Synthesis
ROLL
In the chapter you read for HW, there were two
articles on Mobile Phone Tracking. Nikki Swartz’s
“Mobile Phone Tracking Scrutinized” and Terry
Allen’s article “Reach Out and Track Someone”.
 How would you describe each writer’s angle of
vision? Summarize each of the author’s main
points.
 List any differences or contradictions you see
between the two pieces.

CELL PHONE TRACKING

What is Swartz’s Angle of Vision?

What is Allen’s Angle of Vision?

What is Swartz’s main point/ thesis?

What is Allen’s main point/ thesis?
CELL PHONE TRACKING

What ideas do the pieces have in common?

What are the contradictions (antithesis) or
differences you see in these pieces?

After the new knowledge that we gained from
reading both pieces, can you think of any new
ideas about the topic that neither author
addressed?
DEFINITION OF SYNTHESIS

Synthesis:
 the
combining of the constituent elements of
separate material or abstract entities into a single
or unified entity.
 the dialectic combination of thesis and antithesis
into a higher stage of truth
 Seeing and coming to terms with complexities.
SYNTHESIS GOES FURTHER THAN ANALYSIS
Analyzing a text breaks it down into parts to see
their relationships.
 Synthesizing takes the parts and puts them
back together in a new way.
 We don’t just compare and contrast the 3
essays, but pull out each of their parts, and
combine then to make a new idea or argument.

BENJAMIN BLOOM’S THINKING PROCESSES
Knowledge
 Comprehension
 Application
 Analysis
 Synthesis
 Evaluation

HEGEL’S DIALECTICS

When Thesis clashes with Antithesis- the
reader comes up with a new idea that uses
parts of each side to go somewhere different.
SYNTHESIS ESSAY
(p346 in A&B)
 Moves beyond analysis to show how a writer
interacts with a group of texts, explores
alternative perspectives on an issue, and
enlarges the reader’s own perspective.
 Synthesis should allow you to carve out your
own thinking space to say something new.

TURN TO PAGE 353 IN A&B
Let’s discuss “annotating” a text. Visible with
Kate MacAulay’s piece.
 Notice the notes by the margins and how
clearly it tells the reader what the essay is
about and where to find the information it
contains. Reading while annotating is an
important tool to use to condense lengthy
passages or to break down difficult theoretical
texts.

TYPES OF SYNTHESIS QUESTIONS
How have cell phones affected the lives of
American citizens?
 What should be our attitude towards increasing
America’s economy?
 What are the biggest obstacles in attempting to
find a cure for cancer?
 Should the US increase its production of electricity
by building more nuclear power plants?
 What does it mean to be American?


What do these questions remind you of? What type of
assignment do these look like?
REALITY TV

Show Bachelor Clip

http://youtu.be/joLue16Xy9o
THREE CHEERS FOR REALITY TV
What did you think of the article/ overall
impressions?
 Do you agree or disagree with Havrilesky?
 What is her thesis?
 What does she do to support her thesis?
 What is Havrilesky’s style/ tone/ audience?
 What rhetorical choices does she make (can you
point to specific words or phrases)
 What were the “hot spots” of this article? Where
did you mark in the margins that she said
something that affected you?

THREE CHEERS CONTINUED…
What does Havrilesky see as the problem with
Reality TV?
 What is the problem with Dramas on TV these
days? Who is to blame?
 What do reality shows offer audiences
according to Havrilesky?
 What does Havrilesky see as the “death of the
Reality TV genre”?
 What does the author see as the point of TV in
general? What do audiences want?

THREE CHEERS

Synthesis Chart on page 99 of the SG
 *Your
blackboard posts from last night.*

Author’s Main Point

Types of Evidence/ Examples

Counterarguments
STUDENT GUIDE PAGE 95
 Read
the Key Assignment
 Description
 Goals
 Look at Sample
 Questions about the assignment?
WRITING IF THERE IS TIME

Create some sort of TV script. You can freewrite
about an idea for a TV show. You can write a
dialogue or small section of what you would
want the characters to say or do. You can write
poetry or a song that could be the beginning of
the show (the intro). Have fun and be ready to
share!
HOMEWORK

Read pages 95-106 in the SG. Please read the
Poniewozik article on Bb under the documents, called
“Why Reality TV is Good for Us” (Print and bring to
class.) Also read the Godspeed article on Bb under
Course Documents called “The Cultural Plague of
Reality TV” (Bring to class, printed). Post on the BB
blog by 3:00 on Tuesday Nov. 8 300-400 words
comparing and contrasting the arguments made by
Poniewozik and Godspeed about reality TV.