Synthesis Researched Essay:
TOP 3
1) Develop your ethos
Indicate ethos of your sources by showing time context, title of authority ,
locations, etc.
-Double-check strength and credibility of evidence.
2) Avoid Fallacies: Slippery Slope, Either-or Fallacy, Oversimplication
3) Quote-Weave & MLA in-text citations.
-Quote-weaving is necessary for fluency.
-Be aware of in-text citation conventions (other forms like APA, Chicago Style).
RESEARCHED ESSAY WRITING IS ONE OF THE MOST DEMANDING AND DEMANDED
FORMS THAT ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE, ACROSS
DISCIPLINES.
SPACE EXPLORATION
SYNTHESIS
ONION
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
SONTAG’S PHOTOGRAPHY
ORIGINAL ARGUMENT
CLAIM:
-Who will be impacted?
(Americans, mankind?)
-When will these change affect
the group of interest?
(Immediately, near future,
future generation?)
INTRODUCTION:
- Your introduction must include
SOAPSTone information. (May not all be
compacted in your claim).
INTRODUCTION:
-Show comprehension of
passage/prompt in
introduction (beyond just what
the prompt says).
-Set-up the conversation here.
EVIDENCE:
-Quote-weave
-Show comprehension of the
source (explanatory,
argumentative?)
-Most compelling selection of
evidence.
EVIDENCE/ANALYSIS:
-Focus on dominant strategies: logical
fallacies or faulty reasoning (i.e. circular
arguments, false cause, false appeal to
authority, oversimplification), mock
scientific jargon,
monologues/testimonials.
-Don’t forget this satire is strategic but
mocking.
-Specify appeals.
EVIDENCE:
-Focus on your specific
evidence (e.g. journalism
photography, national
geographic, famous historical
pictures, yellow journalism
pictures, impressionist
photography)
-Avoid lists and hypotheticals.
WORD CHOICE FOR INTRO AND DIVERSIFY WORD CHOICE
CONCLUSION
FOR WARRANTS
- Avoid clichés
WORD CHOICE FOR INTRO
AND CONCLUSION
- Avoid clichés
Additional Tips for Space Synthesis
•
Claim: “Develop a position” can typically be considered a support, refute, qualify. In this case, this prompt is asking for a
support, refute, qualify for perimeters that you define based on the sources. More sophisticated claims are going to qualify.
Qualify (Example Claim): The romanticism of space exploration continues to sustain intellectual and nostalgic devotion of funds
and public attention; yet, institutions like NASA can only be sustained with a balance of goal-oriented space initiatives that
do not compromise the economic and social priorities of our country and our global relations.
Refute or Counter Against Space Exploration (Example Claim): When considering the providence of space exploration programs
like NASA, Americans should ignore sentimentalities and focus strictly on the impending national conflicts that encroach on
the day-to-day survival of the only carbon-based species that exists or matters – us.
Support Space Exploration (Example Claim): Space exploration has been historically limited to the select few who have been
trained for the creative and innovative patience required of all priceless human ventures; however, it is essential that
modern day Americans recognize NASA as an indispensible program that offers both economic and sociological awards that
will ultimately benefit national and human society.
•
Organization: One organization model for the qualified argument claim above:
First body paragraph: What are “goal-oriented” space initiatives
 Source G (worldly perspective)
 Source A (greater ventures = greater investment and employment opportunities)
Second body paragraph: Economic and social stability is foremost
 Source C & D (Current domestic concerns already exist in a range).
 Connect Source C & D to Source A again.