• Pick out key words and look them up.

• Find the topic sentence of each paragraph and restate it in your own words.

• Pretend you’re explaining the subject to a child.

Strategies for technical articles

• If you have to use a source you don’t understand, build your background by reading some easier articles first.

• Take notes on unfamiliar terms.

• When you go back to the harder source, summarize what you’ve learned after each section.

• Create a new organization.