What is a Synthesis Essay?
The synthesis essay is a research-based paper that requires students to collect sources or articles and reports which support their viewpoint.
The student then takes these points of view from a combination of multiple sources and puts them together to prove the argument they are trying to make for a given topic.
Additionally, it draws upon different mediums like novels, lectures, etc. If you want your perspective on an issue addressed by someone else’s opinion, this type of writing will do just fine.
The concept of a synthesis essay is similar to an argumentative essay only that in a synthesis essay you need to have available sources to reinforce your arguments.
Types of Synthesis Essay
There are different types of synthesis essays. This section will discuss them and also provide sample student essays.
- Explanatory synthesis,
- Argument synthesis,
- Literature review synthesis.
- AP Lang Synthesis Essay
1. Explanation Synthesis
Essays involve the author’s interpretation and analysis of a text, event, or experience to explain it thoroughly for an audience.
An explanatory synthesis is a thorough explanation of a term that helps the reader understand it. It includes careful reading and presentation of facts in an easy-to-understand format.
The goal is not to persuade but rather provide information about how something works so that readers can do their research on the topic if they want more details.
Explanatory Synthesis Essay Example
explanatory-synthesis-essay2. The Argumentative Synthesis
Argumentative syntheses require you as the writer to argue your point persuasively by using evidence from texts/sources.
With the argumentative synthesis paper, you can present a strong thesis statement that is arguable in a rational way.
The writer of this type of essay may add relevant information, data, or sources to back its topic and an even more compelling read.
Argumentative Synthesis Essay Sample
argumenttaive-synthesis-essay3. A Literature Review Synthesis Essay
This essay is a common assignment for students in social sciences and medicine.
They comb through previous literature on certain topics to outline the prominent themes, which helps them write an analysis that can help you define what has already been well researched and studied about this topic as well as what hasn’t yet been examined enough.
The author believes this will reveal aspects of their problem or subject matter while also justifying specific research studies they might want to do themselves later down the line when more information becomes available.
In Synthesis essays, verbs are used to convey written discussion of ideas and feelings about a topic. Below is a list of some common ones:
Argumentative: disagrees, confirms, affirms, concedes, rejects, insists,
Explanatory: suggests, claims, states, verifies, reveals, finds
Literature Review: speculates, proposes, holds, advises, predicts, mentions,
The tone in the explanatory and literature review synthesis papers is almost identical, with some verbs interchangeable depending on context.
4. AP Lang Synthesis Essay
The Advanced Placement Language (AP Lang) is a college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum course that tests students’ writing abilities.
To write Lang Synthesis Essay, students are given multiple sources about the same topic and asked to form a claim or argument about it while creating a compelling piece on this issue.
Without a doubt, synthesis essays are the backbone of any AP Language exam. Students have to showcase their skills through this type of essay and follow these steps:
Reading deeply into sources, analyzing them thoroughly, establishing your point-of-view on it before concluding with an entire essay that uses style guidelines like APA or Chicago. However, synthesis paper is likely use MLA format
Writing an AP Lang synthesis essay paper is one crucial part of what’s expected during exams for Advanced Placement Language.
After reading deep within our text, we must analyze every word before establishing some viewpoint and concluding all together to receive full credit from teachers who assign us such tasks.
AP Lang Synthesis Essay Example
ap-lang-synthesis-essay-sampleSynthesis Essay Structure
The synthesis essay structure refers to how the author presents his or her sources’ ideas to you, the chief reader. Six different structures will be highlighted in this section;
Climactic order
In this structure, the writer outlines a persuasive argument strategy in which you begin with your least convincing points and then end by making an impression. The central idea is that people will tend to remember the last point they heard more than any others, so it’s best not to save all of their arguments for last when one could be used as a “hook” on which readers can hang everything else.
Chronological order
This order can be particularly useful in synthesizing arguments. This is because it will organize the thoughts and ideas into a logical sequence that builds on one another, making for a better understanding of cause-and-effect relationships between them. It cannot apply to argumentative essays.
Logical order
There are many benefits to ordering your ideas in the right order. If you have many ideas for your paper that build on each other in some way or another, chronologically ordering them will help readers easily follow along and understand where one point ends and another begins! However, this technique cannot apply if you are writing an argumentative essay because then all points would need equal attention from start to finish; no matter what order they were presented.
Anticlimactic order
This is the opposite of climatic order. You will start with the most important point and move down to more minor points, which might be less persuasive for an argumentative essay.
Problem/solution order
Your essay should start with a problem. The rest of your written work will be devoted to explaining different ways you can solve this issue in the order that seems best for your argument.
