{"id":1247,"date":"2020-01-31T14:15:49","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T14:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/coreqenglish1\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1247"},"modified":"2025-02-10T22:43:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T22:43:59","slug":"synthesis-practice","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/synthesis-practice\/","title":{"raw":"Synthesis in Practice","rendered":"Synthesis in Practice"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Demonstrate strategies for synthesis<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nProfessors frequently expect you to interpret, make inferences, and otherwise synthesize\u2014bring ideas together to make something new or find a new way of looking at something old.\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\"><strong>PRO TIP:<\/strong> It might help to think of synthesis as the opposite of analysis. To synthesize is to combine; to analyze is to break down.<\/div>\r\n<h2>Getting Better at Synthesis<\/h2>\r\nTo get an A on essays and papers in many courses, such as literature and history, what you write in reaction to the work of others should use synthesis to create new meaning or to show a deeper understanding of what you learned.\r\n\r\nTo do so, it helps to look for connections and patterns. One way to synthesize when writing an argument essay, paper, or other project is to look for themes among your sources. So try categorizing ideas by topic rather than by source\u2014making associations across and between sources.\r\n\r\nSynthesis can seem difficult, particularly if you are used to analyzing others\u2019 points but not used to making your own. Like most things, however, it gets easier with practice. So don\u2019t be hard on yourself if it seems difficult at first.\r\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\r\n<h3><strong>EXAMPLE:<\/strong>\u00a0Synthesis in an Argument<\/h3>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_6218\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6218\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/Barbie-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"Movie poster for the Barbie movie (2023). \" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" \/> Source: Gerwig, Greta, director. Barbie. Performances by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2023.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">Imagine you have to write an argumentative essay about Greta Gerwig\u2019s 2023 film <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">Barbie<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">, and your topic is \"<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">identity and self-discovery\"<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">. The movie is your only source.<\/span>\r\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\">\r\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words text-start [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"4ed1ce24-c60b-4a90-8346-12ae6a7044f5\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-4o\">\r\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\">\r\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert dark\">\r\n\r\nIn <em>Barbie (2023)<\/em>, the protagonist, Stereotypical Barbie, begins questioning her perfect life in Barbie Land after experiencing existential thoughts. This leads her on a journey to the real world, where she grapples with the complexities of human emotions, imperfection, and societal expectations. Meanwhile, Ken, who has always defined himself through Barbie, discovers patriarchy in the real world and attempts to reshape Barbie Land to assert his own identity.\r\n\r\nAt first, you struggle to narrow your topic. But then, you start noticing a deeper connection between Barbie and Ken\u2019s journeys. Both characters are experiencing identity crises\u2014Barbie is realizing she doesn\u2019t have to fit into a singular mold, while Ken is learning that his worth isn\u2019t dependent on Barbie\u2019s validation. Suddenly, it clicks: Barbie and Ken are both on paths of self-discovery, struggling with societal expectations that dictate who they \"should\" be. That kind of idea generation, where you find the connection and theme across related elements of the movie, is synthesis.\r\n\r\nNow you have your research question: \"How do Barbie and Ken\u2019s struggles with identity mirror each other, and what does the film suggest about self-worth?\"\r\n\r\nYour thesis might be: \"Although Barbie and Ken take different paths, both characters struggle to define themselves beyond societal expectations, and Barbie ultimately argues that self-worth must come from within rather than external validation\"\r\n\r\nOf course, your job is to support your thesis with examples from the film, and your professor will be glad to see how you synthesized multiple elements of the story to arrive at a meaningful argument.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Synthesizing From Multiple Sources<\/h2>\r\nBelow are some questions that highlight ways in which the act of synthesizing brings together ideas and generates new knowledge.\r\n\r\n<strong>How do the sources speak to your specific argument or research question?<\/strong>\r\n\r\nYour argument or research question is the main unifying element in your project.\u00a0 Keep this in the forefront of your mind when you write about your sources.\u00a0 Explain how, specifically, each source supports your central claim\/s or suggests possible answers to your question.\u00a0 For example:\u00a0 Does the source provide essential background information or a definitional foundation for your argument or inquiry? Does it present numerical data that supports one of your points or helps you answer a question you have posed?\u00a0 Does it present a theory that might be applied to some aspect of your project?\u00a0 Does it present a recognized expert\u2019s insights on your topic?\r\n\r\n<strong>How do the sources speak to each other?\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n\r\nSometimes you will find explicit dialogue between sources (for example, Source A refutes Source B by name), and sometimes you will need to bring your sources into dialogue (for example, Source A does not mention Source B, but you observe that the two are advancing similar or dissimilar arguments).\u00a0 Attending to\u00a0<em><strong>interrelationships among sources<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0is at the heart of the task of synthesis.