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Synthesis Essay Writing
Synthesis Essay Outline
Synthesis Essay Outline - Template and Examples
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Learn How to Write a Synthesis Essay Step by Step
Best Synthesis Essay Topics and Prompt Ideas
15 Synthesis Essay Examples: Tips & Expert Guidance
Ever wonder how to bring different ideas together in your essays seamlessly? That's what synthesis essays are all about – blending information from various sources to build a strong argument.
You might find outlining such an essay difficult but no worries we are here to help!
This blog provides a comprehensive roadmap for developing a good synthesis essay outline, saving you time and effort. Keep reading to learn how to create a perfect outline from this step-by-step guide.
Let’s begin!
- 1. What is a Synthesis Essay?
- 2. What is a Synthesis Essay Outline?
- 3. How to Write a Synthesis Essay Outline?
- 4. Synthesis Essay Outline Example
- 5. Tips to Craft a Perfect Synthesis Essay Outline
What is a Synthesis Essay?
A synthesis essay collects information from a variety of sources and then combines them together to make a new whole. The ‘new whole’ is your essay that explains your point of view while analyzing both sides of the issue.
This type of essay needs to be properly structured, and it should be well organized. If the information in the essay is not connected logically, it will confuse the reader. The reader won’t get anything out of it if it does not provide cohesive information.
Difference Between a Synthesis Essay and an Argumentative Essay
The synthesis essay is somewhat similar to an argumentative essay, but it is a more complex type of essay.
In an argumentative essay , you have to present an issue, support it with evidence, and prove that your views are right. On the other hand, in the synthesis essay, you have to evaluate the factors of an issue to consider the implications of a decision.
What is a Synthesis Essay Outline?
A synthesis essay outline is like a roadmap for your writing journey. It's a plan that spells out what you'll write in your essay. A typical outline for a synthesis essay will begin with an introduction. Start with something to grab attention, then state your thesis – what your essay will argue.
After that, outline what each of your three body paragraphs will discuss. Be sure to include details from various sources carefully.
Lastly, map out what your conclusion will cover. This is where you wrap up your argument.
An outline helps you see how information connects, so make sure to clearly summarize the key points.
Synthesis Essay Structure
Here is a synthesis essay outline template that you can follow while writing your essay:
How to Write a Synthesis Essay Outline?
Crafting a perfect outline is important in order to write a good synthesis essay. Without an outline, your synthesis paper might end up in multiple directions.
Let’s explore the steps to write a perfect outline:
Step 1: Choose a Relevant Topic
Select a topic that aligns with your interests and the assignment requirements. Make sure it's broad enough to find multiple sources but specific enough for focused research.
If you are looking for intriguing topics, check out our synthesis essay topics blog!
Step 2: Conduct Thorough Research
Explore various sources, including articles, books, and academic journals, to gather information on your chosen topic. Take note of key arguments, data, and perspectives.
Step 3: Synthesis Essay Introduction
The introduction is the section where you introduce the topic of your paper. Start with a hook statement to grab the reader’s attention at the beginning. Provide a brief background of the issue and state the purpose of your essay.
Convince the reader to review your work by stating the importance of your point of view. Lastly, state the thesis statement that briefly summarizes the whole agenda of your essay.
Here is a sample synthesis essay thesis template, take a look:
Step 4: Synthesis Essay Body Paragraphs
The body section starts with the topic sentence that supports the thesis statement. Invoke relevant facts and data that strengthen your argument. Then relate all the evidence and target points to conclude the overall essay.
When dealing with counter-arguments, carefully acknowledge opposing views. State that these perspectives are valid, but clarify why they don't undermine your main point. Support your stance by presenting evidence that reinforces your argument and effectively refutes the counter-arguments.
This strengthens the overall credibility of your essay.
Step 5: Synthesis Essay Conclusion
In the conclusion section just summarize the information that you have presented earlier. Restate the thesis statement to enforce the message of your essay. Reiterate the main points of your essay provide a call to action and close the essay nicely.
Step 6: Synthesis Essay Bibliography
As this is an outline, we'll touch on the key aspects without diving into specific sources:
- Citation Style: Choose a writing style ( MLA , APA , etc.) based on your assignment requirements.
- List of Sources: Compile a list of major sources supporting your argument. While this outline won't detail every source, make sure impactful references are included in your essay.
- Credit Research: Properly credit each source, acknowledging its role in supporting your research and argument.
Here's a handy synthesis essay outline sample for you. Download and keep it for reference as you write your essay outline.
Synthesis Essay Outline PDF
Synthesis Essay Outline Example
An example essay helps a lot in understanding the format and how to structure the information. Whether you are writing a college essay or a research paper, taking help from sample essays is always a good idea.
Refer to the following synthesis essay examples and learn to create a flawless essay.
Synthesis Essay Outline AP Lang Example
Argumentative Synthesis Essay Outline Example
Explanatory Synthesis Essay Outline Example
Be mindful of using the correct synthesis essay outline structure for your essay. Here is an outline worksheet to help you write a fabulous essay without getting into any trouble.
