Synthesis is impossible without close reading. Below, you will find resources from Excelsior College’s Online Writing Lab that explain the differences between synthesis and analysis and that provide activities that help you with close reading strategies and ways to brainstorm ways to form new ideas from your reading. Below is a helpful infographic to help you understand Analysis Vs. Synthesis.
How to Synthesize What you Read
This brief video from Excelsior College’s Online Writing Lab discusses key strategies for synthesizing ideas. Here is a link to the video transcript. It may also help to visualize the differences between Synthesizing, Analyzing, and Summarizing.
Need Help Synthesizing?
Below are two activities designed to help you practice synthesizing.