Synthesis writing

Looking at Synthesis Writing in Action

Let’s start with a brief recap of what synthesis writing is. As we’ve learned, synthesis writing is a written discussion that draws on material in several texts in order to objectively compare and contrast information.

But what does that look like on paper?

Below is a paragraph of synthesis writing from a larger essay that investigates the issue of “Boomerang Kids.” “Boomerang Kids” refers to the growing trend of young adults going off to college only to graduate and return home to live with their parents.

The synthesis question that the larger essay addresses is the following: what are the causes of delayed-adulthood trends (aka “boomerang kids”) and how should we respond?

The two texts being synthesized are:

1) Robin Henig’s “What is it About 20-Somethings?”

a. Henig is interested in how the science of brain development paired with modern culture might be responsible for the trend of Boomerang Kids.

2) Blogger Scammed Hard!’s “What’s Wrong with 20-Somethings?”

a. Scammed Hard! sees the trend of Boomerang Kids as resulting from a bad economy, which itself is a result of destructive decisions made by members of the Baby Boomer generation

At last(!) we make it to the synthesis paragraph: (for the sake of context, it’s useful to know that immediately before the paragraph below, the author discussed the science of brain development).

While both authors accept the science on brain development, they disagree on the role it plays in causing Millennials’ problems. Henig uses psychological research to suggests that it might be time for society to enact policies that enrich “the cognitive environment for people in their 20s” in order to better shape their brains for the demands of adulthood…In contrast, Scammed Hard! refuses to “write off the problems my generation faces as merely ‘normal stages of development.’ ” He thinks that focusing on a new “life stage” diverts attention from the urgent economic problems that drive this generations’ reality and account for Millennials’ anger, depression and humiliating inability to support themselves…Scammed Hard! believes that the Boomers’ decision to outsource jobs, lend irresponsibly, and encourage student debt led to the catastrophic economic collapse that has limited the Millennials’ financial independence, whereas Henig thinks the economy has merely accelerated trends that already existed among Millennials before the Great Recession.

So what is this paragraph doing well:

1)Topic sentence announces what the paragraph will be about: differences in opinions regarding the causes of “Boomerang Kids”

2) The paragraph explicitly draws on the views of two authors in a single paragraph. Effective synthesis paragraphs contain ideas from more than one source

3) Did you notice the attributive tags?! The two authors’ views are compared/contrasted (in a single paragraph, no less!), but we never get confused about whose opinion we’re getting

4) The paragraph remains objective—it simply compares/contrasts the views of two authors on the relevant subject. Synthesis writing is not about the opinions of the person writing the synthesis essay

5) It uses phrases like “Whereas Henig…” & “In contrast…” in order to smoothly incorporate the views from both author. These phrases make it easier to transition from the ideas of one author to another in the same paragraph.

ASSIGNMENT

Directions: Write a 1-paragraph response to the synthesis question below. That paragraph should be a synthesis paragraph. For your response, synthesize information from Celeste’s “Disturbing Media Images of Haiti Earthquake…” and Hoyt’s “Face to Face with Tragedy”

**Obviously, you’ll have to go read the Celeste and Hoyt articles in order to do this. You can find them on pages 255-258 of the text “Analyzing Images.”

Synthesis Question: What issues should be considered by news media in documenting human tragedy in disastrous events?

Break the process down by first briefly summarizing what each source says on the matter.

Summary of Hoyt’s Position on media depictions of tragedy (3-4 complete sentences):

Summary of Celeste’s Position on media depictions of tragedy (3-4 complete sentences):

Now combine those views in a paragraph that compares and contrast them and—voila!—that’s synthesis writing.

Write your synthesis paragraph below: