Synthesis essay
Objective: Construct essay that
develops claim, using variety of
sources to prove claim
What is the synthesis essay?
Students are given
• intro and description of a topic that has
different perspectives
• Selection of sources that address the topic
• --nonfiction
--non-textuals
• Fiction
• Poetry
• drama
How do I answer the synthesis
essay?
• Investigate a variety of sources, both print and
visual
• Choose which of the sources to include in your
presentation
• Respond to these sources and discuss how
they relate to your thesis (claim)
You must
• Relate it to the thesis/claim
• Use specific examples (personal and
otherwise)
• Use selected sources (3) to support
the major point
• Cite the sources (Exhibit A). (Exhibit
B). Etc.
You
must not
• Use only your opinion
• Merely summarize the articles
Example: Thoreau speaks about the need for
government to be limited. He tells the reader
that they are the ones who shoulder the work.
• Merely analyze the non textual
Example: in this cartoon, the artist shows two
large bags of money which symbolize the
government.
• Begin writing during the 15 min reading period.
Textuals
Non-textuals
• Essays
• Photos
• Charts
• Graphs
• Articles
• Fiction
• Drama
• Poetry
• Art
• Editorial cartoons
• Newspaper pages
Purpose of the synthesis essay
To determine ability to
• Read critically
• Understand and analyze texts
• Develop & support a position on a given topic
• Support a position with evidence from outside
sources
• Incorporate outside sources into texts of essay
• Cite sources used in the essay
types of synthesis essays
Expository essay where you develop thesis and
support with specific examples form sources
• Compare and contrast
• Cause and effect
• Analysis—the benefits of a claim; what a
group must consider; most important factors
that should be considered
Second kind of synthesis prompt
•
•
•
•
Must present an argument
Must take a position on a given topic
Must support position with outside sources
Must indicate the weaknesses of the other
arguments
How to tackle the synthesis essay
• Break down the synthesis prompt
1. Read any introductory material
2. Look for key words, phrases, other
information to make your job clearer
3. Highlight important terms and elements of
the prompt
Intro example
Invasive species are non native plants and
animals that thrive outside of their natural range
and may harm or endanger native plants and
animals. As producers and consumers in our global
society, we affect and are affected by species
introduced accidentally or intentionally to a region.
Currently some people argue for stricter
regulations of imported species to avoid the
possibility of unintended negative consequences.
Others, however, claim that the economies and
basic resources of poorer nations could be
improved by selective importation of nonnative
species.
Assignment
• Read the following sources (including any
introductory information) carefully. Then write
an essay in which you evaluate what a business
or government agency would need to consider
before transferring a hardy but non-indigenous
species to another country. Synthesize at least
three of the sources for support.
Refer to the sources by their titles (source A, Source
B etc.) or by the descriptions in the parentheses.
Time factor
• Suggested reading time 15 minutes
• Suggested writing time 40 minutes
Strategies—Critically read the
textuals
ANALYZE FOR
• Purpose/thesis
• Intended audience (Of the original article)
• Type of source (primary, secondary)
• Main points
• Historical context
• Authority of the author
• How material is presented
• Type of evidence presented/source of evidence
• Any bias or agenda
• How text relates to topic
• Support or opposition toward the thesis
How to analyze non- textuals
• Identify subject of the visual
• Identify major components: characters, visual
details, symbols
• Identify verbal clues—tag lines, date, author,
dialogue
• Does visual take a positive or negative position
toward the issue?
• Identify primary purpose of the visual.
• Determine how each detail illustrates and /or
supports the primary purpose
Practice
• Look at Source A and analyze.
• Subject—balsam fir trees destroyed by species
Determine your position
• After reading the prompt construct a
preliminary position sentence/controlling
focus
• Ex: Government and businesses alike must
consider __________ __________ ________
before permitting importing a non-indigenous
plant or animal to a new region.
• Although importing a non-indigenous plant or
animal to a new region may be an easy fix,
Selecting sources
• What is your purpose?
• Is the source background info or pertinent
info? Determines where information will go?
• Does the source give new info or info that
other sources cover?
• Does this source reflect viewpts of any other
texts?
• Will this info add depth to your essay?
Selecting sources (cont.)
• Does this source contradict the viewpts of
other sources?
• Does the source support your position? Use
for developing paragraphs
• Does the source contradict your position? Use
for anticipated objection.
Summary of source
• Read closely and locate key words that enable
you to reduce the piece to its essential points
• Write this summary on the bottom of the
source.
• If non-textual, write the significance of the
source.
Summary
• Read article
• Underline key words
• Base summary on key words underlined
Choosing which parts of the selected
texts to use
• Review the notes/highlights on your chosen
passages
• Ignore items you have not annotated
• Determine if each excerpt contributes to the
development of your thesis
How to incorporate--body
• If you have not annotated the piece, ignore it
• Determine how each source develops, supports
your thesis
• 1. identify the major point each will support
• 2. analyze if the source/piece will strengthen your
point and not just refer to it.
• 3. determine how much you will use
• 4. Determine what comments you can make
about the point (analyze)
• 5. determine anticipated objection to the point
Source
C
Thesis: Use of
television coverage
of presidential
elections has
negatively
influenced these
elections, through
its emphasis on
image,
Point supported
Quote/non-textual
aspect/ summary
/paraphrase
Use of television
coverage of
presidential
elections has
negatively
influenced these
elections through
its emphasis on
image, its
“An effective
President must be
every year more
concerned with
projecting images
of himself.”
Paraphrase
• Transpose the original material into your own
words
Inference
• Draw a conclusion based on the important
information provided
• What do you get out of the material/source?
Purpose of intro
• Catch reader’s interest
• Give background information necessary for
reader to understand point of the essay
• Introduce thesis that indicates purpose of
essay and order of points to be raised in
support of thesis.
Writing intros
• Find a startling statistic that illustrates the
seriousness of the problem you will address. Quote an
expert (but be sure to introduce him or her first).
• Mention common misperception that your thesis will
argue against. (Many Americans believe. ..)
• Give some background information necessary for
understanding the essay.
• Use an anecdote that exemplifies reason for choosing
the topic. In an assignment that encourages personal
reflection, you may draw on your own experiences;
• In research essay, the narrative may illustrate a
common real-world scenario. (Freedman and Blotnik)
Writing the conclusion
• Can include information from sources that you
did not use
1. Topic sentence –presents your position
2. Refer to source that makes a strong
statement in support of your position but did
not give adequate support to include in body
3. Design clincher to be more than just a tag on.
Purpose of Conclusion
•
•
•
•
place the essay in a larger context
serve as a call for action
set forth a warning or hypothesis
intentionally complicate the issues you have
already introduced (Allyn and Bacon)
• Restate thesis in simplistic manner
• Clincher—refer back to attention getter (tell
the ending of the anecdote, put the
statement, statistic in context)
How do I conclude?
• Return to an anecdote, example, or quotation
that you introduced in your introduction, but
add further insight that derives from the body
of your essay.
• Give a startling statistic, fact, or visual image to
drive home the ultimate point of your paper
• In a science or social science paper, mention
worthwhile avenues for future research on your
topic.
Conclusion:: If essay deals
with contemporary problem
• warn of consequences of not attending to the
problem
• Recommend a specific course of action.
• Use quotation or expert opinion to lend
authority to the conclusion you have reached
Conclusion:: If your essay
encourages personal reflection
Illustrate your concluding point with a relevant
narrative drawn from your own life
experiences.