Writing skills – synthesising
Synthesis is an important thinking/writing skill. It is similar to both summarizing and paraphrasing in that it involves rewriting other people’s ideas in your own words. Both summarizing and paraphrasing involve the use of one text at a time. Synthesising is a more complex skill in that it draws together the ideas of more than one text at a time. Steps for synthesis 1. Read all texts. 2. Make notes in your own words. 3. Write an outline of each text – use a horizontal page so that all outlines are on the same page. This makes it easier to compare the content of the various texts. Include all references. Example Text 1(reference)
Xxx p 334
xxxxx
xxx p457
Text 2 (reference)
Xx p330
Xxxxx
Xxx p123
Xxxx
Text 2 (reference)
xxxxx p47
xxx p78
xxxxx
Text 4 (reference)
xxx p11
xxxxx
xx p12
4. Look for common ideas in texts. Use colours to highlight similarities. List similarities. Example Similar Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx xx Learning Links
Quick Tips/synthesising
www.rmit.edu.au/studyandlearningcentre
February 2007
5. Write the ideas in your own words using summary or paraphrase. Cite all authors who have expressed the same or similar ideas. Example The majority of smokers have wanted to stop smoking at one or more times in their smoking history (James and Block 1999, Watson 2000, and Peters 2001). Activity Read the three passages below on preparing for a class or lecture. Highlight the parts in each passage that are similar in meaning. Passage 1 Before a class or lecture, it’s important to think of the content that might be covered and what you already know about it. This helps you to actively engage with the content, and you’ll find it much easier to take notes when you have some idea of what to expect (RMIT University 2004). From RMIT University 2004, RMIT101, viewed 2004‐08‐27, http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=25as03mvv8qq Passage 2 Thus, warming up your mind has many advantages: it starts the learning process early; it equips you to be more selective and decisive in your note‐taking; and it helps you to produce a better set of notes (Orr 1992:42). From Orr, F 1992 Study skills for successful students Allen and Unwin, Australia Passage 3 List any questions or ideas that come to mind as you prepare. You can use these as reference points when listening to the lecture, so that you are less likely to be overwhelmed by a mass of unfamiliar information and should be able to listen and take notes more intelligently (Marshall, L and Rowland, F 1997:130). From Marshall, L and Rowland, F 1997 A guide to learning independently Longman Australia Sample synthesis Preparing before a lecture is generally recommended as a means of maximizing understanding resulting in more efficient note‐taking and learning (RMIT University 2004, Marshall, L and Rowland, F 1997 and Orr 1992). Learning Links
Quick Tips/synthesising
www.rmit.edu.au/studyandlearningcentre
February 2007