Synthesis BasicsSynthesis Basics

What’s the Difference?What’s the Difference?

ComparisonComparison

ContrastContrast

SummarySummary

SynthesisSynthesis

ComparisonComparison

With two texts, a comparison is an With two texts, a comparison is an analysis of the similarities of the textanalysis of the similarities of the text

This can be a comparison of the This can be a comparison of the author’s viewpoints on an arguable author’s viewpoints on an arguable topic OR a comparison of the obvious topic OR a comparison of the obvious “message” in the authors’ writings “message” in the authors’ writings

ContrastContrast

An analysis of two authors’ sharply An analysis of two authors’ sharply opposing viewpoints or two different opposing viewpoints or two different “messages” in the authors’ writings“messages” in the authors’ writings

SummarizingSummarizing

Summarizing: A process of Summarizing: A process of communicating what you learned communicating what you learned when analyzing textswhen analyzing texts

Writing a summary that is clear and Writing a summary that is clear and accurate can be a difficult task…accurate can be a difficult task…

PlagiarismPlagiarism

Two Common Forms of Plagiarism:Two Common Forms of Plagiarism: Copying text word for wordCopying text word for word

– This is NEVER okay. It is the most blatant This is NEVER okay. It is the most blatant form of plagiarism. The author may be a form of plagiarism. The author may be a professional, published writer…OR a professional, published writer…OR a peer. You must NEVER copy another text peer. You must NEVER copy another text regardless of who wrote it!regardless of who wrote it!

Paraphrasing:Paraphrasing: Paraphrasing is a common tool for Paraphrasing is a common tool for

academic writing, HOWEVERacademic writing, HOWEVER– It is NEVER okay to paraphrase without It is NEVER okay to paraphrase without

giving proper credit (citation) to the giving proper credit (citation) to the original author and text that you are original author and text that you are paraphrasing!paraphrasing!

PlagiarismPlagiarism

Let’s talk about…Let’s talk about…

SYNTHESISSYNTHESIS

What does it mean to synthesize What does it mean to synthesize something?something?

SYNTHESISSYNTHESIS

The Process – you do this all the time!The Process – you do this all the time!

1.1. Listen to two different accounts of Listen to two different accounts of something that happenedsomething that happened

2.2. Assess the reliability (credibility) Assess the reliability (credibility) and bias of each sourceand bias of each source

3.3. Choose Information that is pertinent Choose Information that is pertinent to youto you

4.4. THEN…THEN…

SYNTHESISSYNTHESIS

You create a composite (blended) You create a composite (blended) account of what happened – A account of what happened – A SYNTHESIS of what really went onSYNTHESIS of what really went on

When writing a synthesis essay you When writing a synthesis essay you create a composite account of the create a composite account of the two texts’ deeper meaning – your two texts’ deeper meaning – your interpretation interpretation

NOW…NOW…

Let’s try the concept with a concrete Let’s try the concept with a concrete project – project –

SYNTHESIZING OBJECTSSYNTHESIZING OBJECTS