Synthesis how to guide
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AP English Language and Composition ________________________________
FRQ #1: Synthesis- A How to Guide _________________________________
When you write a synthesis essay, your focus should be on “synthesizing” provided source material in order to support your own opinion. As the prompt page will remind you, “your argument should be the focus of your essay,” so make sure you develop an argument in which you use source material to support your ideas, not one in which you use the source material solely to build your argument. You get 15 minutes to read through the source material, but you can start writing before that time is up.
This explains that the essay shouldn’t talk about what is expressed in the sources, but should only use the sources to support their argument.
Start by understanding the prompt: The prompt will generally provide you with some background about the issue at hand so that you know what the topic is, and then will provide you with a focus - the focus will generally prompt you both to be expository in your writing (that is, to explain or enumerate ideas), and also argumentative.
This gives you an idea that you will be given info on the prompt and background info on it as well. So make sure to use what you have to your advantage.
Consider your opinion:
I feel that this the the most important direction to remember because it really is the basis of your entire essay. You can’t write anything else without first deciding what you’re going to write, which viewpoint you’re going to look at things from.
Start by quickly thinking about your initial reaction to the topic. Jot down some of your own opinions and ideas before you begin reading the source material. Why? Because then you can look for help in backing up your opinion, not just look for an opinion in the sources. That way, YOUR ARGUMENT IS THE FOCUS! Form a working position before reading any of the sources.
I don’t know if this is frowned upon.
Read/ Annotate the Source Material:
Now that you have a good idea of what you will be arguing about, it is time to figure out how to support your opinion using the source material as backup. Remember that doing the synthesis essay is your chance to enter the conversation about a topic in an educated and informed manner.
The source material will cover various angles and complexities of the topic. Take a moment on each source to think about how that particular source either contradicts, supports or extends the assertion of others. Why? Because then, as you add source material to your argument, you can use some sources to back each other up, or as non-examples of what you are trying to prove. Remember that the prompt only asks you to use three sources - if you don’t find a source useful or credible, move on.
The provided sources can sometimes make or break you, therefore organization is key. You don’t want to become overwhelmed.
As you go, put a S or R (supports/refutes) at the top of each source to indicate where the source stands on your position.
Use this quick organizer to help you with each source:
Write a Thesis: With knowledge of the prompt and the source material, develop a thesis in which you identify your point of view on the topic - it helps if you enumerate, in your thesis, how you’ll prove your point.
The thesis I think is the most important part of the essay because it shows what you’re arguing about and it grabs the reader’s attention.
Argumentative thesis structure:
For me this is the most useful part when I’m writing. This is how I worry about splitting up and different points I would want to make.
X. however, A and B; therefore, Y.
This format for thesis construction really sets you up to have a good rest of your essay. It makes your argument strong and if you follow it throughout the rest of the essay then you will have a good focus and argument in the end
Ready, Set, Argue!
By now, you know how this goes. You come up with a statement of your opinion, then you write several paragraphs backing up your opinion.
Much like an argumentative essay, but with sources given to you
State clearly, in each paragraph, which point it is making to support your assertion.
Use source material that illustrates the points you make, and cite them appropriately (make sure you are consistent with how you cite - either use the “Source A, Source B . . . “ citation, or the descriptions in parentheses. Don’t go back and forth.
Make sure source material FOLLOWS your reasons - don’t use it to lead a paragraph, as this makes it feel as though you are writing a literature review rather than developing your own argument.
The sources are supposed to provide evidence and support to your thesis, not as an argument itself
Make sure you are forming your own opinion rather than just changing the words and structure of an argument given in the sources.
Be sure to analyze the source material - you can do this by explaining how it illustrates your point, or discrediting it with another source. Always think in terms of how you are supporting your overall argument - and remember that this is YOUR argument, not the source material’s argument.
Use a sufficient amount of source material. How should you use? The prompt will usually say three sources, but it is a good idea to use at least four, just in case you didn’t quite understand one of the sources.
Try to integrate your source material as smoothly and naturally as possible into your sentences.
The best way for you to use a source effectively is to write your argument until you get to a part that is not your own knowledge. This is where you want to integrate sources. If it is something you learned from or got from the sources, make a small citation for said information and make it flow within the paragraph. Be sure to use the citation for YOUR argument and explain how and why it supports what you are trying to say
That’s about it. In the case of the synthesis, the biggest tip I can give you is to focus on making your argument and having the sources help you. Don’t rely on them to make your case.
Synthesis: It’s your world, the sources are just living in it.
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