Planning Your Synthesis Essay
The Introduction
In the introduction of a synthesis response, you will want to introduce the texts that are being synthesized as well as offer any pertinent summaries of the texts or background information. The background info/summaries should be brief. Be sure to fully identify each source with authors and titles. Then, offer a statement or series of statements that sum up the focus of your synthesis.
Key Takeaways
An effective introduction should:
- Contain a statement or statements that sum up the focus of your synthesis. (Example: Recent coverage of poor national ratings and failing test scores in Mississippi schools has sparked a new debate on school funding in the state.)
- Introduce the texts to be synthesized by giving the title of each source and the name of each author. You may also include pertinent background information about the authors, about the texts to be summarized, or about the general topic from which the texts are drawn.
- Provide a claim: Your insight about the issues at hand based on reading and analyzing these two texts. (Example: Though I believe John Smith makes valid points about the need for increased school funding in Mississippi, I think that, as Jane Doe points out, lawmakers in the state need to focus on revising the funding formula before throwing money at a problem that needs broader supports than just extra financing.)
The Body
This should be organized by theme, point, similarity, or aspect of the topic. Your organization will be determined by the assignment or by the themes or traits you see in your sources (see Synthesis Matrix for help with recognizing themes/traits).
Key Takeaways
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 lead-in phrases 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 versa.]
- Shows the similarities or differences between the different sources in ways that suggest strong critical reading and analysis of the sources.
- Represents the texts fairly.
Key Takeaways
Conclusions:
When you have finished your paper, write a conclusion reminding readers of the most significant themes you have found and the ways they connect to the overall topic. What is left to be said? What final assertion can you make? Can you call for more research? Propose a solution? Be sure to references your sources again somewhere in the conclusion, but make the conclusion your own!