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2644\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"206\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2644 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/30172801\/books-1931195_1920-206x300.jpg\" alt=\"A stack of books.\" width=\"206\" height=\"300\" \/> <strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. A strong argument will utilize many different sources to support itself. Synthesizing by identifying interrelationships among these sources will help to strengthen your paper.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Begin by asking: What are the points of agreement?\u00a0 Where are there disagreements?<\/strong>\r\n\r\nBut be aware that you are unlikely to find your sources in pure positions of \u201cfor\u201d vs. \u201cagainst.\u201d\u00a0 You are more likely to find agreement in some areas and disagreement in other areas.\u00a0 You may also find agreement but for different reasons\u2014such as different underlying values and priorities, or different methods of inquiry.\r\n\r\n<strong>Where are there, or aren\u2019t there, information gaps?<\/strong>\r\n\r\nWhere is the available information unreliable (for example, it might be difficult to trace back to primary sources), or limited, (for example, based on just a few case studies, or on just one geographical area), or difficult for non-specialists to access (for example, written in specialist language, or tucked away in a physical archive)?\r\n\r\nDoes your inquiry contain sub-questions that may not at present be answerable, or that may not be answerable without additional primary research\u2014for example, laboratory studies, direct observation, interviews with witnesses or participants, etc.?\r\n\r\nOr, alternatively, is there a great deal of reliable, accessible information that addresses your question or speaks to your argument or inquiry?\r\n\r\nIn considering these questions, you are engaged in synthesis: you are conducting an overview assessment of the field of available information and in this way generating composite knowledge.\r\n\r\nRemember, synthesis is about pulling together information from a range of sources in order to answer a question or construct an argument. It is something you will be called upon to do in a wide variety of academic, professional, and personal contexts. Being able to dive into an ocean of information and surface with meaningful conclusions is an essential skill.\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/38bdcc63-8c63-44a3-ad7b-a9f6c4329d8a\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\r\n<h3>Synthesis in Literature Reviews<\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">One place synthesis is usually required is in literature reviews for honors\u2019 theses, master\u2019s theses, and Ph.D. dissertations. In all those cases, literature reviews are intended to contribute more than annotated bibliographies do and to be arguments for the research conducted for the theses or dissertations. If you are writing an honors thesis, master\u2019s thesis, or Ph.D. dissertation, you will find more help with\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\" href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/app\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/04\/Susan-Imel-Writing-a-Literature-Review.doc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Susan Imel\u2019s Writing a Literature Review<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Showing Synthesis<\/h2>\r\nSome ways to demonstrate synthesis in your writing is to compare and contrast multiple sources. Below are some examples of sentence structures that demonstrate synthesis:\r\n\r\nSynthesis that indicates agreement\/support:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Source A asserts that\u2026 Source B agrees when he or she states\u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>According to both A &amp; B\u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The combined conclusions of sources B &amp; C seem to indicate that\u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The evidence shows that\u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Source B is correct that\u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Source C makes a convincing case when she argues\u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>I agree with Source A\u2019s conclusion that\u2026<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nSynthesis that indicates disagreement\/conflict:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Source A asserts that\u2026Yet Source B offers a different perspective by\u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Source C &amp; B would likely disagree regarding\u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>My view, however, contrary to what Source A has argued, is\u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>I argue that X &amp; Y are the best solution, though Source B offers a different option.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>In contrast, I would like to offer some objections to the opinions expressed by source C\u2026<\/li>\r\n \t<li>While source A makes an intriguing argument, I would disagree\u2026<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nWhat the above examples indicate is that synthesis is the careful weaving in of outside opinions in order to show your reader the many ideas and arguments on your topic and further assert your own. Notice, too, that the above examples are also\u00a0<strong>signal phrases<\/strong>: language that introduces outside source material to be either quoted or paraphrased, i.e., \"contrary to what Source A has argued, source B maintains ___________ .\"\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It:\u00a0Balancing Sources and Synthesis<\/h3>\r\nHere\u2019s a technique to quickly assess whether there is enough of your original thought in your essay or paper, as opposed to information from your sources: Highlight what you have included as quotes, paraphrases, and summaries from your sources. Next, highlight in another color what you have written yourself. Then take a look at the pages and decide whether there is enough of your own thinking in them.\r\n\r\nFor the mocked-up pages below, assume that the yellow-highlighted lines were written by the writer and the pink-highlighted lines are quotes, paraphrases, and summaries she pulled from her sources.\r\n\r\nWhich page most demonstrates the writer\u2019s own ideas?