Synthesis Essays: A Step-by-Step How-To Guide
A synthesis essay is generally a short essay which brings two or more sources (or perspectives) into conversation with each other.
The word “synthesis” confuses every student a little bit. Fortunately, this step-by-step how-to guide will see you through to success!
Here’s a step-by-step how-to guide, with examples, that will help you write yours.
Before drafting your essay:
After reading the sources and before writing your essay, ask yourself these questions:
- What is the debate or issue that concerns all of the writers? In other words, what is the question they are trying to answer?
- On what points do they agree?
- On what points do they disagree?
- If they were having a verbal discussion, how would writer number one respond to the arguments of writer number two?
In a way, writing a synthesis essay is similar to composing a summary. But a synthesis essay requires you to read more than one source and to identify the way the writers’ ideas and points of view are related.
Sometimes several sources will reach the same conclusion even though each source approaches the subject from a different point of view.
Other times, sources will discuss the same aspects of the problem/issue/debate but will reach different conclusions.
And sometimes, sources will simply repeat ideas you have read in other sources; however, this is unlikely in a high school or AP situation.
To better organize your thoughts about what you’ve read, do this:
- Identify each writer’s thesis/claim/main idea
- List the writers supporting ideas (think topic sentences or substantiating ideas)
- List the types of support used by the writers that seem important. For example, if the writer uses a lot of statistics to support a claim, note this. If a writer uses historical facts, note this.
There’s one more thing to do before writing: You need to articulate for yourself the relationships and connections among these ideas.
Sometimes the relationships are easy to find. For example, after reading several articles about censorship in newspapers, you may notice that most of the writers refer to or in some way use the First Amendment to help support their arguments and help persuade readers. In this case, you would want to describe the different ways the writers use the First Amendment in their arguments. To do this, ask yourself, “How does this writer exploit the value of the First Amendment/use the First Amendment to help persuade or manipulate the readers into thinking that she is right?
Sometimes articulating the relationships between ideas is not as easy. If you have trouble articulating clear relationships among the shared ideas you have noted, ask yourself these questions:
- Do the ideas of one writer support the ideas of another? If so, how?
- Do the writers who reach the same conclusion use the same ideas in their writing? If not, is there a different persuasive value to the ideas used by one writer than by the other?
- Do the writers who disagree discuss similar points or did they approach the subject from a completely different angle and therefore use different points and different kinds of evidence to support their arguments?
- Review your list of ideas. Are any of the ideas you have listed actually the same idea, just written in different words?
- Argument synthesis: This type of essay has a strong thesis statement that presents the writer's point of view. It organizes relevant information gathered from research in a logical manner to support the thesis' point of view. Business white papers known as position papers often take this form. This is the type of synthesis essay that students will write during the AP test.
- Review: Often written as a preliminary essay to an argument synthesis, a review essay is a discussion of what has been written previously on a topic, with a critical analysis of the sources covered. Its unstated thesis is usually that more research needs to be done in that area or that the topic problem has not been adequately addressed. This type of paper is common in social science classes and in medicine.
- Explanatory/background synthesis: This type of essay helps readers understand a topic by categorizing facts and presenting them to further the reader's understanding. It does not advocate a particular point of view, and if it has a thesis statement, the thesis is a weak one. Some business white papers take this form, although they are more likely to have a point of view, if understated.
- Example of a broad topic narrowed down into a reasonable synthesis essay topic: Instead of the broad topic of Social Media, you could discuss your view on the effects texting has had on the English language.
- If you've been assigned a topic as part of a class, make sure you read the prompt carefully and fully understand it.
- Keep in mind that it's better to do three sources well than to do five sources incompletely.
- Annotate each source by writing notes in the margins. This allows you to keep track of your train of thought, developing ideas, etc.
- Example: Texting has had a positive impact on the English language as it has helped the millennial generation create their own form of the language.
- If you wish to take on a claim by an opponent of your idea, and to poke holes in it, you should also find some ideas or quotes that go against your thesis statement, and plan ways to disprove them. This is called a concession, refutation, or rebuttal, which can strengthen your argument if you do it well.
- Example : For the thesis statement listed above, excellent sources would include quotes from linguists discussing the new words that have developed through 'text-speak', statistics that show the English language has evolved with almost every generation, and facts that show students still have the ability to write with the use of grammar and spelling (which your opponents would bring up as the main reason texting has had a negative effect on the English language).
Outlining Your Essay
- The introductory paragraph: 1. An introductory sentence that acts as a hook, capturing the reader's interest. 2. Identification of the issue you will be discussing. 3. Your thesis statement.