Comparison and contrast order
In this type of work, the writer must evaluate both sides and analyze their similarities, as well as distinctions from one another to come up with a conclusion about which good idea they feel, has more merit. A comparison or contrast can be used if necessary but often there will only be two sources being evaluated at once
Synthesis Essay Standards
The synthesis essay is one of the most challenging assignments for high school students. However, the good news is that it takes a lot less time to write than other types of essays! Here are some essentials standards you should follow:
- Make reasonable use of your sources to back up your assertions and points of view.
- It is essential to present original views and ideas and to back up your assertions with sufficient proof.
- The paper should be appropriately arranged and smoothly organized.
- All of the concepts must connect in such a way that the reader is guided. Body paragraphs should contain topic sentences that establish the main points of each paragraph. When those ideas are compiled together, they can be presented thoroughly throughout this essay.
- The paper should be concise, and the use of vocabulary should always flow naturally.
- Proofreading your paper before the submission is an important step to ensure perfect use of grammar. Your writing should be free of any grammatical and spelling errors so that it can impress the reader with how well you have articulated each point in your analysis or argument.
Synthesis Essay Outline
The synthesis essay outline is like a roadmap to your paper. There are various formats you can use but generally, the outline contains the introduction with a thesis statement, body paragraphs, and the conclusion.
The major components are usually the following:
Introduction
The start of your essay is the most crucial part. If you do not want readers to leave in the middle, make sure that it’s interesting enough!
The opening should introduce and elaborate on what will be discussed later and present an introduction or tentative thesis statement for discussion.
The beginning of any work can often determine whether audience members stick around through a performance.
After all, if people are bored with how something starts, they’ll probably end up going back home early because even though they paid good money for tickets, there was no way their night would improve from then on.
Body Paragraphs
The evidence you use to support your arguments and claims is the essential part of an essay.
Your evidence should be specific, relevant, and persuasive–anything that can convince a reader about what you’re trying to say.
When looking for supporting points or ideas in any research source material (texts from books or articles), it’s best not to bounce around between sources too much; instead, take one picture then move on if necessary.
The first paragraph starts with an argument backed by some convincing examples.
At the same time, subsequent sections provide more detail as needed without repetition because they build off of each other, leading up towards the conclusion at the end, which offers another example.
Conclusion
A solid and memorable conclusion to your essay is just as important.
In order, not anything vaguely, it’s best to summarize your argument’s statement before ending with reasons for creatively supporting them, so readers will remember what they’ve read.
How to Write a Synthesis Essay?
To avoid making mistakes in this specialized type of writing, you need to know and use the available techniques.
The best way not to make any errors or mistakes when writing synthesis essays would be by taking these steps:
Step 1: Compile the Data
An excellent way to make your research more enjoyable is by summarizing the sources and creatively explaining them.
This technique does not include any of your original thoughts or views, but it will help readers learn your perspective on specific topics.
Step 2: Examples and Visuals
Visuals are a powerful way of drawing people’s attention to your point.
A simple chart can capture the audience’s interest and hold it from start to finish while allowing them to learn more about what you’re discussing too.
This is because charts provide an easy-to-follow visual representation that makes data easier to remember.
There’s less room for confusion when comparing items on two axes than trying to work out percentages or other figures in their head.
For those who prefer something well written, though, quotes with relevant visuals will also do the trick as they offer another dimension of information that helps drive home points even further still.
Step 3: Presenting Two or More Supporting Reasons
This essay can prove your point by giving multiple reasons and evidence to support the main idea.
You put it forward in a clear way with supporting statements that are logically organized for understanding.
Step 4: Straw man Technique
Have you ever seen somebody put the opposing views in their discussion? This is called the straw man technique.
It’s a rhetorical strategy where you build an argument based on what your opponents will say, then refute it with sound reasoning of why they’re wrong.
The tactic shows that you know everything there is to know about both sides of this issue and demonstrates how easily and convincingly those points are refuted by more eloquent arguments from people who understand them better than yourself, namely -your opponent.
Step 5: Concession Technique
The concession technique recognizes the validity of an opposing point but argues and proves that your idea has more positives.
The method is particularly effective when addressing a mixed audience with different opinions on the subject matter in question.
Step 6: Comparison and Contrast Technique
This approach is an excellent way to think about the parts of an issue rather than just one aspect. With this technique, you can explore all sides without being biased in any direction and get a complete understanding of what’s involved before making your final decision.
Final Thoughts!
A synthesis essay is a type of writing that combines information from two or more sources to create an argument. This can be easy if you know how to write one, but it can also take some time and effort.
We’ve outlined the structure this kind of assignment typically follows below for your convenience as well as provided factors you should consider when putting together a good synthesis essay. If you need help with this type of task, don’t hesitate to contact us now.
Our essay paper service writers have years of experience assisting college students of various fields of study in crafting top-notch essays. So we are confident our professional writers will be able to do justice even for such difficult tasks as creating excellent syntheses papers on any topic imaginable.
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