\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_414\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-414\" src=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/app\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2016\/07\/wt-synthesis.png\" alt=\"Three sample showing 1) mostly quotes with little original thought, 2) mostly original thought supported by quotes, and 3) equal split between quotes and original thought.\" width=\"1392\" height=\"411\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-414\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mocked-up passages showing the division between quotes,\u00a0paraphrases, and summaries and original ideas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\nSource: Joy McGregor. \u201cA Visual Approach: Teaching Synthesis,\u201d School Library Monthly, Volume XXVII, Number 8\/May-June 2011.\r\n\r\n[reveal-answer q=\"149882\"]Show Answer[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"149882\"]\r\n\r\nAnswer: The Middle Sample.\r\n\r\nThe yellow-highlighted sections in the middle sample shows more contributions from the author than from quotes, paraphrases, and summaries of other sources.\r\n\r\n[\/hidden-answer]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>GLOSSARY<\/h3>\r\n<strong>signal phrase<\/strong>: a phrase that introduces outside sources material that will be quoted or paraphrased\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Demonstrate strategies for synthesis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Professors frequently expect you to interpret, make inferences, and otherwise synthesize\u2014bring ideas together to make something new or find a new way of looking at something old.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\"><strong>PRO TIP:<\/strong> It might help to think of synthesis as the opposite of analysis. To synthesize is to combine; to analyze is to break down.<\/div>\n<h2>Getting Better at Synthesis<\/h2>\n<p>To get an A on essays and papers in many courses, such as literature and history, what you write in reaction to the work of others should use synthesis to create new meaning or to show a deeper understanding of what you learned.<\/p>\n<p>To do so, it helps to look for connections and patterns. One way to synthesize when writing an argument essay, paper, or other project is to look for themes among your sources. So try categorizing ideas by topic rather than by source\u2014making associations across and between sources.<\/p>\n<p>Synthesis can seem difficult, particularly if you are used to analyzing others\u2019 points but not used to making your own. Like most things, however, it gets easier with practice. So don\u2019t be hard on yourself if it seems difficult at first.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\n<h3><strong>EXAMPLE:<\/strong>\u00a0Synthesis in an Argument<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_6218\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6218\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6218\" src=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/Barbie-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"Movie poster for the Barbie movie (2023).\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/Barbie-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/Barbie-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/Barbie-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/Barbie-65x98.jpg 65w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/Barbie-225x338.jpg 225w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/Barbie-350x525.jpg 350w, https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/Barbie.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-6218\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: Gerwig, Greta, director. Barbie. Performances by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">Imagine you have to write an argumentative essay about Greta Gerwig\u2019s 2023 film <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">Barbie<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">, and your topic is &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">identity and self-discovery&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">. The movie is your only source.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words text-start [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"4ed1ce24-c60b-4a90-8346-12ae6a7044f5\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-4o\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert dark\">\n<p>In <em>Barbie (2023)<\/em>, the protagonist, Stereotypical Barbie, begins questioning her perfect life in Barbie Land after experiencing existential thoughts. This leads her on a journey to the real world, where she grapples with the complexities of human emotions, imperfection, and societal expectations. Meanwhile, Ken, who has always defined himself through Barbie, discovers patriarchy in the real world and attempts to reshape Barbie Land to assert his own identity.<\/p>\n<p>At first, you struggle to narrow your topic. But then, you start noticing a deeper connection between Barbie and Ken\u2019s journeys. Both characters are experiencing identity crises\u2014Barbie is realizing she doesn\u2019t have to fit into a singular mold, while Ken is learning that his worth isn\u2019t dependent on Barbie\u2019s validation. Suddenly, it clicks: Barbie and Ken are both on paths of self-discovery, struggling with societal expectations that dictate who they &#8220;should&#8221; be. That kind of idea generation, where you find the connection and theme across related elements of the movie, is synthesis.<\/p>\n<p>Now you have your research question: &#8220;How do Barbie and Ken\u2019s struggles with identity mirror each other, and what does the film suggest about self-worth?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Your thesis might be: &#8220;Although Barbie and Ken take different paths, both characters struggle to define themselves beyond societal expectations, and Barbie ultimately argues that self-worth must come from within rather than external validation&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Of course, your job is to support your thesis with examples from the film, and your professor will be glad to see how you synthesized multiple elements of the story to arrive at a meaningful argument.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Synthesizing From Multiple Sources<\/h2>\n<p>Below are some questions that highlight ways in which the act of synthesizing brings together ideas and generates new knowledge.