Synthesis Essay Outline Worksheet
Need more sample essays for inspiration? Check out our synthesis essay examples blog!
Tips to Craft a Perfect Synthesis Essay Outline
Here are some valuable tips to guide you while structuring a synthesis essay:
- Clarity is Key: Always verify your outline reflects a clear flow of ideas, making it easy for readers to follow your argument.
- Balance Your Arguments: Distribute evidence evenly across your body paragraphs to maintain a balanced and cohesive essay.
- Thesis Precision: Fine-tune your thesis statement for clarity and specificity, guiding the focus of your synthesis.
- Varied Source Integration: Use a mix of sources to enrich your essay, providing diverse perspectives on the specific topic.
- Counter-Argument Consideration: Anticipate counter-arguments and address them strategically within your outline to strengthen your position.
- Logical Sequencing: Arrange your points in a logical order, creating a seamless transition between ideas in your essay.
- Concise Summary: Craft a concise yet impactful conclusion in your outline, summarizing key points without introducing new ideas.
- Revise and Refine: Regularly review and refine your outline to ensure it aligns with your evolving ideas and research.
- Thematic Unity: Maintain thematic unity throughout your outline, emphasizing connections between different sections of your essay.
- Reflect on Purpose: Periodically revisit the purpose of your essay to ensure your outline aligns with your overarching goals.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some mistakes you should avoid while structuring your essay:
- Fragmented Flow: Creating an outline without a logical sequence can lead to a disjointed essay, making it challenging for readers to follow your argument.
- Overloading Evidence: Including an excessive amount of evidence in your outline may overwhelm your essay, diluting the impact of key points.
- Vague Thesis: A poorly defined thesis in your outline can result in a lack of focus, making it difficult to synthesize ideas effectively in the essay.
- Source Monotony: Relying heavily on a single type of source in your outline can limit the richness of your synthesis, offering a narrow perspective on the topic.
- Ignoring Counter-Arguments: Failing to address potential counter-arguments in your outline may weaken your essay's overall persuasiveness and credibility.
- Illogical Sequencing: Disorganized sequencing of ideas in your outline can confuse readers, hindering their understanding of your synthesis.
- Excessive Detail: Including too much detail in your outline may lead to an overwhelming essay structure, detracting from the clarity of your main ideas.
Wrapping it up!
Hopefully, this ultimate outline writing guide and samples will help you craft a perfect outline for your essay. However, if you still face some difficulty in crafting the outline, get help from a professional writer.
Writers at MyPerfectWords.com provide impeccable essays written just according to your requirements. You can purchase all types of essays, research papers, theses, dissertations, book reviews, and any other type of paper from our best writing services. Just say “ do my paper ” and leave the rest to us!
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Writing Synthesis Essay: Make it Easy with Our Comprehensive Guide
Table of contents
- 1 Purpose and Objectives of a Synthesis Essay
- 2.1 Explanatory Synthesis Essay
- 2.2 Argument Synthesis Essay
- 2.3 Review Synthesis Essay
- 3 Common Topics Encountered in Synthesis Essays
- 4.1 Conduct Thorough Research
- 4.2 Look from Diverse Perspectives
- 4.3.1 Chronological Method
- 4.3.2 Thematic Method
- 4.3.3 Point-by-point Method
- 5 Make a Synthesis Essay Outline to Structure Content
- 6.1 Critically Analyze Sources and Identify Their Relevance to the Thesis Statement
- 7.1 Support Your Arguments
- 7.2 Address Counterarguments
- 8.1 Bibliography
- 9 Proofread and Edit Your Essay
- 10 Bottom line
- 11.1 How long should a synthesis essay be?
- 11.2 How many paragraphs are in a synthesis essay?
- 11.3 Is a synthesis essay argumentative?
- 11.4 Does a synthesis essay have a counterargument?
Being a student is a challenging task, as you have to handle different types of essays, particularly synthesis essays. What is a synthesis essay? Such creative writing helps students to develop research skills, conduct a thorough analysis and improve their writing skills. Also, it boosts their abilities to deliver original ideas, arguments, and clear explanations of particular viewpoints. Students might often receive such writing tasks for the AP English language exam. We know how challenging it can be for them to write a synthesis essay.
With this in mind, we uncover the key points of synthesis writing in this review, which are the following:
- We’ll define the main traits of this essay type
- What are the different types?
- We collect the best advice on how to write a synthesis essay.
- and prepared the list of synthesis essay topic examples.
If you find it difficult to start your synthesis essay, you can get help from our PapersOwl service. The best experts in academic writing await you to bring up a good synthesis essay with a high assessment grade.
Purpose and Objectives of a Synthesis Essay
First and foremost, it is vital to understand the definition of a synthesis essay. It is a type of essay in which you should provide justified arguments, ideas, or statements based on a particular point of view. Composing a synthesis essay requires a lot of time and effort. You must analyze many credible sources to collect specific data and create a unique research paper. Synthesizing sources has to do with analyzing them, but not vice versa. You should provide an in-depth analysis of each source and then combine the similarities or differences between them into one coherent and well-structured essay. The next section uncovers this matter.
