Syntheisizing Sources

Synthesizing Sources NAME_______________________________

I. Here are some examples of formulaic expressions you might use when you synthesize sources:

· The claim that ______ is supported by the observations of AUTHOR 1 and AUTHOR 2. AUTHOR 1 insists that ______. Likewise, AUTHOR 2 believes that ______.

· AUTHOR 1 and AUTHOR 2 give examples of _____. AUTHOR 1 asserts that ______. AUTHOR 2 supports this position by _________.

· Although AUTHOR 1 believes that _____, this interpretation is not held universally; for example, AUTHOR 2 notes that _____.

· AUTHOR 1 asserts that _____; however, he fails to explain ___. AUTHOR 2 points out that ____.

II. Below you will find three sets of quotations. Read the quotations in the section(s) assigned and write five different short paragraphs (at least three sentences) in which you compare or contrast two or more of the views expressed in each set. This assignment is worth 50 points, so make sure your answers are both accurate and clear. Remember to include page numbers.

A. Does ecotourism benefit countries where it exists?

1. Ellen Bradley, tour leader in Cancun, Mexico (“Ecotourism Now,” page 10)

Ecotourism provides jobs for many Mexicans and raises their standard of living.

2. Juan Sanchez, agriculture minister of Mexico (Surviving Tourism, page 15)

Small farmers are losing their land and livelihood to ecotourism. To survive, they must join the service economy.

3. Rachel Collins, county commissioner in Shasta County, California (“Logs to Lodges,” page 83)

Because the timber industry is in decline, people in Shasta County are turning to ecotourism as an alternative way to make a living.

4. Jamey Leeds, staff writer (“Greener Travels.” Page A5)

Travel agencies such as Tour Now and Green Tours are funding reforestation projects in areas potentially attractive to tourists.

5. Manuela Rico, biologist in Belize (“Betting on the Beauty of Belize,” page 23)

The increased number of cruise ships stopping in Belize is endangering fauna, flora, and Belize’s reputation as an ecological paradise.

B. Do Muslim women have the freedom they want?

1. Omid Aslan, director of the Center for Pluralism (“Women’s and Men’s Rights,” page B2)

Women in many Islamic countries insist that an accurate understanding of Islam reveals that men and women are equals, socially and spiritually.

2. Mehrzad Abdo, freelance journalist (“Wearing the Veil,” page 73)

In Iran and Saudi Arabia, we are told to cover our faces. In France and Great Britain, we are told not to. Why can’t we do what we want to do?

3. Julie Holst, professor of Islamic studies (“Being Female in the Arab World,” page 12)

Not all Muslim women feel repressed. Just as there are alternative ways to be Christian, there are alternative ways to be Muslim.

4. Thomas Voll, religious historian (Requirements of the Koran, page 178)

The Koran requires modest dress but not head veils.

5. Rashid Ansar, professor of law (“Debate over Sharia,” page 81)

Whether the Koran allows men to beat their wives is a highly controversial issue.

C. Is voting in the United States fair?

1. Kendra Berg, election specialist (“Unenforced or Unenforceable Voting Laws,” page 18)

The National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act require good record keeping at the state level, but often voter rolls are not updated as frequently as they should be.

2. Scott Todd, freelance journalist (“The Cost of Cheating,” page A1)

Anyone found guilty of voter fraud may be fined $10,000 and be sent to prison for five years.

3. Alex Voss, professor political science (“Why Who You Are Is Important,” page 12)

Voter-identification laws can make it difficult for poor people to vote.

4. Jennifer Court, member of the Free Voting Movement (“Counting Votes,” page 34)

A great majority of the citizens polled (78%) question the reliability of voting machines.

5. Ted Kruger, lawyer at the Center for Voter Rights (“A Close Look at Voter Fraud,” page 45)

There is no evidence of systematic fraud.