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?

Analyzing Textual Evidence in Depth
Analysis
Illustration/
Evidence
Analysis
Analysis
Example: This
scene/this
quotation could
mean
____________,
and yet it could
also signify ____.
Additionally, we
can read
__________ as
___________.
Freewriting
 Freewrite (5 minutes)

Introduce the first, strongest Illustration or piece of Evidence
A line of dialogue
 A direct quote
 The description of a scene


Explain or analyze that evidence
What do we learn from this piece of evidence?
 Why is this so important?

Sample: This scene/this quotation could mean ____________, and
yet it could also signify ____. Additionally, we can read
__________ as ___________.
 Sample 2: Although this scene shows _____________, it also
reminds the reader that ____________.

Moving from Theme to (Rough Draft) Thesis
 Freewriting
 What does each source say about this idea?


Freewriting Prompt 1: After reading/watching __________ and
_________, we learn that ____________. We also learn that
__________________.
What tensions or contradictions might be inherent in this
idea?

E.g. _________ seems to be saying __________, and yet it is
also saying _______________.
Moving from Theme to (Rough Draft) Thesis
 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 Illustrations/Textual evidence that will support your
argument.


Find at least 3 quotations or scenes from each source.
Gather additional evidence that might complicate or deepen
your argument.
 Begin to Explain or Analyze your Illustration.
 Do this step in a rough draft capacity before putting it all
together. That is, analyze each piece of evidence carefully and
fully before deciding where everything will go.
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.