Combining information What is a synthesis ? A combination of ideas and information from several sources
Academic research involves synthesizing
i.e. the ability to select information from more than one source and blend it smoothly into a unified, coherent entity STEP 1 As you read select only the most important, relevant information
Select the most important information from
Source A Source A Switzerland is a great example of linguistic diversity because there are three different national languages. People in the central and northern areas speak German. People in the western area speak French. People in the southeastern area speak Italian. Most Swiss can speak more than one language. One interesting fact is that the name of the country on its coins and stamps is not any of these languages. Instead, Helvetia, the Latin name for this country, is used. Claudio Acevedo, Argentina The main ideas from Source A Geographical areas of the country speak 3 different languages German = Central and Northern region French = West Italian = Southeast Helvetia (Latin : Switzerland) used on coins and stamps Source B You might think that most people in Switzerland speak the same language because it is rather a small country. However, you would be wrong. Yes, the country is tiny, but there are four national languages. German is spoken by more people than any other language. The second most commonly spoken language is French, and Italian is third. A very small percentage of the people speak Romansch. Najmuddin bin Faisal, Malaysia The main ideas from Source B Small country with 4 national languages German = majority of population speak French = 2nd most common language Italian = 3rd language spoken Romansch = spoken by very small % of the population STEP 2 Find a unifying theme i.e. an idea that connects the two texts
What is it?
Several languages are spoken in
Switzerland STEP 3 Using your paraphrasing skills, combine the ideas from each source into sentences e.g.
German is the most widely-spoken language
in Northern and Central regions. STEP 4 Organize the sentences into a logical paragraph, using transitional expressions. Make sure there is: An introduction A body A conclusion and include any original ideas you may have Example: Synthesis Although Switzerland is a small country, it has four national languages. German, which is used in the Central and Northern regions, has the highest percentage of speakers. French, used in the west, is the second most-widely spoken language. The third language, Italian, is spoken in the southeast. Switzerlands least-used language, Romansch, is thought to have a Latin origin. This may explain why Helvetia, the Latin name for the country, is used on coins and stamps. Step 1: Select from Source A The Fire Triangle or Combustion Triangle is a simple model from the science of firefighting, to understand the components necessary for most fires. The triangle illustrates the rule that in order to ignite and burn, a fire requires 3 elements: heat, fuel and an oxidizing agent, usually oxygen. The fire is prevented or extinguished by removing any one of them. A fire naturally occurs when the elements are combined in the right mixture e.g. more heat is needed for igniting some fuels, unless there is concentrated oxygen. Source A main points Fire Triangle is a teaching tool Symbol illustrates 3 elements required to produce fire: Fuel, Heat, Oxygen or other oxidizing agent Removal of one element prevents or extinguishes fire Select from Source B For many years the concept of fire was symbolized by the Triangle of Combustion and represented fuel, heat and oxygen. Further fire research determined that a fourth element, a chemical chain reaction, was also a necessary component of fire. The Fire Triangle was changed to a Tetrahedron to reflect this fourth element. A tetrahedron can be described as a pyramid which is a solid having four plane faces. Essentially all four elements must be present for fire to occur: fuel, heat, oxygen and a chemical chain reaction. Removal of any one of these elements will result in the fire being extinguished. Source B main points Fire Tetrahedron replaced Triangle. Symbol became pyramid or solid with 4 plane faces Recognition of 4th component a chemical chain reaction All elements must be present for fire to occur Step 2 - Identify Find a unifying theme or an idea that connects the 2 texts. What is it?
Symbols illustrate the concept of fire
Step 3 - Combine Using your paraphrasing skills, combine the ideas from each source into sentences e.g. The symbols reflect the number of elements present to create a fire Step 4 - Organize Organize the sentences into a logical paragraph, using transitional expressions.
Make sure the paragraph has an
introduction, body and conclusion and include any original ideas you may have Example Synthesis For a number of years symbols have illustrated the concept of fire. Previously, the Fire Triangle conveyed the idea that three elements: fuel, heat and oxygen, produced fire. The Fire Tetrahedron, a solid with four plane faces, replaced the triangle with the recognition that a chemical reaction is the fourth component of a fire. The elimination of one of these elements prevents or extinguishes a fire. A review of a basic synthesis Select important ideas from each source as you read Combine ideas that are linked and support each other into sentences Organize these sentences into a logical order using transition words