Original Passage (100 words): Each spring, Texas fields light up with bluebonnets, the state flower. These wild lupines thrive in sunny, open areas with well-drained, disturbed soil, which is why they frequently blanket roadsides and pastures. Seeds have tough coats that may take years to soften, so populations can surge after mowing, grazing, or construction loosens the ground. Rainfall in fall and winter helps rosettes grow before blooming in March and April. Although it is not illegal statewide to pick bluebonnets, conservation groups caution against it, because trampling and removing flowers reduces seed production and weakens future displays that families drive miles to see.

Student Attempts: Attempt 1: Each spring, Texas fields light up with bluebonnets, which thrive in sunny, open, well-drained soil and often cover roadsides. Their hard seeds may take years to soften, so populations surge after mowing or construction loosens the ground. Fall and winter rain helps rosettes grow before March and April blooms. It isn't illegal statewide to pick bluebonnets, but trampling and removing flowers reduces seed production and hurts future displays. Attempt 2: According to a Texas wildflower article, bluebonnets favor sunny, disturbed ground such as pastures and highway edges. Because their seeds wear down slowly, patches can explode after the soil is cut or churned. Moist winters feed low rosettes that later blossom in early spring. While state law doesn't ban picking them everywhere, the source warns that stepping on plants and taking blossoms means fewer seeds and weaker shows in years to come. Attempt 3: Bluebonnets only grow along highways, and Texas law makes it illegal to pick them anywhere. Their seeds sprout immediately after rain, so blooms appear all year. Attempt 4: Bluebonnets prefer open, sunny places with drained, disturbed soils, which is why roadsides glow blue. Slow-to-soften seeds can suddenly succeed after mowing or grazing. Wet winters help low leaves develop, leading to March and April blooms. Picking and trampling lowers future seed numbers.

Which attempt is the best example of paraphrasing that avoids plagiarism by significantly rewording, preserving meaning, and including proper attribution?

Original Passage (100 words): Water constantly moves through Earth's water cycle. Energy from the sun warms oceans, lakes, and soil, causing water to evaporate and plants to release vapor through transpiration. As air rises and cools, water vapor condenses into clouds. When droplets grow heavy, precipitation falls as rain, snow, or hail. Some water runs off into streams, and some soaks into the ground to refill aquifers. The cycle does not have a starting or ending point; it repeats continuously. Changes in temperature, wind, and land surfaces can speed or slow different steps, influencing when and where storms form and how long they last.

Student Attempts: Attempt 1: Sunlight drives evaporation and plant transpiration. Cooling air creates clouds, and heavy droplets fall as rain, snow, or hail. Water either runs off or infiltrates to recharge groundwater. The process is continuous and influenced by weather and surface conditions. Attempt 2: Energy from the sun warms oceans, lakes, and soil, making water evaporate and plants release vapor through transpiration. As air rises and cools, vapor condenses into clouds. When droplets are heavy, precipitation falls. Some water runs off to streams, and some soaks in to refill aquifers. The cycle repeats continuously. Attempt 3: The water cycle starts with rain, then always ends in the ocean where it stops until the next storm. Attempt 4: According to a science text, the sun powers a never-ending water cycle: water evaporates from surfaces and plants release vapor, rising air cools to form clouds, and precipitation returns water as rain, snow, or hail. Some flows to streams while some seeps underground into aquifers. The pace of each stage changes with temperature, wind, and land features, affecting storm timing and duration.

Which attempt is the best example of paraphrasing that avoids plagiarism by significantly rewording, preserving meaning, and including proper attribution?

Original Passage (100 words): The Houston Ship Channel is a man-made waterway connecting the Port of Houston to the Gulf of Mexico. Opened in 1914 after years of dredging the Buffalo Bayou, it allows large ships to reach inland docks. The channel anchors petrochemical plants, refineries, and container terminals, supporting thousands of jobs and billions in trade and exports. Constant maintenance dredging keeps the passage deep and safe. However, the busy corridor brings risks, including air pollution, oil spills, and storm surge from hurricanes. Engineers and officials balance economic benefits with safety rules and environmental projects that restore marshes and improve water quality nearby.

