Synthesis Essays #1-5

ENGL 212 – Fall 2018

Due dates on Canvas by 11:59 p.m.:

Synthesis #1: Sunday, September 9
Synthesis #2: Sunday, September 30
Synthesis #3: Sunday, October 28
Synthesis #4: Sunday, November 18
Synthesis #5: Sunday, December 2
Length: 500 words each
Percentage of final grade: 5% each
Number of sources: A minimum of 3 of our assigned readings or viewings. Do not do outside research
for these assignments.
Citation Style: APA
Document design: 12-point Times New Roman or Calibri, 1” margins
Acceptable file types: .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf

What is a “Synthesis Essay”?

A synthesis requires you to place two or more texts in conversation with each other (for these
assignments, you will use at least three). The idea “synthesize” suggests to blending together to make a
whole. That’s what you’re doing with these essays—looking at the pieces (the assigned readings and
videos), reading and watching them carefully, and blending together interesting ideas from at least
three of them. A synthesis is not merely a summary—your synthesis essays should each have a clearly
articulated argument.

Assignment Description
For each Synthesis Essay, you are required to select at least three of the readings and/or videos from the
specific phase in which the Synthesis Essay is due. To clarify, for Synthesis Essay #1, you can only use
readings and videos from Phase 1. Once you select the readings and videos you’d like to write about,
you should carefully construct an argument about them. For instance, is there a particular point of view
you agree or disagree with? Why? What are the points put forth in those readings and videos that help
support your own point of view?

Here are some questions to help you explore ideas in the texts you select1:
 What are dominant patterns of language and ideas (repetitions, emphases, tensions, and omissions)
do you observe in each text?
 What similarities and differences do you see in the way the authors/speakers choose to frame in the
issues they are writing about? How do their theses (either implied or stated) differ?
 What are the main similarities and differences in their angles of vision?
 What similarities and differences do you see in the authors’/speakers’ underlying values and
assumptions?
 What overlap, if any, is there in these authors’ or speakers’ examples and uses of terms?

1
Questions and framework adapted from The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing, 8th Edition
Here are some questions to help you develop your own ideas about and synthesize the texts you
read/watch:
 Do I have any knowledge from my personal experiences that is influencing my response to these
texts?
 What do I agree with and disagree with in these texts I have analyzed?
 If I find one author’s perspective more valid, accurate, interesting, or useful than another’s, why do I
feel this way?
 How have these texts changed my perception and understanding of an issue, question, or problem?
You might want to use these prompts: “I used to think____, but now I think____.” “Although these
texts have persuaded me that _____, I still have doubts about ____.”

It is important to think about your readers, or your audience, when crafting any type of writing. For
these essays, you should imagine your audience as a group of well-educated peers, but ones who are
not as familiar with our course topic or even the texts you’ve read and viewed. Therefore, some
summary will be necessary. But let me be clear, this essay is not about the summary; instead, it is about
how well you extrapolate ideas from each text and support an argument.

Framework
You can structure each essay in a number of ways, but here are two ways I find most useful:

Framework A
Introduction and  Summarizes the texts.
summary of all texts  Presents your thesis, which maps out your main analytical and
synthesis points. (Your thesis might come at the end of the paragraph
with your summaries or in a mini-paragraph of its own.)
Analytical section  Includes paragraphs discussing and developing your analytical points.
Synthesis section  Includes paragraphs discussing and developing your synthesis points.
Concluding paragraph  Reiterates the values and limitations of the texts you have analyzed.
 Pulls together new insights.
 Leaves readers thinking about your views.

Framework B
Introduction  Presents your thesis, which maps out your main analytical and
synthesis points.
Summary/analysis of  Summarizes the first text
first text  Analyzes the first text
Summary/analysis of  Summarizes the second text
second text  Analyzes the second text
Summary/analysis of  Summarizes the third text
third text  Analyzes the third text
Synthesis  Develops several synthesis points
Concluding paragraph  Reiterates the values and limitations of the texts you have analyzed.
 Pulls together new insights.
 Leaves readers thinking about your views.