Your paraphrase
Type the main point (MP) in the top line. Press Enter in any line to start a new point below it; Backspace in an empty line removes it.
Drag a point by its handle (⠿): up or down to move it, right or left to nest it under the point above or bring it back out. ◀ ▶ beside each code change its level too, and tapping the handle gives you buttons, including Remove. Points carry whatever is nested under them, and whatever sits on top is the MP.
Your work is saved in this browser until you clear it.
Arrow keys move this point: up and down change its place, right nests it under the point above, left brings it back out. Enter shows buttons for the same moves and for removing it.
How it looks in Canvas
Copy HTML for Canvas, then paste it into the Canvas editor’s HTML view (the </> button at the bottom right of the editor). An ordinary paste keeps the words but not the alignment.
Subordination codes
Each code names how a point relates to the point it sits under: the MP, or the point one level up. The MP is the item given priority, the starting point of the paraphrase. It is not necessarily the conclusion or the most important point.
Basic (Module 2)
- [s]
- Support: the SP is the reason to think the point above it, so that point is known indirectly. The concert must have been amazing because everyone’s Instagram stories were filled with clips.
- [e]
- Explanation: the SP tells how the point above it came to be. The flight was full because the airline sold too many tickets.
- [r]
- Result: the SP tells what happened because of the point above it. The ship was top-heavy, so it capsized.
- [q]
- Qualification: the catch-all when the SP does not support, explain, or result. It limits or softens, adds a condition, gives the means, or says what the point means. “By”, “if”, “when”, and “but” always mark [q]. Charlie works as a janitor at the bar, but he really enjoys it.
Refined (Module 3)
- [ec]
- Explanation by cause: the SP causes the point above it. Frank lost his memory because he fell from the window.
- [em]
- Explanation by motive: the SP explains why the person did it by appeal to their fears, beliefs, emotions, likes, or dislikes. Dee auditions for a lot of roles because she wants to be an actress.
- [ep]
- Explanation by purpose: the SP is the goal the person tried to accomplish, stated outright; a want or feeling is [em]. Dennis went to the McPoyle wedding to see his ex-wife.
- [re]
- Result as effect: the SP is an effect of the point above it. Heavy rains came in early summer, so the crop yield was particularly good.
- [ri]
- Result as inference: the SP is what we can tell from the point above it. Flags: “must”, “probably”, “I bet”, and normative words like “should”. It’s going to be hot in San Diego today, so I bet the beaches will be crowded.
Double (Module 5)
- [ec/ri]
- The SP explains the point above it by cause and is also inferred from it. Many apparent [ri] are really this. No one can connect to the internet at the dorms, so the campus wi-fi must be down again.
- [ec/s]
- The SP explains the point above it by cause and, because that point is in doubt, also supports it. Often a prediction. I’m about to get a headache because Michael Bolton is taking the stage.
When the MP and an SP trade places, [ec] becomes [re] and [s] becomes [ri], and the other way round; [em] becomes [re]. Order within a level does not matter. The textbook’s [i] is not a course code: use [q] instead.