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E8 E - Write from sources without copying

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E8 E - Write from sources without copying

Mini-description: Use a few facts from short sources, take useful notes, and write a clear text in your own words. You will practise paraphrasing, source checking, speaking, writing and media literacy at E8 E level.

Einleitung

You often need information from a text, video or image for school. The goal is not to copy. The goal is to understand, select and rewrite.

Core rule: Keep the meaning, change the wording and sentence structure, and name the source.

A paraphrase gives the same main meaning in new words. Good notes help you separate ideas from exact wording. A source should also be checked: Who made it? Why was it made? Is the information clear and trustworthy?

Media start: Watch only the first part. Before you watch, predict: What might good paraphrasing include? While watching, write three key words. After watching, compare your ideas with a partner.

I can ...

I can ...	Target
select only useful facts from a short source	Reading
explain a source idea in my own words	Writing
react to a partner's paraphrase	Speaking
notice copying, changed meaning and missing sources	Editing
use passive voice and reported speech in source work	Grammar
check whether a media source looks reliable	Media literacy

Before you start

Try first: Explain the difference between copying, quoting and paraphrasing in English.

Ask: Compare your idea with a partner.

Hint: Think about exact words, quotation marks and own wording.

Deutsch-Hilfe, nur wenn nötig: Beim Zitieren bleiben die Originalwörter sichtbar. Beim Paraphrasieren formulierst Du den Inhalt neu. Beim Kopieren übernimmst Du fremde Formulierungen ohne passende Kennzeichnung.

Input

The four-step method: SIFT

Use this short routine:

Select: Choose only the facts you really need.
Idea notes: Write key words, not full copied sentences.
Formulate: Close the source and write the idea in your own structure.
Trace: Reopen the source, check meaning, wording and source information.

Quick try: Read one short source below. Close it. Say the idea in one sentence without looking.

Reading: two short sources

Source A – adapted from Wikipedia, not copied: Public libraries can give people access to printed and digital material. Many items can be borrowed, while some reference material stays in the library.^[1]

Source B – adapted from Wikipedia, not copied: Note-taking means recording important information from sources. Useful notes select main ideas instead of trying to copy every word.^[2]

Task: Write four key words from each source. Then write one new sentence that connects both sources. Do not look at the source while drafting.

Possible structure: Libraries provide information, and good notes help learners select what matters.

Do not copy the model. Use it only to see how two ideas can be connected.

Context vocabulary

Word	Meaning in this course	Useful phrase
source	where information comes from	according to the source
paraphrase	same main meaning in new wording	paraphrase an idea
evidence	information that supports a point	use evidence
reliable	worth trusting after checking	a reliable source
cite	show where information came from	cite the source
claim	a statement that may need support	check a claim

Pronunciation focus

Listen for these words in the videos: source, paraphrase, evidence, reliable, citation.

Notice the stress: PARaphrase, EVidence, reLIable, ciTAtion.

Speaking goal: Be easy to understand. Clear stress and meaning matter more than sounding like a native speaker.

Listening and viewing

Before viewing: What could go wrong if a student repeats the wording of a task or source?

While viewing: Note two ways the speaker changes wording.

After viewing: Give one example of a safe paraphrase and explain why it is not a copy.

Media check: Who produced the video? What is its purpose? Is it teaching, selling, entertaining or persuading? Which details make you trust it more or less?

From notes to your own text

Use Source A and Source B.

Writing challenge: Write 80–110 words on this question: How can students use information responsibly?

Your text should:

use two facts from the sources
use your own sentence structure
include one source signal such as According to Source A ...
add one personal example or school situation
end with one clear conclusion

Do not add facts that the sources do not support.

Speaking and spontaneous reaction

Work with a fictional profile only.

Maya says: I changed three words, so my sentence is a paraphrase.

Respond for about 30 seconds. Agree or disagree with the reasoning, give one reason, and suggest one improvement.

Useful language: I see your point, but ... / The meaning is similar, but the structure is still too close. / I would change ...

