Tips for Writing the Synthesis Essay

What is a synthesis essay? It is a short research paper. You are given resources to use in support of a thesis that you develop after you (quickly!) read the pro pt and resources. You !ill have "# inutes to read and consider a collection of resources$ e%cerpts fro articles& 'ooks& and (ournals& photographs& charts and graphs& illustrations or cartoons. )here !ill al!ays 'e one or t!o graphics for you to read. *s you read these resources& you ust annotate the relative to the pro pt. +,*- )., /+01/) 2*+,3455Y. 4nderstand its su'(ect and your task. 4se the pro pt as a lens as you read the resources. ") )he 6ynthesis ,ssay& like the /ersuasive ,ssay& is likely to offer one of three types of pro pts. )he pro pt !ill ask you to$ defend& challenge& or qualify a clai 7 develop a position on a given topic7 or evaluate several factors related to a topic. *nnotate the pro pt& underline its ver's& 'e sure you kno! precisely !hat you are 'eing asked to do. 8) Write your thesis& !hich should 'e a clear (generally one sentence) state ent e%pressing your opinion and sho!ing !hat you !ill argue. 4se the pro pt to create your thesis. 6tick to the li its of !hat you are 'eing asked to do 9 do not go rogue and !ander a!ay fro the pro pt. :) ;uickly outline your ain points (shoot for three) on your planning page. Write it out. -o <0) try to keep your outline in your head and (ust start !riting. =) 4se the ini u nu 'er of resources your pro pt requires (usually three or four)& 'ut do not !orry a'out having to use ore. You may& 'ut you do not have to and !ill not lose points for failing to do so. 2iting all of the resources !ill not ake your paper stronger. #) -o not erely adopt the argu ents you see in the resources. 2onsider yourself as a !riter !ho participates in a conversation !ith the sources. Your case should indicate critical thinking on your part > going 'eyond !hat the sources have said. Your o!n o'servations on and kno!ledge of the given su'(ect are i portant& too. ?) 4se 'oth direct and indirect references to the resources you include. )his eans do not 'e overly reliant on direct quotations. 4se so e& 'ut also paraphrase so e of your source aterial& continuing to use appropriate citations. 6u ari@ing and paraphrasing requires skills 'eyond erely adding quotations fro sources& !hich is !hy the */ requires you to do 'oth. Aeing a'le to use 'oth types of references de onstrates your skill as a !riter. a) 2ite only !hat is needed& not ore& not less. If you only need a s all phrase fro a quotation& use that. Benerally speaking& use direct quotations !hen you cannot say it 'etter in a paraphrase than the original. ') -o not a!k!ardly change the tense of a quote using parentheses in order to fit your prose. 4se paraphrasing instead. c) When paraphrasing& 'e careful not to interpret. 6horten the !ork !ith precision& keeping the e%act argu ent intact. -o not isrepresent evidence to ake it fit your thesis. You ay even use so e e%act !ords or phrases fro the original& 'ut you !ill 'e !riting your o!n state ent (!ith citation& of course!). d) ,nd every paragraph !ith your o!n sentence& not !ith a quote. )he essay is yours& so your voice ust do inate it. ,ven in your conclusion& if you use an engaging quotation& end !ith one ore sentence of your o!n prose to signal your co plete o!nership of the essay.

Incorporating and Citing Materials from Your Sources

C 4se signal phrases to introduce your sources& ideally identifying the 'y na e and title& such as$ As UCLA researcher Lori Smith suggests; According to Sam Jones, director of the College Testing oard, ; and then cite the source at the end 'y its letter in parentheses.
Examples: Therefore, it is unfair to !lame the increase in childhood o!esity on soft drin" consumption# As $risten %o&ers of the 'rocery (anufactures of America points out, )The rise in o!esity is the result of many comple* factors affecting eating and activity !ehaviors, and there are no simple solutions+ ,Source C-# .n )The /emise of /ailies0 An 1onest Loo"+ Sanders says that the availa!ility of ne&spapers online helps )democrati2e society !ecause anyone &ith internet can access not only the local paper, !ut also national and international papers+ ,Source /-# As found in a study !y the University of 3tta&a, countries that em!race animal rights tend to have less crime overall ,Source A-#

C *void saying$ As Source C suggests or As sho&n in Source # While it is technically accurate& it is unsophisticated. In ost cases& you !ill 'e a'le to cite the resource either 'y its author or its source (see e%a ples a'ove)& and save the 6ource *& 6ource A stuff for your parenthetical citations. C /rovide analysis of your evidence$ What does this quotation de onstrate& reveal& or suggest regarding your thesis? 3or 'ody paragraphs& generally do the follo!ing$ 9 open !ith a clai directly related to your thesis 9 use source aterials to support it& using signal phrases& argu ent ver's& and parenthetical citations (6ource *& 6ource A& etc.) 9 provide analysis of the quotationDparaphrase relative to your clai 9 link the aterial 'ack to your thesis. Citation/Argument Verbs .ere are a fe! ver's you argues reveals clai s e phasi@es ight use to introduce or follo! quotations and paraphrases$ underscores indicates points out suggests reco ends advises proposes concludes asserts speculates i plies 'elieves