synthesis project
A practical application of finding and using multiple
sources from multiple perspectives.
The Synthesis Project
Gaughen AP Lang & Comp
task 1: read a non-fiction book
Samples of Non Fiction Titles (Not Recommendations)
Sociology
Food
Technology
•Freakanomics
Levitt and Dubner
•Omnivore’s Dilemma
•In Defense of Food*
Polan
•To Explain The World
Weinberg
•Nickled and Dimed
Ehrenreich
•Tipping Point
•Blink
•Outliers
Gladwell
•Predictably Irrational
Ariely
•Guns, Germs, and Steel
Diamond
•On A Dollar A Day*
Greenslate and Leonard
•Fast Food Nation*
Schlosser
•The Shallows
Carr
•Should We Eat Meat**
Smil
•The Filter Bubble
Pariser
•The American Way of
Eating
McMillan
•The Net Delusion
Morozov
•Food Politics
Nestle
Education
•The Overachievers
•The Geeks Shall Inhereit The Earth
Robbins
•The Gatekeepers
Steinberg
•The Smartest Kids In
The World
Ripley
•Reign Of Error
Ravitch
•Amusing Ourselves to
Death
Postman
Psychology
•Wait: The Art and Science of Delay
Partnoy
•Quiet: The Power of
Introverts...
Cain
•The Stuff of Knowledge
•The Blank Slate
•Better Angels of Our
Nature**
Pinker
•Nurture Shock
Bronson and Merryman
The Synthesis Project
•Cognitive Surplus
Shirky
•Smarter Than You
Think
Thompson
•It’s Complicated
boyd
•Networked
Rainie and Wellman
•This Idea Mus Die
Brockman
* Must read two (2) titles
** Higher degree of difficulty
•Students will self select
a nonfiction book on a
topic of controversy and
read the book.
•Most of the reading will
be self guided and at
home.
•Over the course of the
class, we may book time
in class for you to read
your book and check in
to make sure you are on
track.
•If you do not wish to purchase a book, you may
find copies at CCA, city,
or county libraries.
Gaughen AP Lang & Comp
task 2: annotate
•Students will thoroughly annotate the
book with three functions in mind:
•Have an eye toward rhetorical analysis.
•Read closely for the arguments presented.
•Read closely for the evidential choices
and structure.
•Either dialectical journal or marginalia are
acceptable (choice may be a function of
purchase or borrow).
The Synthesis Project
Gaughen AP Lang & Comp
task 3: read more
•Students will need to compile and read
additional resources for a proper, thorough,
and balanced understanding.
•An annotated bibliography will be
required.
Additional Source Requirements
All numbers need to be understood in terms of “at least.” Compilation of source material should
be understood in terms of gaining multiple perspectives for a balanced understanding.
1 Academic Journal Article on the same topic as your chosen author’s book
6 Editorials (magazine, newspaper, or online media) on the same topic as your
chosen author’s book.
1 Visual Source (cartoon, advertisement, brochure, artwork, photograph, etc)
Optional (...but highly recommended)
1 Critical Review of your author’s book.
The Synthesis Project
Gaughen AP Lang & Comp
task 4: generate a value conflict question
Create a Synthesis Anthology, part one.
•Question should be about a relatively specific value conflict.
•Question should be open-ended, dual argument.
•Question should allow for a response anywhere on the value
conflict spectrum.
•Question should be accessible to students who have not read
the book that inspired said Question.
•Question should be accessible from the provided sources.
•Question should guide student to a single, evidentially supportable position.
•Consult Argument Theory/Critical Thinking presentation.
The Synthesis Project
Gaughen AP Lang & Comp
task 5: generate source excerpts
Create a Synthesis Anthology, part two.
•Select appropriate excerpts from your collected readings.
•Combine said excerpts to create a collection that would take the
typical student fifteen (15) minutes to read, annotate, and process
for evidence.
•Do not photocopy or scan passages.
•Passages excerpts should vary in length.
•Passages excerpts should vary in perspective.
•Passages excerpts should vary in position.
•Include six to eight (6-8) sources, one of which is to be visual.
The Synthesis Project
Gaughen AP Lang & Comp
task 6: generate a synthesis anthology
Create a Synthesis Anthology, part three.
• Combine Question and Excerpts
• Value Conflict Question at top of first page
• Source 1 Excerpt may begin after Question or on next page
• Passage excerpts must be in a combined package (front and
back OK).
• Each Excerpt must be on its own page
• Each Excerpt must have:
◊Bibliographic entry (APA, MLA, Chicago)
◊Short (one sentence) descriptor of Excerpt source
◊Excerpt text
The Synthesis Project
Gaughen AP Lang & Comp
task 7: publish
•Students will present their analyses of the author’s
argument(s) and evidential choices to the class utilizing
a multimedia format.
•While the PowerPoint is simple, yet effective (thus an
excellent model - and not as motion-sickness inducing
as Prezi), you may present in any fashion you choose as
long as multimedia are used.
•Students reading the same title are encouraged to
present as a team and will therefore be given appropriate time considerations. All members of a team must
demonstrate their contribution.
The Synthesis Project
Gaughen AP Lang & Comp