Mediation

A German-speaking classmate asks what Source B means.

Explain the two main ideas in simple German, but do not translate sentence by sentence. Then return to English and give one English key phrase from the source topic.

Functional grammar for source work

Passive voice – use it productively:

The article was published online. Two key facts were selected for the paragraph. The source was checked before it was used.

Change these active sentences into the passive:

The student checks the source.
The writer selects two facts.
The class compares the two versions.

Reported speech with backshift:

Direct: Maya said, “I used two facts.” Reported: Maya said that she had used two facts.

Direct question: Leo asked, “Where did you find the fact?” Reported question: Leo asked where she had found the fact.

Direct command: The teacher said, “Add the source.” Reported command: The teacher told her to add the source.

Past perfect progressive – recognise it only:

Before Leo wrote his paragraph, he had been comparing the two short sources.

Meaning: the comparing started earlier and continued for some time before the writing.

Quote, paraphrase or copy?

Short source idea: Good notes contain the main ideas.

Version A: Good notes contain the main ideas. This is a direct quote only if quotation marks and source information are added.

Version B: Useful notes focus on the most important information. This is a possible paraphrase because wording and structure change while the meaning stays close.

Version C: Good notes have the main ideas. This is too close to the source. Only a few words changed.

Direct feedback and error analysis

Problem	What to check	Repair
too close to source	same word order or phrases	close the source and rewrite from key words
changed meaning	new idea is stronger or weaker	compare with the source again
missing source	reader cannot trace the fact	add a source signal or citation
weak connection	facts stand next to each other	add because, while, therefore or however
unclear grammar	sentence hides the main idea	simplify first, then improve

Feedback rule: First check meaning. Then check source distance. Then check language.

Media literacy and AI

Before using a source, ask: Who created it? When? For what purpose? Can the key claim be checked elsewhere?

If you use AI for learning, use it as a checker, not as a replacement writer. Ask for feedback on a sentence, compare the feedback with the source, check the English level, and decide yourself.

Use fictional names and examples. Do not share private social-media information. Audio or video recordings are voluntary and should stay private unless your teacher has clearly agreed to another use. Do not upload recordings, images or school texts to external AI tools without permission.

Help ladder

English first: Try the task.

Context: Look at the source title, image and key words.

Try again: Write one short version.

Ask: Compare with a partner.

Hint: Keep the idea, change the structure.

German help if needed: Notiere zuerst nur Stichwörter. Formuliere dann ohne Blick auf die Quelle und prüfe anschließend Sinn und Abstand zum Original.

Can-do check

Statement	Not yet	Almost	Yes
I can take key-word notes instead of copying.	□	□	□
I can paraphrase without changing the main meaning.	□	□	□
I can name the source of a fact.	□	□	□
I can use passive voice in source-based writing.	□	□	□
I can report statements, questions and commands.	□	□	□
I can explain why a source seems more or less reliable.	□	□	□

Next course: Evaluate sources and build an argument.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is the main goal of a paraphrase? (Keep the meaning but use new wording and structure) (!Copy the important sentence exactly) (!Change the meaning to make it stronger) (!Remove all source information)

What is a useful first step before writing from a source? (Select only the facts you need) (!Copy the longest sentence) (!Translate every sentence) (!Ignore the source title)

Why can key-word notes help? (They reduce the chance of copying full source sentences) (!They make source checking unnecessary) (!They always create a finished paragraph) (!They remove the need to cite)

Which question belongs to media literacy? (Who created this source and for what purpose) (!How many colours are on the page) (!Which font looks coolest) (!How quickly can I copy the text)

Which sentence is in the passive voice? (The source was checked before writing) (!The student checked the source) (!The student is checking the source) (!The student checks sources)

Which sentence correctly reports Maya's statement? (Maya said that she had used two facts) (!Maya said that did she use two facts) (!Maya said she use two facts yesterday) (!Maya asked that she had used two facts)

Which sentence is a correct reported question? (Leo asked where she had found the fact) (!Leo asked where had she found the fact) (!Leo asked where did she find the fact) (!Leo told where she had found the fact)