Key Features and Components
A synthesis essay counts a few types depending on the objectives to reveal. But essential synthesis essay components are the same and consist of three main parts: introduction, main body, and conclusion. The introductory paragraph should be catchy and highlight the main points of your paperwork due to a good thesis statement. The main body should include at least three paragraphs separated by exposing different thoughts, arguments, or explanations. The conclusion should also leave a spot for meditating for your reader on what you have disclosed in it. Further, we explain three types of synthesis papers and their specifications.
Explanatory Synthesis Essay
This type of synthesis essay involves disclosing various facts, views, or points. That’s why it is required to explore many reliable sources to get as much relevant information about a topic under investigation as possible. Thus, a writer can explain the emergence of certain points of view and facts. This writing task helps high school and college students do deep research, compare facts and perspectives, and deliver a detailed synthesis analysis essay. It is essential to complement each statement with specific evidence and statistical data. This will underline the relevance of the information introduced in an essay and make it meaningful and reasonable.
Argument Synthesis Essay
When writing argumentative essays , one must choose a specific topic and present arguments supporting or opposing viewpoints. This writing assignment incorporates two objectives: gather and systemize information revealing the main topic and argue them from your perspective. It requires creativity and deep knowledge of the field and aspect you must put on paper. Writing an argumentative essay is not an easy task. You should stick to a particular perspective and move on to exposing it. It is crucial to provide enough facts and proof to convince your reader that your viewpoint is noteworthy.
Review Synthesis Essay
Review synthesis essays are often parts of larger projects and are used to make reviews of particular aspects, for example, in medicine and social sciences. When composing this type of essay, you should provide full information about the examined object, state, or problem. The literature review should contain as many key points and peculiarities as possible. Thus, it will draw a complete picture of an aspect that will bring clarification and worth to your topic. To hook your reader from the very onset, you should articulate a good synthesis thesis statement in your introductory paragraph.
Common Topics Encountered in Synthesis Essays
To help you with a topic choice for your AP Lang synthesis essay, we listed some from different fields and sciences. The first of three essays is about AI technology. We tried to single out the most relevant example prompt topics for you to get started with. Check them out below.
- Artificial intelligence: Big threat or valuable tool for modern society
- Cryptomarket: The ups and downs
- Technology in the traditional classroom: A threat or benefit?
- Explain whether testing new drugs on animals is ethically permissible
- Should alternative medications be covered by insurance?
- Disturbance regimes under Global Warming
- Explaining how the American way of life contributes to global warming
- Distance education: Its effect on college students on campus
- Can modern people keep complete control over their life?
- Nuclear or solar power: Benefits and Demerits
- Explain the impact of gas fuel plants
- Remote work impact on people: How is their physical activity?
- Explain the role of sport in the American education system
- Is it possible to buy happiness for money?
- The basic survival skills everyone should know
Tips on How to Write Synthesis Essay
It is easier said than done when it comes to writing a synthesis essay. That is true, and for this reason, we outlined the list of valuable synthesis essay tips we consider the most essential to focus on. They are helpful for both writing an AP lang synthesis essay and a term assessment. Check them out.
Conduct Thorough Research
A good paper is regarded as meaningful when it is based on deep and all-encompassing research. Don’t neglect to provide a thorough exploration of your topic. The more information you find, the more valuable and reasonable your essay will be. But make sure you use credible sources to summarize and synthesize the data. Once you have a viewpoint to reveal, look for sources that support it or oppose it so that you can use them to substantiate your perspective.
Look from Diverse Perspectives
When willing to express one particular point or argument, consider other perspectives that might contradict your ideas. Why is it important? You should be aware of all the main arguments or acceptances occurring around your topic. It is essential to study different points of view that emerged on the basis of your theme or aspect under study. This could help you disclose another side or significance of your essay topic and change the focus of the main content you want to unleash. Doing this can reveal a new perspective, idea, or aspect of your synthesis essay’s research.
Choose an Organizational Method
Although an essay has a standard structure, your content should be well-composed and introduced coherently. All data should be outlined so a reader will enjoy the smooth turn from one statement to another. Depending on the field and aspect you are preparing a synthesis essay about, there are three methods to organize the content in your paper. They are the following:
Chronological Method
If you include dates or other significant events in your review or argumentative essay, it makes sense to present them in chronological order. Every fact should be justified per its development. So later, you can introduce your perspective or statement that will explain the impact of prior events. For example, when revealing a particular historical period in the US, you should first mention all important events chronologically. So then, you can argue your idea about the changes they brought to the country from a political or international perspective.
Thematic Method
A synthesis paper can be written for any field of science to represent a shorter version of facts, viewpoints, research results, etc. That’s why students can come across some topics that require uncovering a few themes in one essay. It is where a thematic method of content organization takes place. You should determine what notions or terms should be mentioned and revealed in your paper. Then, think of what term might explain or continue a key message of another term. Once you find out this detail, you should present each term one after another, keeping coherence in the information flow.