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do the sources speak to your specific argument or research question?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Your argument or research question is the main unifying element in your project.\u00a0 Keep this in the forefront of your mind when you write about your sources.\u00a0 Explain how, specifically, each source supports your central claim\/s or suggests possible answers to your question.\u00a0 For example:\u00a0 Does the source provide essential background information or a definitional foundation for your argument or inquiry? Does it present numerical data that supports one of your points or helps you answer a question you have posed?\u00a0 Does it present a theory that might be applied to some aspect of your project?\u00a0 Does it present a recognized expert\u2019s insights on your topic?<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do the sources speak to each other?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes you will find explicit dialogue between sources (for example, Source A refutes Source B by name), and sometimes you will need to bring your sources into dialogue (for example, Source A does not mention Source B, but you observe that the two are advancing similar or dissimilar arguments).\u00a0 Attending to\u00a0<em><strong>interrelationships among sources<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0is at the heart of the task of synthesis.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2644\" style=\"width: 216px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2644\" class=\"wp-image-2644 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4975\/2020\/01\/30172801\/books-1931195_1920-206x300.jpg\" alt=\"A stack of books.\" width=\"206\" height=\"300\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-2644\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. A strong argument will utilize many different sources to support itself. Synthesizing by identifying interrelationships among these sources will help to strengthen your paper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Begin by asking: What are the points of agreement?\u00a0 Where are there disagreements?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But be aware that you are unlikely to find your sources in pure positions of \u201cfor\u201d vs. \u201cagainst.\u201d\u00a0 You are more likely to find agreement in some areas and disagreement in other areas.\u00a0 You may also find agreement but for different reasons\u2014such as different underlying values and priorities, or different methods of inquiry.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where are there, or aren\u2019t there, information gaps?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Where is the available information unreliable (for example, it might be difficult to trace back to primary sources), or limited, (for example, based on just a few case studies, or on just one geographical area), or difficult for non-specialists to access (for example, written in specialist language, or tucked away in a physical archive)?<\/p>\n<p>Does your inquiry contain sub-questions that may not at present be answerable, or that may not be answerable without additional primary research\u2014for example, laboratory studies, direct observation, interviews with witnesses or participants, etc.?<\/p>\n<p>Or, alternatively, is there a great deal of reliable, accessible information that addresses your question or speaks to your argument or inquiry?<\/p>\n<p>In considering these questions, you are engaged in synthesis: you are conducting an overview assessment of the field of available information and in this way generating composite knowledge.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, synthesis is about pulling together information from a range of sources in order to answer a question or construct an argument. It is something you will be called upon to do in a wide variety of academic, professional, and personal contexts. Being able to dive into an ocean of information and surface with meaningful conclusions is an essential skill.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_38bdcc63-8c63-44a3-ad7b-a9f6c4329d8a\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/38bdcc63-8c63-44a3-ad7b-a9f6c4329d8a?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_38bdcc63-8c63-44a3-ad7b-a9f6c4329d8a\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\n<h3>Synthesis in Literature Reviews<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">One place synthesis is usually required is in literature reviews for honors\u2019 theses, master\u2019s theses, and Ph.D. dissertations. In all those cases, literature reviews are intended to contribute more than annotated bibliographies do and to be arguments for the research conducted for the theses or dissertations. If you are writing an honors thesis, master\u2019s thesis, or Ph.D. dissertation, you will find more help with\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\" href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/app\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2018\/04\/Susan-Imel-Writing-a-Literature-Review.doc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Susan Imel\u2019s Writing a Literature Review<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Showing Synthesis<\/h2>\n<p>Some ways to demonstrate synthesis in your writing is to compare and contrast multiple sources. Below are some examples of sentence structures that demonstrate synthesis:<\/p>\n<p>Synthesis that indicates agreement\/support:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Source A asserts that\u2026 Source B agrees when he or she states\u2026<\/li>\n<li>According to both A &amp; B\u2026<\/li>\n<li>The combined conclusions of sources B &amp; C seem to indicate that\u2026<\/li>\n<li>The evidence shows that\u2026<\/li>\n<li>Source B is correct that\u2026<\/li>\n<li>Source C makes a convincing case when she argues\u2026<\/li>\n<li>I agree with Source A\u2019s conclusion that\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Synthesis that indicates disagreement\/conflict:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Source A asserts that\u2026Yet Source B offers a different perspective by\u2026<\/li>\n<li>Source C &amp; B would likely disagree regarding\u2026<\/li>\n<li>My view, however, contrary to what Source A has argued, is\u2026<\/li>\n<li>I argue that X &amp; Y are the best solution, though Source B offers a different option.