Synthesizing Texts

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to :

 Analyze the steps to create a basic synthesis.

 Develop a simple synthesis.

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Watch the youtube video by clicking on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dEGoJdb6O0&t=58s
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 Now that you have seen the
video, what is a Synthesis?

A combination ideas and from several with your

of information sources opinion too

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 LET’S SEE HOW A SYNTHESIS IS DONE

Title • Benefits of renewable energy

• Renewable energy like solar
Thesis
and wind are beneficial to
statement
humankind.

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 STEP 1:

As you read select only the most important, relevant

information:

Select the most important informationn from Source A

Open
 Source A

Solar energy is
environmental
Solar energy is one of the best options to meet future energy friendly and
demand since it is considered to be an environmental friendly and reliable source of
reliable source of energy. The use of solar energy is not energy
accompanied by the release of harmful gases and particles.
Compared to power plants which are a significant source of
greenhouse gases, the emission of greenhouse gases associated Solar energy is
with the manufacturing, installations, operation and maintenance non-polluting and
of solar power is very minimal. As solar power is theoretically releases minimal
greenhouse gases
abundant enough, it is more than capable of fulfilling the world’s
electricity demand. Hence, it is not necessary to consider the
notion that solar energy may eventually be depleted.
Solar power is
Source (APA): abundant and
Kabir, E., Kumar, P., Kumar, S., Adelodun, A.A. & Kim, K. H.. (2018). Solar energy: Potential and may not deplete.
future prospects. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Vol. 82, pp. 894 – 900.
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Source (IEEE):
 Main Ideas from Source A:

The main ideas from Kabir et al. (2018):

 Solar energy is environmental friendly and reliable source

of energy.
 Solar energy is non-polluting and releases minimal
greenhouse gases.
 Solar power is abundant and may not deplete.

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 Source B

Wind energy source is a form of renewable energy. The

advantages of wind energy compared with conventional energy
resources are that it is non-polluting, has large reserves and The advantages of
wind energy are:
widely distributed. The utilization of wind energy does not *non-polluting
produce toxic or greenhouse gases, which benefits the *large reserves
environment. Research has also shown that wind energy *widely distributed
resources, especially in the coastal areas are abundant and
relatively stable. Wind energy can be harvested from onshore
and offshore resources. Wind energy can also be generated Non-polluting = does
round the clock, not only at certain time of the day like solar not produce toxic
and greenhouse
energy. gases
Large reserves =
Source (APA):
Onshore and
Chong, W. Z., Chong, Y, L., Jing, P., Ming, Y, Y., Lin, L, X. (2016). An overview of global ocean offshore
wind energy recourse evaluations. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 53, pp. Widely distributed =
1240-1251. Can be generated 9
Source (IEEE): at all times.
The main ideas from Chong et al. (2016):

The advantages of wind energy are:

*non-polluting
*large reserves
*widely distributed
 Non-polluting = does not produce toxic and
greenhouse gases
 Large reserves = Onshore and offshore
 Widely distributed = Can be generated at all times.
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STEP 2:

Find a Unifying Theme i.e. an idea that connects the two texts,

What is the Unifying Theme here?

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STEP 3:
Using your paraphrasing skills,
combine the ideas from each source into sentences
e.g.

Source A:
Solar energy is
environmental friendly and
reliable source of energy
Source B:
Wind energy are non-
polluting, has large reserves
and widely distributed

Solar energy and wind energy are both non-polluting

and reliable source of energy.
STEP 4:
Organize the sentences into a logical paragraph, using transitional
expressions. Make sure there is:

An Introduction A body A conclusion

Remember to include any original ideas you may have!

