The Synthesis Essay THE EXPLANATORY SYNTHESIS

The Synthesis Essay
THE EXPLANATORY SYNTHESIS: An explanatory synthesis helps readers to understand a topic. Writers explain when they divide a subject into its component parts and present them to the reader in a clear and orderly fashion. Explanations may entail descriptions that re-create in words some object, place, event, sequence of events, or state of affairs. The purpose in writing an explanatory essay is not to argue a particular point, but rather to present the facts in a reasonably objective manner. The explanatory synthesis does not go much beyond what is obvious from a careful reading of the sources.
OR
THE ARGUMENT SYNTHESIS: The purpose of an argument synthesis is for you to present your own point of view – supported, of course, by relevant facts, drawn from sources, and presented in a logical manner. The thesis of an argumentative essay is debatable. It makes a proposition about which reasonable people could disagree, and any two writers working with the same source materials could conceive of and support other, opposite theses.
You may choose which type of synthesis you would like to write.
Tips for writing your Synthesis:
Organize your paper logically:
A. State your thesis clearly and make sure that it reflects the focus of your essay.
B. Make sure your main points are clearly stated (use topic sentences), and connect each point to your thesis as explicitly as possible.
C. Divide paragraphs logically.
D. Provide appropriate transitions both within and between paragraphs.
1. Develop each main idea thoroughly. Use specific examples and source materials appropriately as support. Be sure to integrate source materials smoothly into your own writing using attribution phrases and transitions. Also be sure to avoid unnecessary repetition (repetition is often an organization problem).
2. Select words precisely. When in doubt, use a dictionary!
3. Make sure sentences are clear and unambiguous. Avoid passive voice. Double-check to see that sentences are adequately varied in length and style, and that there are no fragments or run-ons. Also proofread carefully to correct any other sentence errors. Read it aloud to a family member or roommate and you will be able to check mistakes.
4. Proofread carefully to identify and correct mechanical errors, such as errors in plurals or possessives, subject-verb agreement, shifts in verb tense or person (“you”), comma errors, spelling errors, and so on.
5. Quadruple check your APA documentation. Are your parenthetical citations correct? Is your Works Cited list correct according to APA style, and does it include all sources cited in your essay?
6. If is see “quotation marks” there MUST be a citation with it that includes a page number.
7. 3-5 Sources
8. Works Cited/Resource page
9. 12 size font 900 words
10. 1 inch margins
Use the following checklist to help you: