Synthesis Essay Checklist
High scoring synthesis essays usually contain the following criteria:
Introduction:
 Has a clear thesis that responds to the prompt
 Has an informative, background-giving lead-in to the thesis that is neither
too general nor clichéd (It doesn’t matter where in the introduction it occurs:
before, after, or in the middle of the thesis if that thesis is broken up)
Body Paragraphs:
 Have a clear topic sentence that extends, elaborates, or qualifies the thesis
and synthesizes at least two of the sources
 Contain at least two pieces of evidence from different sources which are, at
the very least, mildly different from one another (they don’t double dip
unless one piece of evidence is provided immediately after the other in order
to further solidify a point)
 Have a smooth connection (using transitions) between the two pieces of
evidence that is connected to the topic sentence and, as result, extends the
thesis
 Provide a logical concluding sentence or thought (if it’s developed through a
number of sentences)
 Do not begin or end with quotes. The writer’s voice is dominant and the
sources are used to support it
Conclusion:
 Clearly summarizes the important components of the essay: the thesis and
body paragraph content
 Concludes with an interesting or provocative thought (Yes, this is ambiguous
but this is where creative thought comes in. Some guiding questions might
be: How is the topic relevant? What does this say about our culture? What
does what has been discussed mean for our future?)
Overall:
 Uses precise language and avoids generalities and repetition
 Has proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation
 Uses varied sentence structure (long, short, periodic, cumulative, complex,
compound, compound-complex, simple sentences, with parallel syntax, etc.)
 Uses wide-ranging vocabulary (this doesn’t mean using the biggest, most
difficult-to-spell or most recently learned vocabulary words just for the sake
of using them; it just means not using simplistic, general diction.
 Is formal (It doesn’t mean trying to “sound sophisticated”, over stating what
can be said simply. It just states what is meant directly and precisely without
using informal, conversational language)