<\/li>\n<li>In contrast, I would like to offer some objections to the opinions expressed by source C\u2026<\/li>\n<li>While source A makes an intriguing argument, I would disagree\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What the above examples indicate is that synthesis is the careful weaving in of outside opinions in order to show your reader the many ideas and arguments on your topic and further assert your own. Notice, too, that the above examples are also\u00a0<strong>signal phrases<\/strong>: language that introduces outside source material to be either quoted or paraphrased, i.e., &#8220;contrary to what Source A has argued, source B maintains ___________ .&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It:\u00a0Balancing Sources and Synthesis<\/h3>\n<p>Here\u2019s a technique to quickly assess whether there is enough of your original thought in your essay or paper, as opposed to information from your sources: Highlight what you have included as quotes, paraphrases, and summaries from your sources. Next, highlight in another color what you have written yourself. Then take a look at the pages and decide whether there is enough of your own thinking in them.<\/p>\n<p>For the mocked-up pages below, assume that the yellow-highlighted lines were written by the writer and the pink-highlighted lines are quotes, paraphrases, and summaries she pulled from her sources.<\/p>\n<p>Which page most demonstrates the writer\u2019s own ideas?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_414\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-414\" src=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/app\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2016\/07\/wt-synthesis.png\" alt=\"Three sample showing 1) mostly quotes with little original thought, 2) mostly original thought supported by quotes, and 3) equal split between quotes and original thought.\" width=\"1392\" height=\"411\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-414\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mocked-up passages showing the division between quotes,\u00a0paraphrases, and summaries and original ideas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Source: Joy McGregor. \u201cA Visual Approach: Teaching Synthesis,\u201d School Library Monthly, Volume XXVII, Number 8\/May-June 2011.<\/p>\n<div class=\"qa-wrapper\" style=\"display: block\"><span class=\"show-answer collapsed\" style=\"cursor: pointer\" data-target=\"q149882\">Show Answer<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"q149882\" class=\"hidden-answer\" style=\"display: none\">\n<p>Answer: The Middle Sample.<\/p>\n<p>The yellow-highlighted sections in the middle sample shows more contributions from the author than from quotes, paraphrases, and summaries of other sources.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>GLOSSARY<\/h3>\n<p><strong>signal phrase<\/strong>: a phrase that introduces outside sources material that will be quoted or paraphrased<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-1247\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Synthesizing Your Research Findings. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Christine Photinos. <strong>Project<\/strong>: Composing Ourselves and Our World . <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Synthesizing. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Melanie Gagich. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/introduction-to-writing\/chapter\/8-1-synthesizing\/\">https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/introduction-to-writing\/chapter\/8-1-synthesizing\/<\/a>. <strong>Project<\/strong>: Introduction to Writing in College. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Synthesis of Your Own Ideas . <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Ohio State University Libraries . <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/choosingsources\/chapter\/synthesis\/\">https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/choosingsources\/chapter\/synthesis\/<\/a>. <strong>Project<\/strong>: Choosing &amp; Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research by Teaching &amp; Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Image of a stack of books. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Ulrike Leone. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Pixabay. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/books-book-stack-isolated-1931195\/\">https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/books-book-stack-isolated-1931195\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>Other<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: https:\/\/pixabay.com\/service\/terms\/#license<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":29,"menu_order":15,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Synthesizing Your Research Findings\",\"author\":\"Christine Photinos\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"Composing Ourselves and Our World \",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Synthesizing\",\"author\":\"Melanie Gagich\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/introduction-to-writing\/chapter\/8-1-synthesizing\/\",\"project\":\"Introduction to Writing in College\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Synthesis of Your Own Ideas \",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Ohio State University Libraries \",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ohiostate.pressbooks.pub\/choosingsources\/chapter\/synthesis\/\",\"project\":\"Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research by Teaching & Learning\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Image of a stack of books\",\"author\":\"Ulrike Leone\",\"organization\":\"Pixabay\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/books-book-stack-isolated-1931195\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"other\",\"license_terms\":\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/service\/terms\/#license\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"aa5ca6cb-20dc-47f4-ac1c-7a2b12b675d8, b414c9e5-a3e8-4a6b-98d8-3075a5f9a3ed","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-1247","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":74,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6219,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1247\/revisions\/6219"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/74"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1247\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1247"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1247"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}