- The body paragraphs: 1. Topic sentence that gives one reason to support your thesis. 2. Your explanation and opinion of the topic sentence. 3. Support from your sources that backs up the claim you just made. 4. Explanation of the significance of the source(s).
- The conclusion paragraph: 1. State further significance of your topic from the evidence and reasons you discussed in the essay. 2. A profound thought or thoughtful ending for your paper.
- Example/illustration. This may be a detailed recount, summary, or direct quote from your source material that provides major support for your point of view. You may use more than one example or illustration, if your paper calls for it. You should not, however, make your paper a series of examples at the expense of supporting your thesis.
- Straw man. With this technique, you present an argument opposed to the argument stated in your thesis, then show the weaknesses and flaws of the counter-argument. This format shows your awareness of the opposition and your readiness to answer it. You present the counter-argument right after your thesis, followed by the evidence to refute it, and end with a positive argument that supports your thesis. [5] X Research source
- Concession. Essays with concessions are structured similar to those using the straw man technique, but they acknowledge the validity of the counter-argument while showing that the original argument is stronger. This structure is good for presenting papers to readers who hold the opposing viewpoint.
- Comparison and contrast. This structure compares similarities and contrasts differences between two subjects or sources to show the facets of both. Writing an essay with this structure requires a careful reading of your source material to find both subtle and major points of similarity and difference. This kind of essay can present its arguments source-by-source or by points of similarity or difference.
- Summary. This structure presents summaries of each of your relevant sources, making a progressively stronger argument for your thesis. It provides specific evidence to support your point of view, but usually omits presenting your own opinions. It's most commonly used for background and review essays.
- List of reasons. This is a series of sub-points that flow from the main point of your paper as stated in its thesis. Each reason is supported with evidence. As with the summary method, reasons should become progressively more important, with the most important reason last.
Writing Your Essay
- Your essay should have an introductory paragraph that includes your thesis , a body to present evidence that supports your thesis, and a conclusion that summarizes your point of view.
- Lengthy quotes of three lines or more should generally be set off as block quotes to better call attention to them. [7] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source
Finalizing Your Essay
- Ask someone else to proofread your paper. The saying “two heads are better than one” still holds true. Ask a friend or colleague what would they add or remove from the paper. Most importantly, does your argument make sense, and is it clearly supported by your sources?
- Read the paper aloud to guarantee that you don't accidentally add in or take out words when reading in your head.
- If you can, get a friend or classmate to proofread your essay as well.
- Example of citing in an AP synthesis essay: McPherson claims “texting has changed the English language in a positive way--it has given a new generation their own unique way to communicate” (Source E).
- For college essays, you'll most likely use MLA format. Whichever format you use, be consistent in its use. You may also be asked to use APA or Chicago style.
- Example title: : English and the iPhone: Exploring the Benefits of 'Text-Speak'
Outline Template
Community Q&A
- Just as your title should fit your essay instead of writing your essay to fit the title, your thesis, once chosen, should direct your subsequent research instead of subsequent research altering your thesis � unless you find you've adopted an unsupportable thesis. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 8
You Might Also Like
- ↑ https://success.uark.edu/get-help/student-resources/synthesis-paper.php
- ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/mapping-a-synthesis-essay
- ↑ https://www.bgsu.edu/content/dam/BGSU/learning-commons/documents/writing/synthesis/planning-synthesis-essay.pdf
- ↑ https://writingcenterofprinceton.com/synthesis-essays-a-step-by-step-how-to-guide/
- ↑ https://owl.excelsior.edu/argument-and-critical-thinking/logical-fallacies/logical-fallacies-straw-man/
- ↑ https://writingcommons.org/section/rhetoric/rhetorical-stance/point-of-view/third-person-point-of-view/
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_quotations.html
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/steps_for_revising.html
- ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/proofreading_suggestions.html
- ↑ https://www.edhs.org/ourpages/auto/2010/5/17/41759867/Synthesis%20Essay%20Introduction.pdf
- ↑ https://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/titles.pdf
About This Article
To write a synthesis essay, start by coming up with a thesis statement that you can support using all of the sources you've read for your essay. For example, your thesis statement could be "Texting has had a positive impact on the English language." Once you've got your thesis, go through your sources to find specific quotes, facts, and statistics that back up your claim. Structure your essay so it has an introduction that includes your thesis statement, a body that includes your arguments and evidence, and a conclusion that wraps everything up. For more tips on structuring your synthesis essay, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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Synthesis Essay
Writing a Perfect Synthesis Essay: Definition & Examples
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Published on: Mar 1, 2023
Last updated on: Oct 26, 2024
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Do you have a ton of research to synthesize but don't know how? Or maybe you're not sure what a synthesis essay is and how to write a good synthesis essay.
