Building the Synthesis
MOVING FROM NOTES TO DRAFT
Brainstorming
 Using the Synthesis Worksheets
 Review the lists of themes (right hand column) and look for
patterns.
What exact repetitions do you see? Which words emerge in
multiple places?
 What kinds of strands or related words do you see?
 What themes intrigue or attract you?

Moving from Theme to (Rough Draft) Thesis
 Freewriting
 What does each source say about this idea? After reading this
text or watching this film, what have you learned about
___________?
 What tensions or contradictions might be inherent in this
idea?

E.g. It seems to be saying __________, and yet it is also saying
_______________.
 Drafting
 Begin composing a Rough Draft thesis based on your notes.
 After reading Source A and B, what have we learned about
______________?
Collecting Evidence
 Look through your notes and the readings or film
with your rough draft thesis in front of you.

Gather textual evidence that will support your argument.


Find at least 3-4 quotations or scenes from each source.
Gather additional evidence that might complicate or deepen
your argument.
Moving from Evidence to Outline
 Begin a Conversation between Sources


Find a clear, strong Illustration or piece of Evidence from Source A
that you can put in conversation with a clear, strong Illustration from
Source B.
Throughout the essay, you will want to move between the sources.
 Create an Outline


Begin with the two pieces of Evidence above.
Build your Outline based on the conversational model


How does Source A speak back to Source B – and vice versa?
See Notes on Synthesis Handout for a sample outline.
 Understand that your Outline, like a Conversation, will
remain fluid and changeable.