Point-by-point Method
As synthesis papers deal with different ideas, arguments, viewpoints, etc., comparison as a research method has a place. You can operate with many hypotheses, approaches, ideas, and arguments, so comparing them and finding their similarities and differences makes sense. This content organization method involves explaining one point of the synthesis statement, and then another point to compare further.
Crafting a successful synthesis essay requires a well-structured outline, which can be challenging to develop without assistance. Luckily, many academic essay writing services, such as PapersOwl.com, offer support in this area. To help you get started, here is an outline you can utilize to write a compelling synthesis essay that will leave a lasting impression on your professor.
Make a Synthesis Essay Outline to Structure Content
Earlier, we emphasized the importance of orchestrating your main content under study. This section covers the crucial thing in writing a synthesis essay: an outline. The outline is a great synthesis essay template for structuring your entire paper. We recommend you always stick to it once you define your essay’s topic and objective. Thanks to it you will be able to keep your focus on the angle of your work.
If you want to deepen your knowledge, we have prepared steps on how to write a synthesis essay outline. The outline of your essay must include three main components, but it can vary, and mostly the main difference is in a short and cited presentation of the thoughts you want to reveal in your essay. Below, we introduce a brief outline structure:
- Introductory part
The beginning of your essay mustn’t be too long. It is enough to disclose your objective, the main topic, and a strong thesis statement in one paragraph. It doesn’t make sense to keep a reader’s attention for long in the introduction, explaining what you are going to describe or argue in detail. Present it shortly and precisely.
- Body paragraph
In this part of the essay, you should introduce all you have researched, analyzed, and systematized. Likewise, you should expose your material in a minimum of three paragraphs. Each part has an appropriate synthesis-paragraph structure. In the outline, we recommend you craft a bullet list of three here and note shortly what points you want to describe in each paragraph.
This is the summarizing part of the essay, where you conclude all the information introduced in your synthesis essay. It is essential to repeat the thesis statements here. It should also be concise.
Write an Engaging Introduction
A good synthesis essay should get a reader engaged straight from its introduction. An introductory part should be composed in an interesting way to keep reading your essay. Here is where a reader finds out about the background of the topic and what main problems or ideas will be discussed. Such information should be catchy, and it is essential to make the first opening sentence sharper.
Another important thing in the introduction is crafting a hooky synthesis essay thesis statement. The thesis will be like a compass to the main points of your essay. Try to make the topic sentence specific and intriguing by matching your essay objectives.
Introduction synthesis essay example: When it comes to running a successful business, there’s no doubt that having the right people on board is crucial. After all, a company is simply a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. However, not enough emphasis is placed on what the “right” people actually look like. That’s why I wanted to bring attention to an often overlooked but incredibly important attribute: resistance. In this article, I’ll explain what resistance is, why it matters, and how you can identify it in potential team members.
Critically Analyze Sources and Identify Their Relevance to the Thesis Statement
A thesis presents a key message of your paper. This is what both reveals the focus of an essay and captures a reader’s attention. That’s why it requires exploring many sources carefully and critically analyzing them to identify their relevance. So then, you can formulate a strong thesis statement that will combine the key points of the synthesis essay. The more valuable data you find and analyze, the more precious your thesis.
The Main Body
There are three parts to your essay, each using a different type of evidence. The first two sections should contain evidence that supports your thesis. This can be in the form of direct quotes from your sources , statistics, and/or other research that supports your claim. The third section should contain evidence against your thesis – or what some might call “counterpoints” or “arguments against”.
Building on this structure, it’s imperative to recognize that the very foundation of your thesis relies on the robustness of these supporting arguments. Let’s look closer.
Support Your Arguments
Every thought, idea, assumption, and definition from your thesis statement must be justified by supporting arguments. No one will get involved in a piece that tells about everything and nothing simultaneously when there is no evidence and proof of mentioned facts. This point is vital as your perspective must have a background, and you should explain the reasons you provide a particular argument or viewpoint.
Extensive research and analysis of credible sources allow students to come up with exciting and valuable solutions, ideas, and directions. That’s why the time spent on deep study will always pay you back. It is a very significant component in writing argumentative synthesis essays. So, make sure you find supporting arguments for the idea or perspective you want to convey to a reader. This will increase the persuasiveness and worthiness of your message in the essay.
Address Counterarguments
Sometimes, it is difficult to persuade someone when many counterarguments make your point of view unworthy. The same might happen when you decide to start a synthesis essay and prove your opposite perspective. This task is challenging and requires thorough research of counterarguments. Only by having analyzed a massive set of information, one can provide reasonable comparisons and meaningful explanations to let a reader take their perspectives into account. Here are a few helpful tips on how to maintain a persuasive stance while considering opposing viewpoints:
- Study all counterarguments that might be according to your viewpoint;
- Learn the background of the counterarguments;
- Find out what consequences they can lead to (if they are negative);
- Weigh the influence of opposing arguments and find their weak points;
- Justify your viewpoints clearly and precisely with supporting evidence;
- Provide comparative analysis to underline the significance of your perspective;
- Never ignore the counterarguments in your informative synthesis essay paper.
