Florida Standards Assessment
ELA WRITING COMPONENT
Students will read several “texts” about a single topic.
These could be informational or literary. They can also
be pictorial.
After reading the various “texts,” the students will
respond to a writing prompt in which they will provide
information on a topic (informative/explanatory) or
take a stance to support an opinion or argument
(argumentative). Two of the three texts must be
incorporated into the essay.
WHAT IS A SYNTHESIS ESSAY?
A synthesis essay makes insightful connections. Those
connections can show the relationships between two or
more sources. It is your job to explain why those
relationships are important.
A synthesis essay is an opportunity to create new
knowledge out of already existing knowledge (i.e., other
sources). You combine, or synthesize, the information in
your sources to develop an argument or a unique
perspective on a topic.
It is like a mini research paper!
WHY DO I NEED TO WRITE A
SYNTHESIS ESSAY?
Because it is REQUIRED!!!
Because …
writing a successful synthesis essay will “force” you to:
read accurately and objectively
see relationships among different viewpoints
define a thesis based on these relationships
support your thesis effectively
HOW DO I WRITE IT?
INFORMATIVE (old expository)
Develop a thesis based on common points among the
sources
Support the thesis with appropriate examples from
each of the sources you are planning to use
HOW DO I WRITE IT?
ARGUMENTATIVE (old persuasive)
Develop a clearly defined opinion about the subject
(thesis)
Support that opinion by incorporating the valid
viewpoints of the writers of the sources available
Show the weaknesses of those ideas which you feel
are not valid
WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE
IN WRITING THIS ESSAY?
1. READ THE PROMPT
What are you being asked to do?
Inform or argue?
What are the key words in the prompt?
2. READ THE SOURCES
Skim through the sources and look for similar
issues in each text that work with the prompt.
Reflect on those issues and jot down your ideas
(annotate).
3. DETERMINE YOUR THESIS
 In an informative essay, your thesis may state the main idea
you have developed from your readings, which will be
supported with examples from the sources in the body of
your essay.
 In an argumentative essay, your thesis will state your
opinion about the subject, which will be supported through
an analysis of the sources.
 Don’t provide reasons!
4.
FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FOR MULTIPARAGRAPH ESSAYS
5.
ORGANIZE YOUR ESSAY
With your thesis in mind
Incorporating one or more sources per paragraph
Including 2-3 quotes or paraphrases per body paragraph
INTEGRATING SOURCES
EXAMPLES:
According to James, “Pocahontas was never a true princess.”
“Pocahontas was never a true princess” (James).
She “was never a true princess,” James states.
Among American Indian princesses, Pocahontas is not one
(James).
INTEGRATING SOURCES
EXAMPLES:
 According to American Royalty, “Pocahontas was never a true
princess.”
 “Pocahontas was never a true princess” (American Royalty).
 She “was never a true princess,” states the author of “Pocahontas.”
 Among American Indian princesses, Pocahontas is not one
(“Pocahontas”).
TIME MANAGEMENT
TEST IS CURRENTLY PROJECTED TO LAST 90 MINUTES.
ALLOCATE 35 MINUTES FOR READING THE MATERIAL,
DECIDING WHAT TO QUOTE, DEVELOPING A THESIS.
WRITE FOR 40 MINUTES.
PROOFREAD FOR PUNCTUATION, VOCABULARY, CORRECT
CITATION, & OVERALL COHESIVENESS - LAST 15.