SYNThesis is…
I. DEFINITION?
>IN YOUR OWN WORDS, with an example of something you have synthesized:
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>DICTIONARY DEFINITION, WITH AN EXAMPLE:
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(Class Discussion/take notes here…)
II. What is the HWOC SYNTHESIS ESSAY?
A Synthesis Essay…
•Integrates ideas from multiple sources to answer a question, elaborate on an idea, make
a claim/argue a point…or all of the above!
•Necessitates multiple parts/paragraphs, a body of detail paragraphs “sandwiched” by
background with context for synthesis (introduction paragraph) and concluding with a
paragraph of generalization.
•THIS ESSAY SHOWS THE “PART-TO-WHOLE” IMPACT --- HOW A SINGLE
ELEMENT EMPLOYED FOR LITERARY VALUE IN SEVERAL SOURCES
SUPPORTS A GENERAL IDEA (i.e., your thesis!).
•Attributes sources, both direct and indirectly. That is, writer paraphrases and provides
direct quotes to support the thesis or claim. Parenthetical citation is required (i.e.,
internal citations to reference the location of the AWE within the original source
material) and the accompanying end citation, listed alphabetically in the Work Cited
section of the paper.
HWOC Synthesis Essays will be about …
Prompts for writing this lit-based synthesis essay include but are not limited to the
following, listed below. Students may create original prompts, but those must be
approved by the instructor prior to the start of the process.
HWOC/pre-AP writing 13-14
1. Write about the theme of power or powerlessness based on a social context.
(Thesis: Power/control OR powerlessness/lack of control is based on gender (or
socioeconomics or birth order or societal hierarchy or _________). This thesis
may be restated based on the writer’s personal claim!
2. Write about the elements (dreams, family, self-respect, ________) which are
essential to life. Focus on ONE theme/motif and trace its occurrence and effects
through the lit.
3. Write about the effect of setting (time/place/era/atmosphere/climate) on the
actions of characters. Focus on an element/motif and trace its effects through the
lit.
4. (Take notes here if you have another idea for writing this essay.)
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•Literature sources for synthesis:
Dylan, Bob. “The Ballad of Emmett Till.” bobdylan.com, n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2014.
Lee, Harper To Kill A Mockingbird. New York: etc. 2002. Print.
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin In The Sun. City: Publishing Co. Year of edition. Print.
Hughes, Langston. “Harlem.” Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 16 March 2014.
(Class Discussion/take notes here…)
III. FORM THE THESIS AND LIST SUPPORT
(SYNTHESIZE)!
(Refer to the timeline handout for this project.)
HWOC/pre-AP writing 13-14