English 11
Synthesis Essay Outline
Synthesis five paragraph essay:
 On your final exam, you will be presented with two separate pieces of writing.
 You will write a five paragraph essay response where you must reference both pieces.
 This is not a compare/contrast essay.
 The Synthesis Essay, like the Persuasive Essay, is likely to offer one of three types of prompts. The
prompt will ask you to: defend, challenge, or qualify a claim. You will develop a position on a given
topic or evaluate several factors related to a topic.
There are two ways to write a synthesis essay:
Basic:
Introduction
Body paragraph #1: Discuss story #1
Body paragraph #2: Discuss story #2
Body paragraph #3: Discuss both stories
Conclusion
Advanced:
Introduction
Body paragraph #1: Discuss both stories
Body paragraph #2: Discuss both stories
Body paragraph #3: Discuss both stories
Conclusion
Introduction:
5-7 sentences – one opening sentence (mention both pieces of writing). Your thesis
statement will come at the end of your introduction where you must state the three
points or arguments you plan to discuss.
Body Paragraph #1: 5 – 8 sentences
Basic: Discuss your first point in relation to story #1
Advanced: Discuss your first point in relation to both story #1 and story #2
Body Paragraph #2: 5 – 8 sentences
Basic: Discuss your second point in relation to story #2
Advanced: Discuss your second point in relation to both story #1 and story #2
Body Paragraph #3: 5 – 8 sentences
Basic: Discuss your third and final point in relation to both story #1 and story #2
Advanced: Discuss your third and final point in relation to both story #1 and story #2
Conclusion:
5-7 sentences – Do not introduce any brand new ideas in your conclusion; instead, this
where you want to ‘wrap up’ your essay. You may re-state your thesis using new language
and summarize the points you made in your three body paragraphs. Close off your essay with
a final summarizing sentence that will leave the reader feeling content.