Name:
Block:
10 September 2015
Notes for Synthesis Essay
What is Synthesis?


“Synthesis” is the combining of separate elements or substances to form a coherent whole.
In other words, it is simply putting information together to create one thing.
What is an Essay?

An essay is a brief _________________ work about a specific topic/subject.
What is a Synthesis Essay?

A synthesis essay brings together your own ideas with the ideas of other writers, your sources.
What is a Thesis Statement?


The _________ ____________is that sentence or two in your text that contains the focus of your
essay and tells your reader what the essay is going to be about.
A Thesis is the central point of the essay.
Process of Synthesis Writing


Through research, assemble ideas from various sources (books, journals, Internet)
Develop your own original idea, or thesis, based on these sources
Step 1: Before Writing





Collect your sources on the topic
Familiarize yourself with what others have written about the topic
Write a brief summary of each of your sources
Examine the evidence that other writers have used to____________ or to argue against the issue
Formulate your own thesis, after reflecting on your research
Step 2: Prewrite



Using your thesis as a starting point, freewrite, brainstorm, question or map out ideas on the topic
Using the pre-writing material you generate, create a scratch outline
Note: It is ALWAYS wise to create a short scratch outline for your essays. However, for synthesis
essays, this step is ______________ if you are to clearly and logically organize your multiple sources
Step 3: Write



For each of your supporting points, write a complete sentence; use these as the topic sentences for all
of your body paragraphs
Using the topic sentences and your scratch outline, write the essay
Using the summaries you wrote for each of your sources (see Step One), add these quotations, facts
and opinions to prove each of your key points

HINT: DO NOT include lengthy _____________ of your sources in your essay but very brief
summaries that support your thesis directly and clearly
Step 4: Revise






Be sure that your thesis covers all the supporting points
Be sure that you have introduced all of your sources in the introductory paragraph
Check that each body paragraph begins with a clear topic sentence to focus the main idea
Make sure that all of your evidence ___________ your thesis clearly; edit out any facts, quotes or
ideas that do not (or move them to paragraphs where they logically belong)
Add quotations, facts or opinions of your sources where you are lacking adequate evidence
Be sure that you have introduced the writer of all quotations by putting the name of the writer in your
text, right before the quote
Step 5: Edit


Add, delete or move ideas as needed
Proofread for grammar, mechanics, punctuation, word choice or typographical errors
Sample Outline of a Synthesis Essay
A synthesis essay should be organized so that others can understand the sources and evaluate your
comprehension of them and their presentation of specific data, themes, etc.
 The introduction (first paragraph)
1. Thesis sentence that sums up the focus of your synthesis.
2. Also introduces the texts to be synthesized:
(i) Gives the title of each source (following the citation guidelines of whatever style
sheet you are using);
(ii) Provides the name of each author;
(ii) Sometimes also provides pertinent background information about the authors,
about the texts to be summarized, or about the general topic from which the
texts are drawn.
 The body of a synthesis essay:
Each paragraph should:

1.
2.
3.
Start with a topic sentence;
Include information from more than one source;
Indicate the names of your sources;
 Conclusion.
Write a concluding paragraph that restates your thesis in different words and summarizes themes
you have found and the ways they connect to the overall topic.
 Include a Works Cited page at the end of the essay, essentially a list of your sources
Sample Scratch Synthesis Essay Outline
 Thesis: The two memoirs, All Over but the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg and The Color of
Water by James McBride, share the theme that, with familial support and love, we can
overcome obstacles
 Supporting Point 1: In All Over but the Shoutin’, Rick Bragg’s mother teaches him to
persevere in difficult circumstances
 Supporting Point 2 (with transition): Like Bragg, in The Color of Water, James
McBride’s strong mother instills in him the importance of education as a path out of
poverty
Practice Exercise
Step 1: Read the two fables together as a group.
 The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
A Wolf found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing to the vigilance of the shepherd and
his dogs. But one day it found the skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so it
put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep. The Lamb that belonged to the
sheep, whose skin the Wolf was wearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep's clothing; so,
leading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, and for some time he succeeded in
deceiving the sheep, and enjoying hearty meals.
 The Ant and the Chrysalis
An Ant nimbly running about in the sunshine in search of food came across a Chrysalis that was
very near its time of change. The Chrysalis moved its tail, and thus attracted the attention of the
Ant, who then saw for the first time that it was alive. "Poor, pitiable animal!" cried the Ant
disdainfully. "What a sad fate is yours! While I can run hither and thither, at my pleasure, and, if
I wish, ascend the tallest tree, you lie imprisoned here in your shell, with power only to move a
joint or two of your scaly tail." The Chrysalis heard all this, but did not try to make any reply. A
few days after, when the Ant passed that way again, nothing but the shell remained. Wondering
what had become of its contents, he felt himself suddenly shaded and fanned by the gorgeous
wings of a beautiful Butterfly. "Behold in me," said the Butterfly, "your much-pitied friend!
Boast now of your powers to run and climb as long as you can get me to listen." So saying, the
Butterfly rose in the air, and, borne along and aloft on the summer breeze, was soon lost to the
sight of the Ant forever.
Step 2: Write very brief summaries of each fable (be as concise as humanly possible without
leaving out any important facts)
Step 3: Write one sentence to connect your two summaries (this is your synthesis thesis
sentence!)
Step 4: Write a short scratch outline for this synthesis essay (see the sample at the top of this
page)