SYNTHESIS QUESTION

Four Essential Parts  The Directions  The Introduction  The Assignment  The Sources

The Directions  They will tell you that the prompt is based on the following sources.  You will be required to synthesize a variety of sources into a coherent, well-written essay, citing a minimum of three of the sources provided.  They will tell you to refer to these sources to support your position or explanation and to avoid mere paraphrase or summary. They will tell you that your argument should be central. The sources should be used to support your argument.

The Introduction  As advertised, this is a lead-in to the actual question/assignment to which you respond.  Some background material might be provided, but it won’t be something that necessarily needs to be used in your synthesis essay.  The introduction contextualizes and sets the tone for the upcoming question.

The Assignment  This part of the question will either take the form of a claim you will be defending, qualifying, or refuting (challenging), or it will be a question requiring you to examine the different facets of a problem or situation.  For the synthesis essay response, it is important that you take a position and make that position clear from the start.

The Sources  The sources you are given will vary in voice, time, and form.  You may get some textbook material, a news article, editorial, magazine excerpt, or any number of textual sources.  One thing is certain—of the sources provided, you will get at least one visual source. The visual source may be a chart or a graph. It could be a political cartoon. It could be a photograph. It could be a piece of art. It could be a design on a t-shirt. Whatever it is, there will be a visual element that could be used to support an argument or clarify an explanation.

Six important moves to accomplish the synthesis question task: 1. Read closely There will be 15 minutes allotted to the free-response section to allow time for this step. You are permitted to write on the cover sheet to the synthesis question, which will contain some introductory material, the prompt itself, and a list of sources. You are also permitted to annotate the sources themselves. You will not be permitted to open your test booklet and actually begin writing your composition until after the 15 minutes has elapsed.

 What claim is the source making about the issue?  What data or evidence does the source offer in support of that claim?  What are the assumptions or beliefs (explicit or unspoken) that warrant using this evidence or data to support the claim? 2. Analyze the argument each source is making

 Ask yourself, “What are two or three (or more) possible positions on this issue that I could take?  Which of those positions do I want to take? Why?” It’s VITAL for you to keep an open mind.  A stronger, more mature, more persuasive essay will result if you resist the temptation to oversimplify the issue, to hone in immediately on an obvious thesis.  Synthesis prompts are based on issues that invite careful, critical thinking.  The best student responses are those in which the thesis and development suggest clearly that the writer has given much thought to the nuances and complexities of the topic. 3. Generalize about your own potential stance on the issue

 This is the most challenging step! Role-playing the author or creator of each source, have an imaginary (and silent!) conversation between yourself and the author/creator of the source.  Would the author/creator agree with your position? Why? Disagree? Why? Would he/she want to qualify it in some way? Why and how? 4. Imagine presenting each of your best arguments about the issue to each of the authors of the provided sources

 It’s time to finesse and refine the point that you would like to make about the issue so that it can serve as a central proposition, a thesis—as complicated and robust as the topic demands—for your composition.  This proposition or thesis should appear relatively quickly in your composition, after a sentence or two that contextualizes the topic or issue for the reader. 5. After the imagined conversation…

 You must develop a case for your position by incorporating within your own thinking the conversations you’ve had with the authors/creators of the primary sources.  You should feel free to say things like, “Source A takes a position similar to mine,” or “Source C would oppose my position, but here’s why I still maintain its validity,” or “Source E offers a slightly different perspective, one that I would alter a bit.” 6. Argue your position

In short, the successful writer of a synthesis essay is going to be able to show readers how she or he has thought through the topic at hand by considering the sources critically and creating a composition that draws conversations with the sources into her or his own thinking. Thus…

Thoughts? Using TWO (2) of your vocab words, write about the synthesis round table activities in which you participated. Due tomorrow.  What was your position in response to Orwell’s quote?  Did the round table discussion add to your understanding of the sports-related texts? Explain.  What are some of the complexities in regard to the role of sports in society?  Has your understanding of Orwell’s statement deepened?  Which readings/rhetors support your position? Which ones do not? Explain.  Did your original position change? Explain.