We know writing a synthesis essay is not an easy task to do; it’s challenging for most of us. But it can be perfectly done with the right guidance and preparation.
In this blog, we'll walk you through all the necessary information to craft a perfect synthesis essay. So you can get done with your assignments confidently!
Let’s get started.
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What is a Synthesis Essay?
Synthesis essay definition states:
It is a piece of writing that takes a unique perspective on a central idea, topic, or theme. Then backs it up with evidence from multiple sources.
A synthesis essay is an important part of academic writing. The main purpose of this essay is to show your ability to prove an argument.
To make sense of these arguments, you need to use different credible sources. It demonstrates your basic understanding of the main subject. This type of essay help to enhance your critical, analytical, and research skills.
A synthesis essay is made up of ideas and conclusions based on the information reviewed. Also, this essay asks you to summarize the topic and add your own thoughts about it in relation to what you have read.
Furthermore, the synthesis essays can be similar to analytical essays , argumentative essays , or compare and contrast essays .
Synthesis Essay Types
There are three types of a synthesis essay:
1. Argument Synthesis Essay
This essay's purpose is to debate or argue on a certain topic or issue. It justifies its claims by providing evidence in the body of the essay.
In contrast to the explanatory essay, you will perform the same thing as if you were writing a typical argumentative paper. First, state your argument, make supporting statements, and back up each claim with reliable facts.
2. Review Essay
A review essay is frequently written as a preparatory essay to an argument synthesis. Review essays are commonly used in social science and medicine classes.
It is a discussion of what has already been published on a topic, with a critical examination of the sources mentioned.
An unwritten thesis statement is added to it, which is not final and indicates that further study is needed in that area.
3. Explanatory Synthesis Essay
In this essay, the writer helps the reader to grasp deeper knowledge about the topic. Rather than arguing or debating on some points, the goal of this essay is to explain a certain topic.
Like any other essay, it needs backing up with supporting claims and credible sources.
How to Start a Synthesis Essay?
The following are some helpful techniques for writing an essay. These will help you start the process and avoid common errors that plague many writers.
1. Choosing a Synthesis Essay Topic
A prompt for a synthesis paper must be arguable. Based on your project, you may be required to select primary content. Select a book that may include contrasting perspectives. Here are some important tips for choosing a topic for a synthesis essay.
- Look through the themes and ideas. Read from sources and investigate specific topics thoroughly to see if any of them catch your interest.
- Select a topic and collect relevant and valuable references for your synthesis paper.
- Outline your synthesis essay using concepts or ideas from the sources. This should make writing a lot simpler and save you a lot of time.
It is necessary to find an arguable topic to make your synthesis essay effective. Another reason is that these topics have been discussed in public for decades.
Examples of good synthesis essay topics are;
- The process of hiring in the age of social media
- Social networks promote suicide
- Should higher education be free?
- Is it necessary to remove marks in education
- The importance of getting a good education
- 3D printers are not used efficiently nowadays.
- Is technology really helping people?
- Why has technology made surgery safe and effective?
- What is the cause of widespread obesity in teens?
- What is the role of gender today?
2. Analyze Your Topic
Here's how you can fully understand your synthesis essay topic.
- Grasp the Idea of a Synthesis Essay
A synthesis essay's purpose is to establish meaningful connections between sections of a work. When conducting research on a topic, you have to look for connections to build a strong viewpoint on the subject. The ultimate goal of the essay is to present and prove a claim about a topic .
- Select a Topic Appropriate for a Synthesis Essay
The subject and topic must be extensive enough to include multiple relevant sources. If you have a free hand in deciding what to write about, some preparatory research may assist you in researching and choosing the right topic.
- Select and Study Your Sources Carefully
Research and find relevant information and sources. Generally, choose at least three references for your essay. It's a good idea to learn one or two additional sources for better understanding but no matter what it is, make sure that you study it properly.
Remember that it is better to read three sources properly than five sources poorly.
Compile each source by writing notes in the margins. This allows you to keep track of your thoughts, fresh ideas, and so on.
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- Reread the Source Material
Reread your source material for elements that will help to support your argument.
Examine your sources for important statements, figures, thoughts, and facts that support your thesis. Make a note of them when you come across them. This will be very useful throughout your writing process.
