Paraphrase example

Ms. I told me to post this.

Source: http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/crucible/section2.html

Original paragraph: (Put a paragraph space between second paragraph because it was too long)

The play is set in Salem, Massachusetts in the spring of 1692, and the first act begins in a small upper bedroom of the home of Reverend Samuel Parris, who kneels in prayer at the bed of his daughter, Betty, a ten year old girl who lays inert in bed. Parris is a man in his middle forties who believes himself to be perpetually persecuted. He has no talent with children, for he sees then as nothing more than small adults.

Tituba, Rev. Parris' slave from Barbados, enters the room, frightened and worried that Betty may die, but Parris makes her leave. Abigail Williams, the niece of Rev. Parris, also enters; she is a strikingly beautiful, seventeen year old orphan with a talent for deception. She brings with her Susanna Walcott, who tells Rev. Parris that Dr. Griggs can find no cure for Betty's ailment. Parris claims that he has sent for Reverend Hale of Beverly, who will confirm the possibility of an unnatural cause of Betty's illness, but he orders Susanna to say nothing of unnatural causes to others. Abigail warns Parris that there are rumors of witchcraft and that the parlor is packed with people, but Parris tells her that he cannot explain that he found his daughter and niece dancing like heathen in the forest.

Abigail admits to dancing and is willing to accept the punishment, but will not admit to witchcraft. Parris warns Abigail that he has enemies who will use this against him, and claims that he saw a dress lying on the grass and someone naked running through the trees. He thinks that Tituba was screeching gibberish when he found the girls, but Abigail says that it is merely Barbados songs. Parris demands to know that Abigail has a good reputation, for there are rumors that her former employee, Goody Proctor, thinks Abigail is corrupt, but Abigail calls Goody Proctor a gossiping liar.

My paraphrase:

Reverend Samuel Parris prays that his daughter, Betty, will wake up from her seemingly eternal sleep on the spring of 1692. Seeing children as mini-adults, he isn't very good at handling them. He believes himself persecuted, and he is in his mid-forties.

Parris' slave, Tituba, worries about Betty, so she enters her room. Forced to leave, Abigail Williams walks in, a beautiful orphan that is very good at deceiving others, aged seventeen. Coming with Abigail is Susanna Walcott, but she cannot find a remedy for whatever disease she believes Betty has. In hopes of finding out the source, Parris contacts Reverend Hale of Beverly, but still want to keep it a secret to be untold. He then is informed of witchcraft being the word in the parlor, but he still needs to keep away from the public that he discovered his daughter and niece dancing as there was no tomorrow in the forest. In their parts, dancing is forbidden.

The deceiving orphan confesses of dancing and states it is fine to receive to receive punishment, but denies witchcraft. Parris warns that others will use the information against him, and remembers seeing someone naked. He swears he heard that he heard a load of gibberish from Tituba, but Abigail insists that it were only the songs of her homeland, Barbados. Parris demands proof of a good name, and Abigail states that she is good and true, and that Goody Proctor, who she says is a liar, tells only of untrue words. (Source: http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/crucible/section2.html)