Definition, Expectations, How To, etc. Synthesis Essay Definition, Expectations, How To, etc.

What is Synthesis? (simple words) Synthesis happens when two or more sources combine in a meaningful way to back up a student’s (writer’s) argument/thesis. It’s your ideas supported by a “chorus” of sources.

Synthesis in Everyday Life Question: Do you want to see this movie? Sources: 1. Rotten Tomatoes 2. Trailer 3. Rolling Stone

What is Synthesis? Written discussion that draws on one or more sources. Your ability to write syntheses depends on your ability to infer relationships among sources - essays, articles, fiction, and also nonwritten sources, such as lectures, interviews, observations. In an academic synthesis, you make explicit the relationships that you have inferred among separate sources. What “explicit relationship” will you be inferring for this assignment?

Purpose of Synthesis Evaluate texts Argue a position/theme on a topic Compare and contrast items Explain cause and effect relationships (not necessarily for this assignment).

Using Sources Determine what parts are applicable to your thesis (theme) Relate/connect/combine then to one another Your purpose of writing will help you connect the sources and know at what point in your essay to use them What is the point of your essay?

Key Features of a Synthesis Accurately reports information from the sources using different phrases and sentences Organized in such a way that the readers can immediately see where the information from the sources overlap Makes sense of the sources and helps a reader understand them in greater depth

Standards for Synthesis Essays You are using your sources to support your ideas and claims, not the other way around. Original thought and insightful analysis are required Will create an ongoing “dialogue” between the student’s ideas and his/her sources and also among the sources themselves.

Standards (cont). Address audience appropriately. Establish credibility and provide sufficient information. Organize your paper logically (Explained later) Select words precisely with sentences clear and unambiguous.

Standards (cont.) Avoid passive voice, stay in same verb tense, person (no you or I), comma errors, spelling, etc. PROOF READ MLA Documentation. Check, double check, triple check. Descriptive and attention-getting title Proper format and posted to your web site correctly

Understanding Synthesis – Activity 1. Come up with a list of words or phrases that can be used to show the relationships between sources: Agrees Disagrees Concurs Contradicts Confirms Expounds Upon Clarifies Goes even further

How to Write a Synthesis Essay Introduction (one short paragraph) One sentence statement that sums up the focus of your synthesis (provided!) Introduces the texts to be synthesized Title of each source Name of author Sometimes, includes background about authors, texts or general topic from which texts are drawn

Example Thesis J.K Rowling’s life experiences, novels, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, as well as an article by R.P. Bailey, “Harry Potter, literary insult or revolutionary tale” demonstrate that the stories are more than pop-culture fantasy but an exploration of bullying and its effects on young adults, which remains a prominent theme in teenage life world-wide.

The Body This should be organized by theme, point, similarity or aspect of the topic. Your organization will be determined by either key points, or the material you are synthesizing.

Each Paragraph: Topic sentence that relates to the thesis and states the key idea of the paragraph Includes information from more than one source Each idea is supported and developed by textual detail/direct quotations In text citations Concluding/Transitional Sentence

Conclusion Reminds readers of the theme and the connection amongst the texts Impact and relevance to today References sources one last time

Questions for Synthesis 1. Is the relationship between sources made clear? 2. Are synthesis words or phrases used to link two or more different sources? 3. Does the synthesis word or phrase accurately summarize the relationship between /among sources? 4. Does synthesized source material overwhelm your voice?