3. Develop a Thesis Statement
Your thesis statement will be the central idea of your essay. It should cover the topic and express your viewpoint on it. After reading the sources and conducting your research, form an opinion on your topic.
It should be stated as a complete sentence. Based on the essay, your thesis statement could be the first sentence of the essay or the last sentence of the first paragraph.
- Structure Your Thesis Statement Creatively
To present your thesis, use a more creative structure. You can use a more elaborate structure than the one outlined above. You can develop your essay using the following approaches:
Straw man: In this approach, you will present the counter-arguments first. Then demonstrate their weaknesses and flaws.
Such an approach demonstrates your awareness of the opposition as well as your readiness to respond to it. You present the counter-argument immediately following your thesis statement, followed by evidence to refute it. And conclude with a positive argument that supports your thesis.
Concession: In structure, concessions in essays are similar to the straw man. But this approach acknowledges the validity of the counter-argument while demonstrating that your argument is stronger. This structure is suitable for presenting papers to readers who hold opposing views.
Illustration/ Example: It could be a thorough narrative, synopsis, or quotation from your source material that provides support for your position. However, you should not make your paper a collection of examples at the expense of supporting your thesis statement.
Comparison and Contrast: In this approach, similarities and differences between two subjects or sources demonstrate both aspects. It requires a thorough reading of your source material to identify both subtle and major points of comparison.
This type of essay can present its arguments source by source or by points of similarity or difference.
4. Create an Outline for Your Essay
An essay outline is a method for outlining the framework of your essay. Here's what you have to do. Outlining can help you structure and plan your synthesis paper.
The standard outline of a synthesis essay is divided into three sections:
Need detailed guidance on how to write a synthesis essay? Check out this video?
How to Write a Synthesis Essay?
For writing a great essay, you have to do extensive research on your subject. This essay connects sections of multiple works and develops a strong viewpoint on a subject.
There are some major steps of the process:
1. Start Writing Your Essay
After getting done with the preparation part, start to write your synthesis essay.
2. Write Your First Draft Using Your Outline as a Guide
But be prepared to change your strategy if you discover fresh ideas and information. And make sure it supports your thesis and the source material.
Your essay should have an introduction paragraph with your thesis statement at the end of it. A body with evidence that supports your main topic and thesis statement. Lastly, a conclusion that summarizes your point of view.
3. Use Transitions
To make the content flow logically, use transitions between paragraphs. Transition words are an excellent method to highlight areas where your sources complement one another.
Longer quotes of three lines or more should be presented as block quotes to draw emphasis to them.
4. Wrap Up Your Essay
Here you have completed the writing process, but still, you need to make sure that your essay is flawless.
5. Revise Your Essay
This is the time to enhance transitions between points and paragraphs and to reinforce arguments. You should strive to make your argument as concise and clear to understand as possible. It is beneficial to read your essay aloud so you can spot problematic phrases or unclear ideas.
Request someone else to proofread your paper. Have you heard the cliche "two heads are better than one"? Is it still valid?
Ask a friend or coworker what they would add or eliminate from the paper. Most importantly, does your thesis statement make sense, and are your references clearly supporting it?
Answer these questions in your essay.
6. Proofread Your Content
Examine your document for any grammatical, punctuation, or spelling mistakes.
Are all the terms, names, and words accurately spelled? Are there any extraneous English language or sentence fragments? As you go, correct them.
Read the essay loudly to ensure that you don't accidentally add or remove words when reading in your mind. If possible, ask a friend or classmate to edit your writing.
7. Must Cite Sources
Use footnotes to mention information in the body paragraph and bibliography of cited books at the conclusion. Footnotes and in-text citations should be used for any information that is quoted, paraphrased, or cited.
8. Title Your Essay
The point of view expressed in your thesis statement and supporting arguments should be reflected in your title. Therefore, choose a title that suits your essay rather than constructing your essay to fit the title.
Synthesis Essay Format
The format of your synthesis paper is chosen by your high school, college, or university professor. MLA, APA, and Chicago styles are the most often used styles.
The APA format is followed in the disciplines of science, education, and psychology. Chicago is commonly followed in the field of history, fine arts, and business. And MLA is the style of citation used in the humanities.
APA Style Format
The following are some APA style important details:
- Add a page header to the top of each page.
- Times New Roman, 1" margins, 12 pt. Font, double-spaced.
- The format of a synthesis essay should be separated into four sections: title page, abstract, main body, and references.
- Insert a page number in the upper right corner.