Craft a Strong Conclusion
The conclusion is the last but not least component of a synthesis essay structure. The train of thoughts and ideas kept during the entire paper shouldn’t be interrupted instantly. It must have an excellent finalizing part where you sum up all mentioned in your essay and leave a good touch for your reader.
To craft a strong conclusion, you should present an overview of your research and note the main points of your argument or perspective. But remember, the conclusion doesn’t have to be too long and saturated. It should be brief, concise, and precise. Remember to remind your reader of your thesis statement and emphasize the relevance and significance of your essay’s topic.
Conclusion synthesis essay example: Through our research, we have identified effective strategies for dealing with repetitive motions in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is clear that multiple behavior modification therapies are important for improving this behavior. Further exploration into behavior modification techniques could lead to finding more therapy techniques that can greatly improve the lives of those with repetitive motion behaviors. We believe that this research can make a significant impact in helping individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder lead more fulfilling lives.
Bibliography
A bibliography is a list of books, journals, and other sources of information used in the essay. The bibliography should be alphabetically arranged by the author’s last name. All sources should be listed separately on a separate page following the main body of text or at the end of your paper.
Your research sources should be properly credited at the end of the essay, whether you’re using MLA, APA, or another format . The most common form for citing an author’s work is called “parenthetical citation” or “in-text citation.” In parenthetical citations, you include the title of the work (italicized), page numbers if applicable, year published (if applicable), medium (e.g., book), and publisher’s name (if not self-published).
Proofread and Edit Your Essay
Even if you think your work is impeccable, it needs to be proofread and edited. While you are concentrating on the writing process, you might skip some other nuances. This can be punctuation, typos, grammatical errors, or incorrect sentence order. For this reason, a synthesis essay must go through thorough proofreading to detect any kind of errors. Apart from this, you can split one body paragraph into two, for example, if you find different points discussed in it. You should also format it using a particular format style to handle a well-structured, edited, and formatted essay.
Bottom line
Wrapping up, we encourage you to follow our tips on how to write a good synthesis essay. Although any type of writing isn’t easy work, you can do it well with the help of good supporting sources available on our website. If you are short on time and understand that you can’t cope with this task, you can find an expert who writes essays for you to meet your deadlines. But if you decide to make it up alone, make sure to craft an outline and follow all the insightful tips mentioned in this article.
How long should a synthesis essay be?
How many paragraphs are in a synthesis essay, is a synthesis essay argumentative, does a synthesis essay have a counterargument, readers also enjoyed.
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How to Write an Outline for Synthesis Essay, Step by Step
You want to know how to build an outline for synthesis essay. Here’s how it works:
Outlining is the initial step to crafting a high-quality, A-worthy paper. If you miss this element, you risk losing focus and flow. More than that, you can’t generate an argumentative, logical, and close-knit essay without it.
This article won’t let it happen.
Keep reading to reveal actionable tips on outline writing. You’ll know what to include in each paragraph and how to structure it for better results.
Bonus for the most avid readers: A free PDF template for outlining synthesis essays.
What Is a Synthesis Essay Outline?
Think of it as a table of contents you’ll expand in your work. Outlines serve to organize essays and regulate their elements for a stellar presentation.
Why design an outline for synthesis essays?
- Systemize the sources and decide on the claims to use in every paragraph.
- Organize the claims and prescribe evidence for each.
- Focus on the writing process, preventing the writer’s block. (It’s when you stare at the screen and don’t know what to write next.)
- Ensure you’ve included all the info and introduced it logically.
- Structure a paper in advance to save time and write faster.
Whether you work on an AP lang essay or craft an expository essay in college, outlining is a must. It organizes arguments and evidence so you don’t forget anything while writing.
Before outlining
Synthesis essays are about analyzing several sources to establish an original thesis. So, before you sit and craft an outline, do research and decide on the sources you’ll synthesize.
- Focus on those related to your topic.
- Consider solid resources: latest studies, research papers, books , academic journals, etc.
- Analyze each to derive core points.
You’ll apply the resources to support your thesis throughout an essay. Ensure they have solid evidence so you can incorporate it into your paper. Decide on the facts, quotes, and examples to cover in every paragraph as proof of your claim.
How to Make an Outline for the Synthesis Essay
Below is the template you can try, with an introduction, body, and conclusion as main parts of the outline used for a synthesis essay (1).
Download a free PDF version here
And now, to the details to include in every paragraph.
1. State a Thesis
Synthesis essays aren’t about summarizing. You need to analyze at least three — and generate a new, your own thesis based on them. The synthesized sources will be the evidence to prove your thesis. They will support the arguments you’ll use in favor of your claim.
With that in mind, state a thesis for your essay in the outline.
Once you have it, you’ll know how to underline the arguments and evidence in paragraphs.