Title: Solar and wind energy as renewable energy
Thesis statement: Solar energy and wind energy are both non-polluting and
reliable source of renewable energy.
Theme: Advantages of solar and wind energy

Solar and wind energy are both categorized as renewable energy. Both have
the advantages of being non-polluting and reliable. Solar energy is non-
polluting and releases minimal greenhouse gases (Kabir et al., 2018). Wind
energy too is environmental friendly because it does not release toxic or
greenhouse gases (Chong et al., 2016). Both solar and wind energy are
reliable as they are plentiful and the chances for the energy to reduce in the
near future is almost impossible (Chong et al.,2016 ; Kabir et al., 2018).
However, one advantage of wind energy over solar energy is that wind
energy can be produced at any time (Chong et al.,2016), while solar energy
can only be produced during the day.
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Title: Solar and wind energy as renewable energy
Thesis statement: Solar energy and wind energy are both non-polluting and
reliable source of renewable energy.
Theme: Advantages of solar and wind energy

Solar and wind energy are both categorized as renewable energy. Both have
the advantages of being non-polluting and reliable. Solar energy is non-
polluting and releases minimal greenhouse gases [1]. Wind energy too is
environmental friendly because it does not release toxic or greenhouse
gases [2]. Both solar and wind energy are reliable as they are plentiful and
the chances for the energy to reduce in the near future is almost impossible
[1, 2]. However, one advantage of wind energy over solar energy is that wind
energy can be produced at any time [2], while solar energy can only be
produced during the day.

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 Synthesis the next set of sources:

Title: Understanding What Causes A Spark.

Thesis statement: Knowing the necessary components that starts
a fire will help to extinguish a fire.
 Source A
Fire Triangle is a
teaching tool

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 Symbol illustrates 3
elements required to
illustrates the rule that in order to ignite and burn, a fire produce fire:
requires 3 elements: heat, fuel and an oxidizing agent, Fuel, Heat, Oxygen
usually oxygen. The fire is prevented or extinguished by or other oxidizing
agent
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
Removal of one
there is concentrated oxygen. element prevents
or extinguishes fire
Author Jennifer Gordon, Year 2011. Article title: The amazing fire triangle
Magazine: Chemistry Today. Page: 82. Volume 8 17
 Source B Fire Tetrahedron
replaced Triangle.
Symbol became
pyramid or solid with
For many years the concept of fire was symbolized by the 4 plane faces
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 Recognition of 4th
component of fire. The Fire Triangle was changed to a component – a
Tetrahedron to reflect this fourth element. A tetrahedron can chemical chain
reaction
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 All elements must
being extinguished. be present for fire
to occur
Author Anita Davies. Date 20 January 2015. Article title: The evolution of the
Tetrahedron. Newspaper: Inquirer. Page: 8 18
STEP 2:

Find a Unifying Theme i.e. an idea that connects the two texts,

What is the Unifying Theme here?

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STEP 3:
Using your paraphrasing skills,
combine the ideas from each source into
sentences e.g.

Source A: Source B:
The triangle illustrates The Fire Triangle was
the rule that in order to changed to a
ignite and burn Tetrahedron to reflect
this fourth element.

The symbols reflect the number of elements

present to create a fire.
STEP 4:
Organize the sentences into a logical paragraph, using transitional
expressions. Make sure there is:

An Introduction A body A conclusion

Remember to include any original ideas you may have !

Draft a synthesis of the Fire Triangle taken
from Gordon (2011) and Davies (2015):

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Title: Understanding What Causes A Spark. (APA)
Thesis statement: Knowing the necessary components that starts a fire will help to
extinguish a fire.
Theme: Symbols illustrate the concept of fire.

Knowing the components that starts a fire could help to distinguish a fire. Fire
symbols have illustrated the concept of fire for a number of years (Davies,
2015; Gordon, 2011). Previously, the Fire Triangle conveyed the idea that
three elements: fuel, heat and oxygen, produced fire (Gordon, 2011).
However, according to Davis (2015), 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 (Davies, 2015; Gordon,2011). Hence,
understanding how to extinguish fire is important.
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 A review of a basic synthesis

 Select important ideas from each source as you read

 Identify a unifying theme that connects the texts (sources)
 Combine ideas that are linked and support each other into
sentences
 Organize these sentences into a logical order using transition
words
THE END

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