Student Attempts: Attempt 1: According to a port history article, the Houston Ship Channel is a dredged route from inland Houston to the Gulf that opened in 1914. It lets big vessels reach refineries, chemical plants, and container docks, driving major jobs and exports. Because sediment returns, crews regularly deepen the waterway. Heavy traffic creates hazards like pollution, spills, and hurricane surge, so leaders pair economic growth with safety rules and habitat restoration. Attempt 2: The Houston Ship Channel is a man-made waterway connecting the Port of Houston to the Gulf of Mexico. Opened in 1914 after dredging Buffalo Bayou, it allows large ships to reach inland docks. Maintenance dredging keeps it deep. The corridor brings risks including pollution, oil spills, and storm surge. Attempt 3: The channel formed naturally and opened in the 1800s, mostly serving tourism, with little environmental impact. Attempt 4: This engineered passage links Houston to the Gulf, letting ocean-going ships access inland terminals. The waterway supports refineries and trade worth billions and requires frequent dredging. With the benefits come dangers such as air quality issues, spill threats, and hurricane surge, prompting projects to restore marshes and protect water.

Which attempt is the best example of paraphrasing that avoids plagiarism by significantly rewording, preserving meaning, and including proper attribution?

Original Passage (100 words): Katherine Johnson was a mathematician whose calculations helped send American astronauts into space. Working for NASA during the 1960s, she checked flight trajectories and orbital paths by hand, including the route that guided Apollo 11 to the Moon and back. Before computers were trusted, astronauts asked for her verification. Johnson faced segregation and discrimination but persisted, earning a reputation for precision and clear questions. After retiring, she received national honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and inspired more students to pursue STEM careers. Her story shows how careful math and courage behind the scenes can make exploration possible today.

Student Attempts: Attempt 1: Katherine Johnson was a mathematician whose calculations helped send American astronauts into space. Working for NASA in the 1960s, she checked flight trajectories and orbital paths by hand, including Apollo 11's route to the Moon and back. Before computers were trusted, astronauts asked for her verification. Attempt 2: According to a NASA biography, Johnson verified complex trajectories by hand in the 1960s, earning astronauts' trust; her work helped guide Apollo 11 to the Moon and home. Attempt 3: Johnson programmed the first spaceflight computers alone and piloted Apollo 11. Attempt 4: A skilled mathematician, Johnson double-checked orbits and reentry paths by hand, work that astronauts relied on during the 1960s and the Apollo 11 mission.

Attempt 1 is too close to the original wording. Which revision best improves it to avoid plagiarism while keeping the original meaning?

Original passage (100 words): In 1900, a massive hurricane struck Galveston, Texas, destroying thousands of homes and killing many residents. In response, city leaders built a seawall to block storm surge and raised the island's grade by pumping in sand. Engineers even lifted buildings on jacks while sand was placed underneath. These projects took years and required careful planning, but they changed Galveston's future. Later storms still caused damage, yet the seawall and higher elevation reduced flooding and saved lives. The disaster also pushed forecasters to improve hurricane warnings, helping coastal communities prepare earlier and evacuate when necessary and protect businesses along the shore.

Which student version is an appropriate paraphrase that avoids plagiarism while keeping the original meaning?

Original passage (100 words): Many flowering plants depend on bees to move pollen from one blossom to another, allowing seeds and fruit to develop. As bees collect nectar, sticky pollen grains cling to their bodies and get transferred during later visits. Different bee species prefer different flowers, and some are active at specific times of day or seasons. Habitat loss and pesticide use can reduce bee populations, which may lower crop yields and harm wild plant diversity. Planting native flowers and avoiding certain chemicals helps support pollinators. Communities can also create bee-friendly gardens near schools and parks to boost local ecosystems and sustain farms.

Which student version is an appropriate paraphrase that avoids plagiarism while keeping the original meaning?

Original passage (100 words): Steady winds across West Texas and the Panhandle make the region one of the nation's leading producers of wind power. Tall turbines capture kinetic energy and convert it to electricity that travels along transmission lines to cities. Wind projects provide lease payments to landowners and create jobs during construction and maintenance. However, wind output varies with weather, so grid operators balance supply using other energy sources and storage. New lines, called competitive renewable energy zones, were built to move power from rural areas to demand centers. As technology improves, turbines become more efficient and quieter for nearby communities and wildlife.

Which student version is an appropriate paraphrase that avoids plagiarism while keeping the original meaning?

Original passage (100 words): Mae Jemison is a physician, engineer, and former NASA astronaut who became the first African American woman to travel in space in 1992 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Before joining NASA, she served as a medical officer in West Africa with the Peace Corps. After her shuttle mission, Jemison left NASA to found a company focused on science education and technology. She frequently speaks to students about pursuing STEM careers and the value of curiosity. Jemison's achievements show how determination, interdisciplinary skills, and community service can open paths to exploration and inspire the next generation of problem solvers and innovators.

Which student version is an appropriate paraphrase that avoids plagiarism while keeping the original meaning?