THE SYNTHESIS ESSAYTHE SYNTHESIS ESSAY

Definition:Definition:

• ““Synthesis” is the combining of Synthesis” is the combining of separate elements to form a coherent separate elements to form a coherent whole.whole.

• Synthesis does not mean simply having two or more sources. Having more than one source is an excellent first step, but real synthesis isn’t happening unless a relationship between the sources is apparent.

Definition:Definition:

• A synthesis essay brings together A synthesis essay brings together your own ideas with the ideas of your own ideas with the ideas of other writers, your sources.other writers, your sources.

Process of synthesis writing:Process of synthesis writing:

• Develop your Develop your own original ideaown original idea, or , or thesis, based on the sourcesthesis, based on the sources

• So…basically I just read the articles and So…basically I just read the articles and summarize each one separately?summarize each one separately?– No. A literature review is not a summary.No. A literature review is not a summary.– A A summarysummary is a recap of a source (or is a recap of a source (or

sources).sources).– A A synthesissynthesis is an integrated essay based on is an integrated essay based on

multiple sources. multiple sources.

Step One: Pre-WriteStep One: Pre-Write

• Collect your Collect your sourcessources on the topic on the topic

• Familiarize yourself with what others have Familiarize yourself with what others have written about the topicwritten about the topic

• Use a Use a graphic organizer graphic organizer to gather to gather informationinformation

• Formulate your own Formulate your own thesisthesis, after reflecting , after reflecting on your researchon your research

Step Two: Pre-WriteStep Two: Pre-Write

• Using your thesis as a starting point, Using your thesis as a starting point, freewrite, brainstorm, question or freewrite, brainstorm, question or map out map out ideas on the topicideas on the topic

• Using the pre-writing material you Using the pre-writing material you generate, create a scratch outlinegenerate, create a scratch outline

Sample ThesisSample Thesis

• Thesis:Thesis: The two memoirs, The two memoirs, All Over but the All Over but the Shoutin’ Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg and by Rick Bragg and The Color of WaterThe Color of Water by by James McBrideJames McBride, share the , share the themetheme that, that, with family with family support and love, we can overcome obstacles support and love, we can overcome obstacles

Step Four: ReviseStep Four: Revise

• Be sure that your Be sure that your thesisthesis covers all the covers all the supporting pointssupporting points

• Be sure that you have introduced all of your Be sure that you have introduced all of your sourcessources in the introductory paragraph in the introductory paragraph

• Check that each body paragraph begins with Check that each body paragraph begins with a clear a clear topic sentence topic sentence to focus the main to focus the main ideaidea

• Make sure that all of your Make sure that all of your evidenceevidence supports supports your thesis clearly; edit out any facts, your thesis clearly; edit out any facts, quotes or ideas that do not (or move them quotes or ideas that do not (or move them to paragraphs where they logically belong)to paragraphs where they logically belong)

Step Four: ReviseStep Four: Revise

• Add quotations, facts or opinions of Add quotations, facts or opinions of your sources where you are lacking your sources where you are lacking adequate evidenceadequate evidence

• Be sure that you have introduced the Be sure that you have introduced the writer of all quotations writer of all quotations by putting the by putting the name of the writer in your text, right name of the writer in your text, right before the quote:before the quote:

(According to Smith,”XXXXX”)(According to Smith,”XXXXX”)

Step Four: ReviseStep Four: Revise

• Always ask yourself: are you interpreting Always ask yourself: are you interpreting quotes and furthering your own ideas, or quotes and furthering your own ideas, or are you just piling quotes one on top of the are you just piling quotes one on top of the other?other?

““Dark chocolate contains Dark chocolate contains antioxidants” (Ghirardelli, 2008, p. 3); antioxidants” (Ghirardelli, 2008, p. 3); “antioxidants protect cells from free “antioxidants protect cells from free radical damage” (Oz, 2009, p. 27). “Dark radical damage” (Oz, 2009, p. 27). “Dark chocolate can be incorporated into many chocolate can be incorporated into many snacks or meals” (Crocker, 2002, p. 22). snacks or meals” (Crocker, 2002, p. 22).

Step Four: ReviseStep Four: Revise

• Starting or ending a paragraph with a direct Starting or ending a paragraph with a direct quote.quote.

““Potato chips are tasty treats but leave Potato chips are tasty treats but leave your fingers feeling greasy,”your fingers feeling greasy,” (Smith, 2005, p. (Smith, 2005, p. 267). Potato chips are a favorite snack food 267). Potato chips are a favorite snack food among Americans (Wise, 1997, p. 23), but among Americans (Wise, 1997, p. 23), but researchers have documented how they tend researchers have documented how they tend to leave your fingers, arteries, and intestinal to leave your fingers, arteries, and intestinal tract with a Vaseline-like substance tract with a Vaseline-like substance (Edwards, 2006). “There is a big problem for (Edwards, 2006). “There is a big problem for people who eat potato chips while typing on people who eat potato chips while typing on a laptop” (Edwards, 2006, p. 19).a laptop” (Edwards, 2006, p. 19).

