How to Write a Synthesis



How to Write a Synthesis Essay

“Synthesis Writing: to combine the ideas of more than one source with your own.

“Key Features of a Synthesis

• Report information from the sources using different phrases and sentences;

• Organize so that readers can immediately see where information from the sources overlap;

• Make sense of the sources and help the reader understand them in greater depth.

“Preparing to write your Synthesis Essay

You should locate two or more sources for synthesizing. You should develop your own perspectives and interpretations of those sources—your analysis—and include your analysis in the paper.

A systematic preliminary comparison will help. Begin by summarizing briefly the points, themes, or traits that the texts have in common. Note differences in the sources as well.

Explore different ways to organize the information depending on what you find or what you want to argue. You might find it helpful to make several outlines or plans before you decide which sources to use.

“Writing the Synthesis Essay

Your synthesis should be organized so that others can understand the sources and evaluate your comprehension of them and their presentation of specific data, examples, and supporting points.

“Structure

a. The introduction:

Give a brief overview of information pertinent to the comprehension of the paper. The introduction should also give a general idea of where the paper is heading. Unlike the abstract, which is an overview of the paper.

b. The body:

Your organization will be determined by the assignment or by the patterns you see in the material you are synthesizing (theme, point, similarity, or aspect of the topic). The organization is the most important part of a synthesis, so choose the most effective format for your topic.

Be sure that each paragraph:

• Begins with a sentence or phrase that informs readers of the topic of the paragraph;

• Includes information from more than one source;

• Clearly indicates which material comes from which source using transitions and topic sentences, and in-text citations.

• [Beware of plagiarism: Accidental plagiarism most often occurs when students are synthesizing sources and do not indicate where the synthesis ends and their own comments begin or vice verse.]

• Shows the similarities or differences between the different sources in ways that make the paper as informative as possible;

• Represents the texts fairly--even if that seems to weaken the paper! Look upon yourself as a synthesizing machine; you are simply repeating what the source says in fewer words and in your own words. The fact that you are paraphrasing does not mean that you are, in any way, changing what the source says.

• Includes your own analysis of the sources

c. Conclusion:

When you have finished your paper, write a conclusion reminding readers of the most significant supporting details you have found and the ways they connect to the overall topic

“Checking your own writing and that of your peers

Read a peer's synthesis and then answer the following questions:

• Is it clear what is being synthesized? (i.e.: Did your peer list the source(s), and cite it/them correctly?)

• Is it always clear which source your peer is talking about at any given moment?

• Is the thesis of each original text clear in the synthesis? (Write out what you think each thesis is.)

• Does it seem like any key points are missing from the synthesis? (If so, what are they?)

• Did your peer include opinions in his or her synthesis? (If so, what are they?)

Synthesis Paper Guidelines and Format

Format:

12 pt. font

Times New Roman or Arial

1” margins (click on PAGE LAYOUT, click Margins, and 1” on all 4 sides)

1.5 spacing (right click, paragraph, spacing, line spacing, dropdown box 1.5)

# pages in top right corner (directions below)

Running header (Running Head: NAME OF PAPER IN ALL CAPS on first page all others just title)

Timeline:

Subject Due 3/6

Topic Due

Paper Title Due

Outline Due

Rough Draft Due

Final Copy Due

Header

Click INSERT, then click Header, then blank, in the options window select DIFFERENT FIRST PAGE

On the first page, you should type: Running Head: SHORTNED TITLE OF YOUR PAPER

All other pages: SHORTNED TITLE OF YOUR PAPER

Page numbers click INSERT, Page Number, Top of Page, Plain Number 3

Abstract:

Summary of the paper, go to the Purdue Owl for more information



|Honors Biology Research Paper Rubric |

|Do not lose this, it needs to be turned in with your paper!! |

| |

| |

|Title of Paper: |

|Student Name: |Final Score: |

| | |

|This rubric is used to verify specific tasks performed when producing a research paper. If the task has been completed adequately, all points |

|are awarded. If it has been partially completed, then partial points are awarded. No points are awarded if the task is not completed. |

|Category |Scoring Criteria |Points |Student Evaluation |Teacher Evaluation |

| |Outline completed and turned in on time |10 | | |

| | | | | |

| | | | | |

|Time Line | | | | |

|25 pts | | | | |

| |Rough draft completed and turned in on time |10 | | |

| |Final copy completed and turned in on time |5 | | |

|Cover Page |Title, Student Name, Course, Teacher’s Name, Date |5 | | |

|5 pts | | | | |

|Format |APA format followed throughout paper |25 | | |

|25 pts | | | | |

| |Detailed information about the topic |25 | | |

| | | | | |

| | | | | |

|Content | | | | |

|45 pts | | | | |

| |Presented in a logical manner with correct us of |10 | | |

| |scientific terminology | | | |

| |Grammar |10 | | |

|Conclusion |Summary of what was presented |5 | | |

|10 pts | | | | |

| |Final thoughts and logical conclusion |5 | | |

|Reference Page |Correct Format |10 | | |

|20 pts | | | | |

| |Appropriate citations |10 | | |

| Total Points Earned | | |

| Total Points Possible |130 |130 |

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