How to Write a Synthesis Essay

Synthesis

Writing: to combine the ideas of more than one source with your own.

Key Features of a Synthesis Report information from the sources using different phrases and sentences; Organize so that readers can immediately see where information from the sources overlap; Make sense of the sources and help the reader understand them in greater depth. Preparing to write your Synthesis Essay You should locate two or more sources for synthesizing. You should develop your own perspectives and interpretations of those sourcesyour analysisand include your analysis in the paper. systematic preliminary comparison will help. !egin by summarizing briefly the points" themes" or traits that the te#ts have in common. $ote differences in the sources as well. %#plore different ways to organize the information depending on what you find or what you want to argue. You might find it helpful to make several outlines or plans before you decide which sources to use. Writing the Synthesis Essay Your synthesis should be organized so that others can understand the sources and evaluate your comprehension of them and their presentation of specific data" e#amples" and supporting points. Structure a. The introduction: b. The body: Your organization will be determined by the assignment or by the patterns you see in the material you are synthesizing &theme" point" similarity" or aspect of the topic'. (he organization is the most important part of a synthesis" so choose the most effective format for your topic. Be sure that each paragraph: !egins with a sentence or phrase that informs readers of the topic of the paragraph; )ncludes information from more than one source; *learly indicates which material comes from which source using transitions and topic sentences" and in+te#t citations. [Beware of plagiarism: Accidental plagiarism most often occurs when students are synthesizing sources and do not indicate where the synthesis ends and their own comments begin or vice verse.] ,hows the similarities or differences between the different sources in ways that make the paper as informative as possible; Represents the te#ts fairly++even if that seems to weaken the paper- .ook upon yourself as a synthesizing machine; you are simply repeating what the source says in fewer words and in your own words. (he fact that you are paraphrasing does not mean that you are" in any way" changing what the source says. )ncludes your own analysis of the sources c. Conclusion: /hen you have finished your paper" write a conclusion reminding readers of the most significant supporting details you have found and the ways they connect to the overall topic Chec ing your own writing and that of your peers Read a peer0s synthesis and then answer the following 1uestions2 )s it clear what is being synthesized3 &i.e.2 4id your peer list the source&s'" and cite it5them correctly3' )s it always clear which source your peer is talking about at any given moment3 )s the thesis of each original te#t clear in the synthesis3 &/rite out what you think each thesis is.'

 4oes it seem like any key points are missing from the synthesis3 &)f so" what are they3' 4id your peer include opinions in his or her synthesis3 &)f so" what are they3' 6or this assignment" you will write an argumentative paper" which is 7+8 pages in length" typed" double+spaced" 9: point font. You must have three or more credible sources for your paper. You may use two sources from Prose Reader" if you wish" and an outside source. ;owever" all of your sources may be outside sources. You should use good academic sources from the *,<! library or the library research database. =lease note that several of these topics are related to previous writing and5or reading assignments. You may use e#cerpts from previous essays and5or information from homework or from summaries if you choose a topic that you have already considered in class. =ossible topics are as follows2 (he <, prison system and its efficacy in dealing with people involved in non+violent crimes !inge drinking and5 or lowering the drinking age to 9> !i+lingual education .egalization of mari?uana ,teroid use by professional athletes %ffectiveness of 4<) laws Raising the driving age to 9> Reproduction techni1ues and medical ethics &octuplets' ,tem cell research (he financial @!ail OutA or ;ealth care reform ssigned novel5book Btopic to be introduced in class. )nstead of writing note cards" you should write formal summaries of your sources" which you will include in your synthesis essay. You may choose to use one or more rhetorical modes in your essay. =lease refer to the %ssay ,tructure handout for information about how to organize this essay. Your paper should be at least 7 pages long and should not e#ceed 8 pages. You should use M. parenthetical citation and include a /orks *ited page" which is not part of the essay length. Refer to uic! Access for proper citation methods. =lease organize the synthesis essay as follows from bottom to top2 Copies of outside sources !on the botto"# $rainstor" or outline Su""aries of sources !in place of note cards# Peer re%iew for" &ough drafts Final draft and Wor s Cited page !on the top#

=lease submit the essay in a folder.