Synthesis Notes

DBQ EXAM QUESTION SYNTHESIS ESSAY

DBQ UP TO 11 SOURCES SYNTHESIS UP TO 7 SOURCES

DBQ Some sources don’t fit the argument SYNTHESIS ALL sources are valid

DBQ Thesis is preferred at the beginning of the first paragraph SYNTHESIS Thesis is preferred at the end of the first paragraph

DBQ Presentation of a case with evidence to support the case ANALYSIS SYNTHESIS NEW Presentation of a NEW idea with supporting evidence SYNTHESIS

DBQ Does NOT require quoting; indirect quoting and snippets are fine SYNTHESIS MUST include both direct AND indirect quotes!

DBQ Outside information is KEY SYNTHESIS Outside information is terrific but not vital

DBQ Each source has an opinion; these opinions will be chosen by YOU to support YOUR idea SYNTHESIS It’s not the opinion by each source that is important but the SUPPORT of the opinion by each source that makes the source good for YOUR idea

DBQ The documents do not drive the essay SYNTHESIS The documents support your NEW idea

DBQ When citing a source, use the writer’s name NOT “In document A…” SYNTHESIS When citing a source, place the letter of the document at the end of the point (A) NOT (Writer’s Name)

DBQ Use a preponderance of documents SYNTHESIS Use 3 documents; the topic will REQUIRE you to use the texts as evidence

DBQ Use the art or chart if possible SYNTHESIS Use the art or chart if possible

DBQ LAWYER-LIKE SYNTHESIS WRITER-LIKE

DBQ 25% of the grade on the test = $1000 SYNTHESIS 33% of the essay portion = $900

If you summarize the sources, you will NOT score higher than a 2. Emphasis for College Board on the essays:  Content – the what of the why (your argument and its evidence)  Organization – how (logical flow)  Structure – how (syntax, diction, rhetorical devices)  Mechanics  Grammar  Spelling

1. Read the question and understand what is required of you 2. Form an opinion for that question and jot it down on your paper 3. Think of outside information you know that COULD apply; make sure your outside info choices are VALID choices

4 If you choose to use an outside source (and you should), be wary of current topics that EVERYONE will use 5 Look for a source to back up your rebuttal paragraph 6 Look at the SOURCE of each document to see if you want to use a blog compared to an article from The New Yorker

7 Look at the RELATIONSHIP between the sources; one year there was a response from one source to another 8 Another plan is to take the sources that DISAGREE with you so you can discredit them

9 When looking over the documents, mark them in the following ways:  Positive (does it help your position) or Negative (does it go against your position)  What is the claim of each document?  What is the data that was used? LOGOS  What assumptions or beliefs are spoken or implied justify using this evidence to support your idea?