Check a thesis example on “Is the spread of fake news a problem?”
And that’s a thesis example for an essay on “The American Dream: Is it still achievable?”
With a ready thesis statement, you can deal with the outline for a synthesis essay.
2. S tructure an Introductory Paragraph
The must-have ingredients of an essay introduction are:
Think of a compelling sentence to start your essay. It’s a hook to grab the reader’s attention and motivate them to keep reading. Use a question, a quote, a fact, etc.
After that, introduce the context. It’s background information on your topic where you mention the sources you’ll use.
The final 1-2 sentences go to a thesis. State your position and provide the arguments that show why you have it. (You’ll expand those arguments in the essay body.)
3. Organize Body Paragraphs
The number of paragraphs in your essay body depends on how many sources you’ll synthesize. Formal tips for synthesis writing prescribe at least three resources, which means you’ll include three body paragraphs in your paper.
Each one needs the following info to cover:
- A topic sentence explaining your argument (Think of a new claim for each paragraph.)
- Evidence from the source that supports your topic sentence
- Elaboration that clarifies how that evidence supports your claim
If you have several sources supporting your argument, you can mention them all in a paragraph.
In a synthesis essay outline, note a claim and evidence for every paragraph.
4. Mention a Rebuttal
One paragraph of your synthesis essay should cover an opposing view that challenges your position. Outline it as follows:
- State an alternative point to your argument; provide evidence to back up that view.
- Provide your counterargument to that view. Why is it not as valid as yours? Highlight your position on the topic.
- Share evidence to prove the opposing point is wrong.
Write about the rebuttal in the fourth body paragraph. If you follow a standard 5-paragraph structure, use two sections for your claims and one — for a counterargument to your claims. The other two remain for an intro and a conclusion.
5. Write a Conclusion
Summarize the points and restate your thesis to maintain your position. Finish your essay with a recommendation or a call to action for readers.
This final statement is a so-called big idea behind your paper. Leave readers with the food for thought. You can encourage them to continue investigating the topic to learn more and build their own attitude.
Outline for a Synthesis Essay: Example
This sample is here to give you an idea of what to write in every section. Please don’t copy it for your papers. It’s a sample for informative purposes.
Let’s say you write a synthesis essay, “Is the spread of fake news a problem?”
Here’s what the outline might be:
I used some writing tools to assist me with this outline creation. You can do the same, but ensure to adjust and polish the outline to your position and needs.
Synthesis Essay Outline: Write Yours!
Now you know the components to cover in your outline for a synthesis essay. It’s time to practice and write one for your future paper!
- Consider the provided template.
- Use the given sample for inspiration.
- Follow the structure and ensure to mention all the details.
- Organize your arguments and evidence; oppose a counterargument.
- Think of a memorable conclusion for readers.
Your outline is a plan. Once you have it, you’ll write an A-worthy synthesis essay faster, whether AP lang or general.
References:
- https://dcdc.coe.hawaii.edu/ltec/612/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Synthesis-Essay-Instructions-and-Worksheets.pdf
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How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Examples, Topics, & Outline
A synthesis essay requires you to work with multiple sources. You combine the information gathered from them to present a well-rounded argument on a topic. Are you looking for the ultimate guide on synthesis essay writing? You’ve come to the right place!
In this guide by our custom writing team, you will find:
- a step-by-step writing guide;
- a list of 34 synthesis essay topics;
- a full essay sample in MLA format.
- 📚 Synthesis Essay Definition
- 📝 Essay Types
- ✅ Step-by-Step Guide
- ✍️ Topics & Prompts
- 📑 Example & Formatting Tips
📚 What Is a Synthesis Essay?
A synthesis essay is an assignment that requires a unique interpretation of a particular topic using several reliable sources. To write it, you need to understand, analyze, and synthesize information. That is why this type of essay is used in the AP Lang exam to assess students’ reasoning skills.
The key features of the synthesis essay are:
- Debatable topic . If your goal is to write a good synthesis essay, it’s necessary to choose an arguable topic. It’s best to choose something that people have different opinions about. This will allow you to use many sources with various viewpoints for your synthesis.
- Clear thesis statement. It’s a sentence that briefly describes the main idea of your essay.
- Reliable sources to prove your thesis . For a synthesis essay, your opinion is not enough. You also need to find the evidence. Keep in mind that simply reading an online encyclopedia won’t do; make sure to choose only reliable sources.
What Does It Mean to Synthesize Information?
Synthesis is a process that has huge importance in nature, science, and our everyday life. The word stems from Ancient Greek “synthesis,” which means “putting together.” In general, synthesis is the combination of components to form a connected whole.
In everyday life, we usually resort to it to synthesize information . This means taking the data from different sources and bringing it together. This process is the opposite of analyzing:
- For an analysis , you break problems into pieces,
- For a synthesis , you combine separate elements into a whole.
We use synthesis for analysis papers, research papers, argument papers, and business reports.
What Does Synthesis Mean in Writing?