Chicago Style Format
The following are some Chicago style key points:
- Use double-spacing between the paper's lines.
- Make margins of one inch.
- Font size: 12 pt. Times New Roman font style.
- Create text that is left-justified with a rugged edge.
- Mention the full name of a person, place, or organization.
- At the start of the paragraph, use half-inch indents.
- The bibliography should be on its own page.
MLA Style Format
The following are some MLA style significant points:
- The title must be centered.
- Font: Times New Roman, 1" margins, 12 pt font size, double-spaced
- Mention your name, professor's name, the course number, and the date (dd/mm/yy).
- On each page, the top right corner displays the last name and page number.
- The final page provides a "Works Cited" list.
Synthesis Essay Rubric
A rubric is essentially a list of criteria that your professor will use to grade your paper.
Knowing how each criterion is weighted can help make sure you get the best grade possible on your synthesis essay.
The Basics of the Synthesis Essay Rubric
The basic elements of any synthesis essay rubric include organization, focus/development, and language use/style.
- Organization refers to how well you structure your paper. It should flow logically and have clear transitions between sections.
- Focus/development looks at how well you develop your argument throughout the paper. Are you able to clearly explain why each point supports your thesis?
- Language use/style focuses on grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Was the paper proofread thoroughly or did careless errors slip in?
For example , your synthesis essay thesis statement is
"Capital punishment should be abolished in all states."
Do you provide evidence from different angles, such as legal history, religious beliefs, or moral arguments to back up this claim?
Does this evidence prove why capital punishment should be abolished?
How to Write a Synthesis Essay - Ap Lang
Are you an AP Lang student who's been assigned the dreaded synthesis essay? Here's how to write a successful synthesis essay for AP Lang.
- Understand the Prompt
The first step in writing any synthesis essay is to read and understand the prompt. It's also important to note any specific requirements such as word count, formatting style, or sources that must be used in your essay.
- Organize Your Argument
Once you have all the information necessary, it's time to start organizing your argument.
Start by identifying any common themes or ideas between the various sources of evidence and create an outline with these points at its core.
- Write Your Essay
Now comes the fun part - writing!
You should now have a comprehensive outline of all the points and evidence you want to include in your essay. So use this as a guide when crafting your argument.
Make sure that each point has supporting evidence from credible sources and that everything flows logically from one point to another.
Finally, don't forget to proofread and edit before submitting so that there are no errors in grammar or spelling. These small details can make all the difference!
Synthesis Essay Tips
Working on a synthesis paper requires a thorough study of a particular given prompt. To evaluate it properly, you must first understand the prompt's goal, argument, author's claim, and rhetoric.
To compose a successful synthesis essay, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.
- Use Multiple Reasons
It is well recognized that the use of various reasons (generally two) is a very successful approach.
Present one argument against your strong thesis statement. This type of evidence presents an introduction and description. The advantage of this method is to teach awareness of the other side of the argument. It is followed by the opposing view and a decisive factor.
This is one of the most basic ways of organizing. It enables you to summarise the sources that are most relevant to you. The problem is that this technique excludes any of your individual thinking.
- Compare and Contrast
Comparing reveals similarities, while contrasting reveals distinctions. It is feasible to show an in-depth analysis of your chosen topic. It allows writers to compare and contrast two sources at the same time.
Write quotations from sources in your own words. This approach also allows the usage of quotable sources. Ensure to cite the reference when you use the reference.
This method depicts the opposing point of view. It demonstrates that the positives outweigh the negatives.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you end a synthesis essay.
A strong ending fulfills these 3 things:
- Restate your thesis.
- Summarize or synthesize key points.
- Make your argument's context explicit.
What is a synthesis paragraph?
A synthesis is a textual debate that includes support from multiple sources with opposing viewpoints. This type of work requires analysis by using different sources and determining their relevance to your thesis.
Why is synthesis important?
It is important because it allows us to:
- Test and validate hypotheses.
- Comprehend key processes.
- Plan future research efforts.
How to conclude a synthesis essay?
Synthesize rather than summarize your argument. No need to go over your entire paper again. Instead, include a brief summary of the main points of the paper and explain to your reader how you've made points.
What is an example of a synthesis?
Making connections or putting things together is all that is required. We naturally synthesize information to assist others in seeing connections between things. For example, synthesis occurs when you report to a friend what other friends have said about a film or book.
How many paragraphs is a synthesis essay?
According to the standard outline provided, you should stick to the basic five-to-six paragraph structure. In rare cases, there may be more paragraphs in the main body.
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Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.
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