english 1302
ajpradhan1
1302Week7Notes.pptxSynthesis
As you read and research more in college, you will naturally start to see connections between sources you’ve come across
Be aware of how what you read may relate to something else you’ve read in the past and be able to make those connections in your research and writing (this is part of the process of life-long learning rather than just burning through sources for one purpose and forgetting about them forever)
Synthesis
In your Rhetorical Analysis essay, you practiced analyzing one particular article of your choice
However, as we know, a typical research project would call for you to find multiple sources on a topic, not just one
Reviewing multiple opinions and/or sources on opposite sides of an issue is a good idea anyway, because it makes you a more informed researcher, thinker and writer (= builds ethos with your audience)
When you have to combine ideas from multiple sources in a single discussion, you are engaging in synthesis
Synthesis
Synthesis is combining information from several sources in order to make a more comprehensive argument
This involves summarizing the work of several authors in a joint conversation about a topic
Your goal is ultimately to combine the arguments of others to make your own argument (so, this is not strictly summary! You are aiming to show or prove something through this analysis of several sources at once)
Moves to Make In a Synthesis Essay
Open your discussion with a main idea that links all the sources (and in some way indicates your own thesis – what you’re trying to show or prove about the topic through this discussion)
Put your sources “in conversation” with each other by noting how they agree, disagree or vary in opinion – how do they all work together to prove a point?
Orchestrate the conversation by organizing and presenting sources in a way that shows readers your take on the issue
Contribute something of your own to the conversation
Essentially, you’re saying, “This person has stated this, that person has stated that, but my argument is x because of this, this and this…”
Example of Synthesis Paragraph
”Many college educators have noted that high school work is significantly different from college work (topic sentence summarizing opinion shared by all sources). Kirk S. Kidwell, a professor who has worked with thousands of freshmen, has seen that many first-year students have a hard time changing the way they learned in high school. One particular challenge is that students are “no longer the passive recipient” of answers given by the teacher (254). In fact, many of the questions don’t have single “right” answers (255). A similar perspective is expressed by English professor L. Lennie Irvin. In his essay “What is ‘Academic’ Writing?” (making connection between the first two sources with a transition sentence). Irvin writes that in high school, research often means looking up information in Google or Wikipedia, but in college, research is more complicated (8). Both authors note that (another connection between sources) students will need to work much harder to be able to do work they are not used to doing. Nicholas Preus blames secondary schools for some of the problems he has seen his English 101 students have adjusting to college work (Third source is introduced). Preus says college instructors ask writers to challenge ideas and that students aren’t used to doing this (76). Kidwell and Irvin also imply blame on the part of high schools by suggesting that in high school students don’t get to practice the type of learning required in college. All three authors draw attention to the inadequate preparation I believe high school students receive for college” (The connection between the three sources is reiterated and their opinions are used to support the author’s point: High schools don’t adequately prepare students for college work).
Credit: Academic Writing: Concepts and Connections, Teresa Thonney
Example of Synthesis Paragraph
In the sample paragraph, the writer combines the arguments of three other authors to make his own argument, one that will go beyond that of any of his sources
Keep in mind, synthesis involves summarizing what others have said, so short summaries are sufficient
You don’t need to spend a ton of time explaining the opinion of each author in depth –summarize their main ideas, link them clearly to others, and move onto your own discussion
Generally, you are using their ideas as a launch pad for your own thesis and supporting points (depending on the prompt)
Planning a Synthesis Paper
Consider the audience and purpose for the assignment (rhetorical situation)
In what genre are you writing? What is the assigned purpose for your paper? Who is your audience? What would your audience be most interested in learning from you?
Pay attention to the prompt provided by your instructor – are you being asked merely to summarize several different sources and show your understanding?
Or are you being asked to engage in a scholarly conversation by reading critically, analyzing sources, and creating an argument?
Planning a Synthesis Paper
Look for agreements, disagreements, and discrepancies between sources
Your sources do not all have to share the same main idea in order for you to make connections between them
The idea here is not necessarily to look for sources that agree totally with one another (if you are charged with finding the sources yourself…or, they maybe given to you by your Instructor)
You may find (or be given) sources that conflict with one another and you must discuss the two sides to this controversy before giving your own opinion
It is o.k. to say “This person has stated this, this and this, but I feel my argument is stronger because of this, this and this.” In other words, presenting opinions that differ from your own is acceptable and productive (discussing the opposition first can be useful for when you’re ready to counter their argument)
Remember, just because an Instructor gives you a source to read does not mean you have to agree with it! Instructors are mostly looking for you to consider the topic, investigate it, and decide what you think about it
Planning a Synthesis Paper
Make annotations as you read; note places where sources agree or disagree
If your sources disagree, you might want to ask questions like:
What about the authors’ backgrounds explains their differing positions?
Can they both be right in some way?
What makes one author more correct than another?
If your sources agree, you might want to ask yourself questions like:
What about these authors’ backgrounds explains their shared position?
Is there another way of looking at this subject?
Is there anything these authors have failed to consider?
Can the authors’ evidence be used to make a related but different point?
Synthesis Tips
You don’t have to be done with your research to start writing
As you read, record potential topics, sub-topics, body paragraphs, & main ideas that you don’t want to forget
The main idea for your essay can be taking shape as you go…you don’t have to know your thesis before you start reading, brainstorming and making notes
Allow your essay to take shape in your head throughout your Research process
Find ways to “chunk” or categorize information into sections that will eventually form body paragraphs in your paper
Make note of important quotes, page numbers, and details as you go to save yourself time later
Make a Plan!
Create an Outline! This helps you “chunk” information, or organize it by category
Central claim
Supporting Point A (sources 1 & 2)
Supporting Point B (sources 2 only)
Supporting Point C (sources 1 & 3)
In this type of Outline, you can organize information around the key concepts that the articles share, or around the supporting points for the overall claim you are making. Your first paragraph would be about Point A, so you would discuss those sources that involve Point A. Next paragraph would be about Point B, so you would discuss which sources involve Point B, and so forth
Make a Plan!
You could also type an Outline easily in a simple list with bullet points:
Supporting Point A
Source 1 says “blah blah blah blah” about Point A
Source 2, however, says “yadda yadda yadda” about Point A
Supporting Point B
Source 2 says “yip yip yip” about Point B
While Source 3 days “da da da” about Point B
The idea here is just to give yourself a concrete plan for your essay, and a place to organize all of this information, before you begin drafting.
Make a Plan!
Another option would be to organize your body paragraphs around a discussion of each source, rather than the concepts:
Source 1
Says this about Concept A, that about Concept B, and that about Concept C
Source 2
On the other hand, source 2 says this about Concept A, that about Concept B, and that about concept C
I think
But I think this about Concept A, that about Concept B, and that about Concept C
In this way, you will guide your audience through a discussion of what several different sources had to say about the global issue before bringing them around to your own opinion Pay close attention to any organizational requirements your Instructor may give you – he or she may specify how they want the essay structured
Formulating the Central Claim
The central claim or thesis is the main assertion you want readers to understand or accept
It is the statement that answers your research question
Again, analyze the prompt provided by your Instructor to understand what is being asked of you – are you being asked to Summarize the published research or to give an Opinion?
Some tips on formulating your thesis for this style of essay:
Write down your goal (“I want to show that…I want to prove that…”?)
Revise your statement to reflect what your evidence shows (as you read more sources, revise your central claim to reflect what the evidence shows)
Don’t be afraid to acknowledge alternative viewpoints (It is fine to say “this source asserts A, B, C…however, this source asserts X, Y, Z”)