Synthesis in writing means summarizing and connecting different sources considering a particular topic. Although synthesis and analysis are two opposite things, they usually go together in synthesis essays. The process consists of 2 stages:
- Conduct the analysis. For that, you break down a problem into parts and analyze the sources. It’s helpful to highlight everything regarding your topic while reading.
- Carry out the synthesis. The next step is to formulate an opinion and combine the highlighted information from the sources.
Synthesis is not only used in writing but also in reading comprehension . It’s useful to do this kind of reading while studying your sources. There are three reading comprehension stages:
- Your previous knowledge about the topic.
- Expansion of your knowledge while you are reading.
- Understanding of the problem when you have finished reading.
So, synthesized reading comprehension means combining three stages in one and formulating one statement.
Synthesis vs Summary: What Is the Difference?
A summary is a paraphrasing of the written source in your own words. For a good summary, it’s necessary to include all of the text’s key elements. Meanwhile, synthesis means combining different ideas from different sources. You don’t have to include all the key points; just choose everything related to your topic.
Both of these techniques are used for the synthesis essay:
- The summary goes in the conclusion. You briefly sum up your paper’s main ideas.
- Synthesis goes in the body paragraphs. Here, you combine multiple sources to prove a point.
📝 Synthesis Essay Types
There are two main types of a synthesis essay: argument and explanatory synthesis.
Both of them require working with multiple reliable sources and analyzing information. The only difference is that an argument synthesis essay requires your own opinion, while an explanatory synthesis essay does not.
Argument Synthesis Essay: Outline and Definition
As you already know, an argument synthesis essay requires you to state your own opinion about the given topic and back it up with several reliable sources. The purpose of such an essay is to persuade the reader that your point is correct.
Here’s what an argument synthesis essay consists of:
Explanatory Synthesis Essay: Definition and How to Write
An explanatory informative synthesis essay requires you to stay neutral towards the problem you are discussing. This means you cannot express your own opinion considering the given question or a problem. Your task is just to inform the reader. That’s why this essay type is also called informative synthesis.
Check out this explanatory essay outline:
✅ How to Write a Synthesis Essay Step by Step
When it comes to the synthesis essay outline, it’s not too different from other assignments. Have a look at this template:
How to Synthesize: Working with Sources
After you’ve decided on your topic, it’s time to figure out how to synthesize articles into one text. This is how you do it:
- Choose reliable sources: the ones printed in journals or published on academic websites.
- Become familiar with them and see if they fit into your essay.
- Try to find a few sources for each point. It will increase your essay’s reliability.
- Relate each source to your arguments and see similarities between them.
- Don’t forget to list every source in the references.
When you are done with a comprehensive analysis of related literature, try to step back and imagine a person who has a different opinion on this topic. Think of some arguments that they can provide to prove their opinion. After you have the list of arguments, find the written evidence of why they are wrong and put them in your essay.
Analyzing and organizing sources is the first and very important step for the synthesis essay. So make sure you do understand what the text means before using it as a reference.
Synthesis Essay Outline: How to Write
For structuring your essay, it’s useful to try mapping . This technique means combining the information from different sources and rearranging it to create a new direction. To do it, you need to analyze the authors’ ideas and come up with your own conclusions.
The best way to do that is called synthesis matrix or graphic organizer. It’s a chart that you can make when you start working on your essay. Here you have a horizontal column that states the main ideas and a few vertical columns that present sources. Your task is to take sources you have chosen and write down the main ideas from them.
Here’s an example of a matrix chart:
While doing that, you will see how many sources contain the same ideas. When you analyze them, you will be able to formulate your thesis backed up with evidence. The synthesis matrix also helps to see new arguments you can cover in your synthesis paper.
How to Write an Introduction for a Synthesis Essay
Now it’s time to start writing the paper. In the introductory part of the essay, you can include:
- A short yet catchy sentence or a quotation that would present the topic. The start of your essay should make people interested. It’s best to make the first sentence not only informative but also easy to understand.
- The texts that are used for the essay. Provide the titles and the authors’ names (use the appropriate guidelines depending on the writing style.)
- The background information which is needed to understand your essay. Definitions of terms or unknown words considering the topic can be included in this part. Otherwise, people may find it hard to understand what they are reading about.
How to Write a Thesis for a Synthesis Essay
A thesis statement is a point of view on a certain problem that you will defend in your essay. It should contain the key points that you want to include in your paper. Here’s how to create a perfect thesis statement:
- Find several central ideas in the chart.
- Choose the ones that are repeated the most often and the ones that you feel need to be in your essay.
- Combine them, and you have a thesis statement with all the key points.
- Make a draft of the thesis statement. Try to formulate the main idea you want to present in your essay.
- Elaborate on this idea. Add some details and expand it a bit further.
If the whole picture is coherent, and it conveys exactly what you wanted, then this is your perfect thesis statement. See the example below:
Gender inequality still exists at the workplace: women are less likely to get the most responsible positions, easily lose careers due to maternity leave, and often receive less pay for the same amount of work.
