1. An In-Depth Look at the Synthesis Essay Question
Preparing for the AP Language and Composition Exam

2. Yesterday’s reading True or False?
When writing a synthesis essay, you are meant to summarize the sources.
Synthesis essays requires a measured response that considers multiple perspectives and possibilities.
When writing persuasive essays, writers should use many types of evidence such as: details and examples, anecdotes, facts, quantitative data, and expert testimony.
When writing the synthesis essay, it is not necessary for you to cite your sources.
They type of evidence an author uses and the way it is documented does not depend on the audience and situation.

3. The Synthesis Essay The synthesis essay has a triple purpose.
It examines your ability to consider and support a rational argument.
It also seeks to evaluate 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. The Process
It is strongly recommended that you use the 15 minute reading period to immediately look at the synthesis passages. There will be 7 sources for you to sort through.
If there is time left over, read and make notes on the rhetorical analysis piece and argument question.

5. Is this an argument essay?
Yes, but it is more complex.
1. They TYPE of thinking you are doing is the often different from the argument in that the argument essays can be more philosophical, while the synthesis essays are usually about a particular topic or issue.
You are often asked to evaluate factors and to consider the implications or decisions – a step that goes beyond the traditional “defend, challenge, qualify/take a position” task in the argument essay.
You are required to synthesize information from the sources into YOUR argument, by either summarizing, quoting directly, or paraphrasing from AT LEAST 3 sources.

6. Careful!
Your sources won’t make your point. Only
YOU make YOUR point. Beware:
If you simply repeat what the sources had to say about the issue, you will always earn a lower-half score (1-4).

7. The Process 1. Read the prompt 2. Read & Evaluate the Sources
3. Write the essay

8. The Process 1. What does the prompt tell you?
Be careful to read the entire prompt – they are often more complex than you think.
Topic: what is the prompt about? (What issue?)
Context: what (if any) useful background information does it give you?
Task/Purpose: what does it ask you to DO?
Are you making a claim of fact (identify or examine factors, outcomes, implications), a claim of policy (offer a recommendation, develop a position or whether or not something should be changed)?
NOTE: Claims of fact, value, and policy often build on each other – you will most likely be make all in your argument – but it is important to recognize which type of claim the prompt is asking you to focus on.

9. The Process What is your position on the issue? Recognize Complexity:
Many students receive lower scores on synthesis essays because they overlook the complexity of the prompt and take a simple position. An essay that cites three sources supporting only one view will not score above a 4. Why? Because an important goal of research and synthesis is to recognize complexity and to show an awareness of multiple views. This does not mean that you cannot take a definite position on an issue. It does mean that the you should establish ethos (your credibility as a writer) by conceding to other views.
A careful consideration of information given in the prompt can move you beyond the trap of superficial, one-sided thinking.

10. The Process 2. What is your position on the issue?
Factors: What factors should be evaluated before selecting the best position? Remember that, in the synthesis, even if factors/evaluations are not directly mentioned, you are expected to consider them in your discussion of the issue.
Consider your tentative position: Now that you have identified some of the complexities in your analysis of the prompt, formulate a tentative position on the issue – your guess of what you might argue AFTER reading the prompt but BEFORE reading the sources.

11. Dealing with the Passages and Visuals
You should critically mark and annotate the passage by identifying three things:
What is the point of view, thesis, or information offered?
Are there any “quotables” – particularly succinct (short; concise) or stimulating phrases – you can use?
Do you plan to use the piece or a portion of it to support your argument in some way?
You may decide this question after reading all or most of the passages – you are looking for three good ones.

12. Dealing with the Passages and Visuals
Identify certain elements right away such as:
Is the source biased?
You can determine this by looking at the source itself – an article from Christian Century will have some inherent biases.
Does the source’s date of publication have an effect on the relevance of the argument?
A passage written in 1975 about advertising is likely to be out of date today.
What position does the author hold?
Determine if the author is for, against, or neutral about the topic.
For what audience is the author writing?
Identify the target audience for the piece: women, men, businesspeople, etc.

13. The Visual
It may take the form of a chart, table, photograph, political cartoon, or painting.
You should follow the same steps for analyzing the visual as you do when annotating the passages:
Look for bias
Datedness
Position
Audience
Point of view
And usefulness to
your argument

14. 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.
*Qualifying an argument allows room for reflection and interpretation and is crucial to creating a strong ethos.
Categories of qualification:
Quantity: many, most, some
Frequency: often, usually, frequently
Probability: probably, unlikely
Proof: suggests, indicates, points to

15. Warning: Did the student use examples?
You absolutely must include a minimum of three quotations in the synthesis essay.
If you do not have specific examples, your essay will receive no more than a lower half score (1-4)

16. One More Warning
Beware: do not put in so many quotes that the grader cannot find your argument.

17. What are you going to write about?
There are 3 synthesis formats:
Cause and effect
Straight Argument
Issues and considerations
Prior to reading the sources ESTABLISH YOUR OWN POSITION first.
Remember, synthesis is a DIALOGUE with the text
After you have figured out what type of synthesis essay you are writing, and your position, read/analyze the sources and label the categories on each source. It will help you determine which sources give you the best argument.
Issues/considerations
Pros/cons

18. Let’s look at some past prompts:
Obesity Synthesis ysynthesisexercisecomplete.pdf
Museums Synthesis
lang_formb_frq.pdf
Honor Code Prompt
media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap15_frq_english_l anguage.pdf

19. Obesity Synthesis Exercise
Forbes magazine cites government statistics to say that “the average weight of an American has increased 24 pounds since 1960.” As the obesity rate in America grows along with healthcare costs, obesity has become an issue in our national discourse. First Lady Michelle Obama has initiated a campaign to address childhood obesity.
Carefully read the following seven sources, including the introductory information for each source. Then synthesize information from at least four of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well- developed essay that develops a position on the extent of the role society and/or government should play in the obesity issue.
Make sure your argument is central; use the sources to illustrate and support your reasoning. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase or summary. You may cite the sources as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the descriptions in parentheses.

20. Obesity Synthesis Exercise
Introduction
Forbes magazine cites government statistics to say that “the average weight of an American has increased 24 pounds since 1960.” As the obesity rate in America grows along with healthcare costs, obesity has become an issue in our national discourse. First Lady Michelle Obama has initiated a campaign to address childhood obesity.
Carefully read the following seven sources, including the introductory information for each source. Then synthesize information from at least four of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well- developed essay that develops a position on the extent of the role society and/or government should play in the obesity issue.
Make sure your argument is central; use the sources to illustrate and support your reasoning. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase or summary. You may cite the sources as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the descriptions in parentheses.
Prompt
Cite
Sources

21. Obesity synthesis exercise
What is this prompt asking you to do?
Carefully read the following seven sources, including the introductory information for each source. Then synthesize information from at least four of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay that develops a position on the extent of the role society and/or government should play in the obesity issue.
On your paper, answer the question in a complete sentence.
Then, list reasons why.

22. Obesity synthesis exercise
Now that you know your own position, and your reasoning behind your position we can analyze the sources. Remember, you are using the sources to support YOUR OWN POSITION and simply summarizing the sources will result in a lower half (1-4) score.

23. Source Analysis
For each source do the following – (On your own sheet of paper….label each source as well)
What type of source is the document? ( Ex: book, article, blog, etc…)
Is the source reliable? Why or why not?
Summarize the main idea in 1-2 sentences.
What bias or assumption does the source make, if any?
Would this be a potential source for your synthesis? Why or why not?
Potential quotes…

24. Writing the thesis Position which makes a qualification:
While _______________________, _____________________________.
( counterargument) (my position)