1. ap Language ESSAYS
SYNTHESIS

2. SYNTHESIS
THE SYNTHESIS QUESTION is an argument question used to ensure that you are capable of presenting support for your argument.

3. synthesis THE SYNTHESIS QUESTION HAS A TRIPLE PURPOSE:
- it examines your ability to consider and support a rational argument.
- it evaluates your ability to absorb, understand, and employ several sources on the same topic.
- it tests your ability to correctly cite the sources you have quoted or paraphrased in your argument.

4. SYNTHESIS
In order to complete the Synthesis essay question, you need to be able to manage several tasks quickly and thoroughly.
The following slides will work through these responsibilities.

5. SYNTHESIS Your Advantages:
You will have more ideas and materials at your disposal; consequently, you have more to say.
Even if the prompt is on a topic you have never before encountered, you at least have six – eight sources to use in your discussion.

6. SYNTHESIS Your Advantages:
The College Board added fifteen minutes to the length of this exam to accommodate for the extra time needed to read the sources for this question.
It is strongly recommended that you use the first minutes of the exam time to attack the Synthesis Question.
If there is time left over, read and make notes on the Rhetorical Analysis question and glance at the Q3 general Argument question.

7. Working the Synthesis question
Read the initial question page carefully. There are three sections.
Directions
Introduction
Assignment

8. Working the Synthesis question
Directions: Here you will find this crucial sentence –
Your argument should be central; the sources should support this argument.
Avoid merely summarizing sources.
Your opinion is the MOST important aspect of the essay; therefore, you
MUST form one!!
The sources you present in your argument are there to support and
sustain your ideas.
simply repeating what you read in the sources will end in a lower- half
score on your essay.
It is not essential for you to bring your own ideas into , but it is a good idea.

9. Working the Synthesis question
Introduction – its purpose is to get you thinking about the issue by making
general statements about the topic.
The introduction provides a larger context for the question.
This material is NOT the prompt.
Do not address an idea presented in the introduction if it is not central
to the assignment.

10. Working the Synthesis question
Assignment: This is the prompt.
You must address the prompt in a specific manner.
While most of the prompts you ask you to agree, disagree, or
qualify some claim;
however, there are also open questions that ask you to present recommendations or evaluate current or future effects of a
policy.
DO WHAT THE PROMPT ASKS YOU TO DO!

11. Working the Synthesis question
Assignment:
The language of the assignment is very important to the task because it
IS the question.
The prompt will state that you MUST “synthesize at least three of the
sources for support.”
You cannot have an upper-half score unless you QUOTE or PARAPHRASE
AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE SOURCES IN YOUR ESSAY.

12. Working the Synthesis question
To summarize –
1. Answer the prompt.
2. Present your own opinion.
3. Use at least three different sources in the essay.

13. Working the Synthesis question
Finally –
At the bottom of the first page, there is a brief list of the sources that will
follow. It looks something like this:
Source A (Douglass) Source B (Sibly)
When you cite a source, you do not need to use MLA format.
You may simply refer to it as either “Souce A” or “Douglass”
You may also write, “Douglass makes a startling observation when
he suggests ”
Or, “Source A proposes ”

14. Working the Synthesis question
Before turning the page of the synthesis packet, do these tasks to help you focus later:
Attack the prompt as we practiced in class –
1. Circle any word that asks you to DO something
2. Draw an arrow from each action word to what it specifically asks you
to do.
3. Rewrite and number the circled words.
4. Next to each word, rewrite what it specifically asks you to do.
This now serves as your prompt.
Write down any opinion you may have on the topic.
Jot down any examples that come to mind.

15. Synthesis STRATEGIES
Areas of practice until recognizing them becomes second nature:
1. Write a quick SOAPSTONE.
2. Is the source biased? Look at the source itself; who is the publisher?
Check for loaded language, hasty generalizations, etc..
3. Does the date of publication have an effect on the relevance of the
argument?
4. What is the author’s position? Is he for, against, or neutral about the topic?

16. Synthesis STRATEGIES
Once you have identified these elements, you are ready to engage the author’s arguments or point of view.
Mark and annotate the passage by identifying three things:
1. What is the point of view, thesis, or information offered?
2. Are there any “quotables” – particulary succinct or stimulating phrases
you can use?
3. Do you plan to use the piece or a portion of it to support your argument?
(You may decide this question after reading all or most of the passages –
you are looking for at least three good ones.)

17. Synthesis STRATEGIES The Visual
There will be at least one visual of some kind among the passages.
It may take the form or a picture, graph, table, cartoon, any image.
Any visual representation is as much an argument as an essay.
Follow the same steps for analyzing the visual as you do with the
passages: look for bias, datedness, position, audience, point of view,
and usefulness to your argument.

18. Synthesis STRATEGIES Using enough passages:
You do not have to read all the passages if you have enough support from the first ones you read.
The specific requirement is to quote or paraphrase at least three different. sources.
You may always use more.

19. Synthesis STRATEGIES Using Opposing Passages:
It is always a good strategy to use passages that disagree with your point of view, especially if you are dealing with an “agree, disagree, or qualify” prompt.
If Source C says just the opposite of your point of view, one strategy is to write a paragraph that quotes or paraphrases Source C and then points out what you consider to be the weakness or error in that author’s argument.
You might note an author’s failure to understand the complete picture or point out a biased argument based on the author’s background.
These are signs of sophisticated writing and thinking.

20. Synthesis STRATEGIES Counting Passages:
You are required to cite at least three different sources.
You may use more than three.
You may quote more than once from any particular source.
Be sure as you write your argument that you are including a sufficient number of sources to support it.
Do not use so many sources that the reader cannot find your argument.
Cite the sources appropriately.

21. SYNTHESIS QUESTION SUMMARY
In answering the Synthesis essay question,
1. Read the first page carefully and take note of your task.
2. Identify your own feelings or opinion before you read the passage.
3. Read, annotate, and comment on each passage, paying attention to clarity of position and keeping and eye open for any good quotations you might use.