Which sentence correctly reports a command? (The teacher told her to add the source) (!The teacher asked where the source) (!The teacher said her add the source) (!The teacher told that add the source)

What does had been comparing show in the course example? (An earlier activity continued for some time before another past action) (!A future plan) (!A present habit) (!A direct quotation)

What is a responsible use of AI in this course? (Use it for limited feedback and check the result yourself) (!Let it replace your full text) (!Upload private recordings without permission) (!Trust every correction automatically)

Memory

Paraphrase	same main meaning in new wording
Citation	information that shows the source
Evidence	information that supports a point
Passive voice	focus on an action or result
Reported question	question reported without direct question word order
Backshift	moving a verb form further into the past

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Read the short source	understand the topic
Mark two key facts	select useful information
Close the source	reduce copying
Write from notes	create your own structure
Compare with the original	check meaning and wording distance

Kreuzworträtsel

Paraphrase	What do you call a rewording that keeps the main meaning?
Evidence	What word means information that supports a point?
Citation	What word means information that identifies a source?
Meaning	What must stay accurate when you paraphrase?
Reliable	Which adjective describes a source that is worth trusting after checking?
Author	What do you call the person who wrote a text?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Key-word notes: Read Source A for 30 seconds, close it and write five key words only.
One-sentence paraphrase: Turn one source idea into a new sentence with a different structure.
Media purpose: Choose one video from this course and explain its purpose in three English sentences.
Private speaking practice: Record a voluntary 30-second explanation for yourself only, then listen once for clarity.

Standard

Two-source paragraph: Write 90–110 words using one fact from Source A and one from Source B, with clear source signals.
Paraphrase clinic: Create one good paraphrase and one version that is too close. Exchange them with a partner and explain the difference.
Reported speech interview: Use fictional speakers. Write a four-line dialogue about source use, then report one statement, one question and one command.
Media comparison: Compare the Scribbr video with one other course video for purpose, audience and usefulness.

Schwer

Perspective switch: Write a short response from the perspective of a student, a teacher and a content creator. Explain why source transparency matters to each.
Source reliability challenge: Find two short, school-appropriate sources on the same topic and compare author, date, purpose and evidence.
Revision with evidence: Improve an earlier paragraph in three rounds: meaning, distance from source, language precision. Mark each change.
AI feedback audit: Give an AI one sentence only, ask for feedback, then check every suggestion against the source and explain which advice you accepted or rejected. Do not upload private data.

Lernkontrolle

Transfer paraphrase: You receive a new three-sentence source. Select one fact, paraphrase it and explain which changes make your version independent.
Meaning check: Compare a source sentence with two paraphrases. Explain which version changes the meaning and how you would repair it.
Source choice: Two websites make the same claim. Decide what information you would check before using either one and justify your process.
Grammar in context: Rewrite a short source report using one passive sentence and one correctly backshifted reported statement.
Reported interaction: Turn a fictional source discussion into reported speech with one statement, one question and one command.
Revision decision: Given a weak paragraph, choose the two most important revisions and justify the order in which you would make them.

Lernnachweis

For a successful learning record, show that you can:

select a small number of relevant facts
take key-word notes
paraphrase without changing the main meaning
name or cite the source
check a media source for author, purpose and reliability
use passive voice in a meaningful context
report statements, questions and commands
revise your own writing after feedback
explain one change you made and why
use AI, if at all, only as checked support and not as a replacement for your own text

OERs zum Thema

Further free media used in this course: Wikimedia Commons file pages provide the licence information for each image. The source texts in the reading section are short teacher-made paraphrases based on the cited Wikipedia pages.

↑ Library – English Wikipedia, accessed 2026-10-01.
↑ Note-taking – English Wikipedia, accessed 2026-10-01.

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Writing from sources

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[1] Library – English Wikipedia, accessed 2026-10-01.

[2] Note-taking – English Wikipedia, accessed 2026-10-01.

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