Step Five: EditStep Five: Edit

• Add, delete or move ideas as neededAdd, delete or move ideas as needed

• Proofread for grammar, mechanics, Proofread for grammar, mechanics, punctuation, word choice or punctuation, word choice or typographical errorstypographical errors

Sample outline for a synthesis Sample outline for a synthesis essayessayA synthesis essay should be organized so that others can understand the sources and evaluate A synthesis essay should be organized so that others can understand the sources and evaluate

your comprehension of them and their presentation of specific data, themes, etc. your comprehension of them and their presentation of specific data, themes, etc. • The introduction (first paragraph)The introduction (first paragraph)

    1.    Thesis sentence that sums up the focus of your synthesis.     1.    Thesis sentence that sums up the focus of your synthesis.     2.    Also introduces the texts to be synthesized:     2.    Also introduces the texts to be synthesized:             (i)  Gives the title of each source (following the citation guidelines of whatever style               (i)  Gives the title of each source (following the citation guidelines of whatever style                     sheet you are using);                     sheet you are using);               (ii)  Provides the name of each author;             (ii)  Provides the name of each author;             (ii)  Sometimes also provides pertinent background information about the authors,              (ii)  Sometimes also provides pertinent background information about the authors,                    about the texts to be summarized, or about the general topic from which the                    about the texts to be summarized, or about the general topic from which the                    texts are drawn.                    texts are drawn. 

• The body of a synthesis essay:The body of a synthesis essay: Each paragraph should:Each paragraph should:

•         1.     Start with a topic sentence; 1.     Start with a topic sentence;     2.     Include information from more than one source;     2.     Include information from more than one source;     3.     Indicate the names of your sources;                 3.     Indicate the names of your sources;                .     . 

• Conclusion.Conclusion. Write a concluding paragraph that restates your thesis in different words and summarizes Write a concluding paragraph that restates your thesis in different words and summarizes themes you have found and the ways they connect to the overall topic.  themes you have found and the ways they connect to the overall topic. 

Adapted from Drew On-line Resources for WritersAdapted from Drew On-line Resources for Writers

Works Cited PageWorks Cited Page

• Include a Works Cited page at the endInclude a Works Cited page at the end of the essay, essentially a list of your of the essay, essentially a list of your

sourcessources• See below for an example of a good See below for an example of a good

Works Cited page, using MLA styleWorks Cited page, using MLA style

http://www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/http://www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/Hacker-Daly-MLA-WC.pdfHacker-Daly-MLA-WC.pdf

Group ExerciseGroup ExerciseStep 1Step 1Read the two Aesop’s Fables:Read the two Aesop’s Fables:

• The Wolf in Sheep's ClothingThe Wolf in Sheep's Clothing A Wolf found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing toA Wolf found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing tothe vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs. But one day it foundthe vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs. But one day it foundthe skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so itthe skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so itput it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep.put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep.The Lamb that belonged to the sheep, whose skin the Wolf wasThe Lamb that belonged to the sheep, whose skin the Wolf waswearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep's clothing; so,wearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep's clothing; so,leading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, andleading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, andfor some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoyingfor some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoyinghearty meals.hearty meals.

Part 1: Part 1: From From http://aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?http://aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?

sel&TheWolfinSheepsClothing2sel&TheWolfinSheepsClothing2

• The Ant and the ChrysalisThe Ant and the Chrysalis An Ant nimbly running about in the sunshine in search of food An Ant nimbly running about in the sunshine in search of food

camecameacross a Chrysalis that was very near its time of change. Theacross a Chrysalis that was very near its time of change. TheChrysalis moved its tail, and thus attracted the attention of the Chrysalis moved its tail, and thus attracted the attention of the

Ant,Ant,who then saw for the first time that it was alive. "Poor, pitiablewho then saw for the first time that it was alive. "Poor, pitiableanimal!" cried the Ant disdainfully. "What a sad fate is yours!animal!" cried the Ant disdainfully. "What a sad fate is yours!While I can run hither and thither, at my pleasure, and, if I wish,While I can run hither and thither, at my pleasure, and, if I wish,ascend the tallest tree, you lie imprisoned here in your shell, withascend the tallest tree, you lie imprisoned here in your shell, withpower only to move a joint or two of your scaly tail." The Chrysalispower only to move a joint or two of your scaly tail." The Chrysalisheard all this, but did not try to make any reply. heard all this, but did not try to make any reply.

A few days after, when the Ant passed that way A few days after, when the Ant passed that way again, nothing but the shell remained. again, nothing but the shell remained. Wondering what had become of its contents, Wondering what had become of its contents, he felt himself suddenly shaded and fanned by he felt himself suddenly shaded and fanned by the gorgeous wings of a beautiful Butterfly.the gorgeous wings of a beautiful Butterfly.

"Behold in me," said the Butterfly, "your much-"Behold in me," said the Butterfly, "your much-pitied friend! Boast now of your powers to run pitied friend! Boast now of your powers to run and climb as long as you can get me to listen." and climb as long as you can get me to listen." So saying, the Butterfly rose in the air, and, So saying, the Butterfly rose in the air, and, borne along and aloft on the summer breeze, borne along and aloft on the summer breeze, was soon lost to the sight of the Ant forever.was soon lost to the sight of the Ant forever.

Part 2: In groups-Part 2: In groups-

• Write very brief summaries of each Write very brief summaries of each fable (be as concise as humanly fable (be as concise as humanly possible without leaving out any possible without leaving out any important facts)important facts)

• Write one sentence to connect your Write one sentence to connect your two summaries (this is your synthesis two summaries (this is your synthesis thesis sentence!)thesis sentence!)

• Write a short scratch outline for this Write a short scratch outline for this synthesis essay (see the sample)synthesis essay (see the sample)