English 111
INeal
Week6.pdf
Reading :
Synthesis Response essay These will be: At least 3 pages long, using at least two out of three sources multiple times (using summary, paraphrase, and/or quotes) with a Works Cited page and in-text citation for paraphrases and quotes. (from p.3 of the syllabus) Goals:
● To gain some experience in understanding the steps to building synthesis essays. ● Bring sources together to make your own original point. ● Look at subtle relationships between the author's ideas and explain them.
Directions: 1. Prewriting strategies.
a. Determine a theme that 3 or more authors we’ve read have that relates to you. b. Choose which 3 sources (or more) you think best discuss/illustrate that theme
Think about your audience: Me and your classmates. What would get their attention? What would interest them that has to do with you and your theme? 2. Create a thesis statement, which usually comes at the end of your introduction (a point that you are going to make or try to get us/readers to think about) about the theme you wish to discuss. NOTE: you do not have to write your thesis first. I usually don’t. But, you do need to have an idea of what you are writing about. This is also called a working thesis.
a. Try to be unique (or dig in beyond the obvious. A statement of fact is not a thesis! So try to have some point that you want to challenge us with).
b. Try to be very specific about your message/point.
3. Come up with 2-3 ideas/subpoints (not new ideas!) that connect to your thesis. Change/adapt your thesis as you go. Sometimes drafting leads you to new and interesting places that you had not considered. 4. Create Parts of the essay: (work on them in any order you want, especially if you cannot figure out how to introduce!). Introduction: Create 4-5 sentences (or more) to open the introduction designed to draw readers in. Again, you do not have to write this first so if you get stuck on how to start, move on to the body. I
do this a lot, then when I have time to think like on a walk or while driving I ponder how best to set-up my paper. A personal story can work here (see bell hooks (Chapter 9), and Matther McCarter or Matthew Crawford Chapter 7). Please avoid introductions that explain the assignment like: I read these sources and this is what I found (obviously you should have read the sources, right?!). Defining the theme or setting up with a dictionary is also not suggested. You should be able to explain it on your own! Body paragraphs:
A. consider 2-3 subpoints that support or illustrate your thesis. Each one gets its own paragraph.
B. Find what each author we’ve read so far has to say about your subpoint. Think about: How their ideas relate to yours. Can they talk about your idea with you? Can authors talk to each other? They DO NOT have to be identical to your view! How are they correct/mistaken? How does one of the other authors see it differently? Or how does one they expand on another’s idea? Or how do they offer an example of the other idea?
C. Be sure to use quotations and paraphrases, and integrate them in using signal phrases and
MLA citations (review previous weeks in Moodle if needed). https://awc.ashford.edu/cd-integrating-quotes.html
D. Before you end each paragraph, make sure you have a sentence that ties it together and
reiterates the point you were trying to make in that paragraph.
E. Use transitions. http://cwi.edu/faq/writing-center/how-do-i-use-transition-statements Create a conclusion.
In conclusion, it is good to review, restate the thesis (so what was your point again?) and wrap up. Check out Klass did this. This is your last chance to get your message across! A tie back to intro works well. Notice how McCarter did this.
5. Revise it before turning it in. (Use the online Writing Center, WRC, for help!) Ask questions! 6. Create a Works cited list: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjbMfL92b7g Works cited page: from: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/06
Writing :
Writing for the week: Rough draft of mini-synthesis
Self review and peer review of mini-synthesis draft (review your own, peer review two others): 3 steps
Step 1: Post your mini-synthesis as a google doc link in the: Activity document in Moodle. Be sure others can view and comment.
For how to post see: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vI0jGnYrBfHJzMPgkMlYm8O7OH6MJVHe xvcS_G-tcZo/edit?usp=sharing
Step 2: IN YOUR OWN DRAFT: Self-peer review of mini-synthesis paper. You will analyze your own paper. I want you to be able to assess yourself. Sometimes after peer review I hear students saying that no one told them what to revise, so I want students to learn to do this for themselves. Plus, not all classes that you write papers for have peer review sessions! Comment on any of the areas on the list above. Here are some specifics if you need more detail: Assess your introduction and title. Are they introducing your idea? Can readers tell what your message/thesis is? Creating an interest for readers?
In your pape r, highlight or comment on some of your signal phrases. Do you have a variety? Do you have a variety of quotes and paraphrases? Point out where you think you have synthesis or connections between authors. Point out where you think you need more. Comment on your citations. Are they correct? Do you have questions about any of them? Comment on paragraphing and anything else on the review list from the top of this document. Step 3 In two of your classmates’ papers, insert 5 comments and/or questions that give them something to work on. Use the list above and the assignment for ideas. This is not just a grammar or punctuation check. This is not just giving someone a “good job” or encouragement. You can do that, but you also have to give your classmates at least 5 comments or questions that give them ideas for what they might need to revise. Remember, as a writer, you can reject feedback (even mine), but you should consider it! If for example, someone says, this is confusing...you can keep it that way it is, but you might want to consider what might be confusing about it! Since we are working on synthesis or having authors talk to each other, try to spot areas where some synthesis is needed!