How to Write Synthesis Paragraphs for the Main Body
Your essay’s main body consists of a few paragraphs. Each of them presents a different argument considering the topic. When you start a paragraph, make sure to begin with a topic sentence, which informs the reader about the paragraph’s main idea. Then, include the synthesized sources and elaborate on them.
Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do when writing the main body:
You can use the following words to present the ideas from your sources. They will help you reflect the authors’ tone:
How to Conclude a Synthesis Essay
There are quite a few ways to conclude the synthesis paper. Have a look at some of the options:
- Paraphrase the thesis. As you remember, the thesis is the main idea of your essay. The conclusion is a good place to remind your readers about it. When they are done with the reading, they remember the most important thing from your essay.
- Synthesize the arguments. There is no need to repeat everything you wrote in your essay. Just briefly summarize the most crucial points.
- Answer the “So what” question. Tell the readers why this topic matters, why you’ve chosen it, and why it’s valuable for the reader.
- Provide a closure. It’s an effective strategy when you want to make the reader think. Leave them with a strong statement at the end of your essay.
Synthesis Paper Proofreading Tips
When you have finally written your paper, there is still one important thing left to do. You need to check your paper for any grammatical and contextual mistakes. You certainly can do it yourself, but it would be perfect if you could ask somebody else to read it.
The first thing you need to check grammar-wise is the tense you are using. There is no single tense you need to use for the synthesis essay. It depends on the format:
- If you’re writing in MLA format, use the present tense;
- For APA essays, you use the past tense.
The next step is to check whether your synthesis essay has everything that’s required. For that, we have prepared the checklist of questions you can ask yourself to proofread your essays.
- Is there a clear thesis statement?
- Did you include all of the key points from the synthesis?
- Are there clear transitions between paragraphs?
- Did you organize a paragraph around a single idea?
- Did you use reliable and up-to-date sources?
- Did you analyze sources rather than just summarize them?
- Did you mention every source you’ve used?
If you’ve answered “yes” to all the questions—congratulations, you are done with the essay! Otherwise, you need to come back and fix everything that you’ve answered “no” to.
✍️ Synthesis Essay Topics and Prompts
Sometimes, when you don’t have a topic , it is tough to come up with a suitable idea. That is why we have prepared two lists of topics that you can use for any synthesis essay type.
Explanatory Synthesis Essay Topics
The topics below are suitable for an explanatory synthesis essay:
- The beginning of Hollywood cinema. Cinema is a huge industry in the USA. Tell the readers about its history. Describe what it was like in the beginning, which movie was the first one, and who started this industry.
- Tactics on dealing with noisy children. Sometimes kids can be very loud, especially in public places. Write about different tactics that can help with this issue.
- The effects of climate change on the water cycle. Climate change has affected the water cycle significantly. Your task is to explain how.
- The best American cities to live in. Provide the list of the best cities and explain why you’ve included them.
- The importance of a healthy diet . Keeping a healthy diet is beneficial in many ways. Write about all the advantages it brings.
- Who can become an entrepreneur? Entrepreneurship is not for everybody. In this essay, you can describe the qualities needed for having your own business.
- The correlation between overpopulation and poverty . Describe how overpopulation leads to poverty and vice versa.
- The advantages of taking an active vacation.
- Cultural shock as a part of moving to a different country.
- The consequences of the first wave of feminism.
- Synthesis of Tan and Rodriguez’ essays ideas.
- Difficulties you may encounter during the job interview.
- How does reading prevent Alzheimer’s disease?
- The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses.
- The connection between religion and politics in ruling the country.
- What can non-verbal signals tell you about a person?
- The psychology of leadership .
- The origins of the most common stereotypes about Americans.
- Role of social media in business communication.
- The synthesis of personal nursing philosophy concept.
- Behavioral components of schizophrenia and psychosis.
- Main components of successful entrepreneurship.
- Critical components of scientific research.
- Change in religion and human beliefs throughout history.
- The effect of global warming on modern life.
Argument Synthesis Paper Topics
The list of topics for the Argument Synthesis Essay:
- Vaping is better than smoking. People are starting to exchange cigarettes for vapes and e-cigarettes. In what ways are they less harmful?
- Rich people should pay higher taxes. The same percentage of money doesn’t equal for rich and poor people. Explain why the ones who can afford more should share with others.
- Depression is a disease. Prove that psychological problems must be recognized as real health issues that should be cured and not ignored.
- Social media affects young people’s lives. Social media has a massive influence on people. In this essay, you can discuss which life spheres are the most affected.
- Beauty pageants should be banned. Provide the reasons why they should be banned and tell the reader about psychological problems they can cause.
- People should cut meat from their diet to stop global warming. Describe how the meat industry influences climate change.
- The voting age should be 25+. Your task is to show the reasons why the votes of people under 25 should not be taken into account during elections.
- A healthy lifestyle requires a lot of money.
- Each healthy man should serve in the military.
- School bullying should be punished by immediate exclusion.
- Does friendship exist between men and women?
- Drinking coffee is a bad habit.
- Working hard is more important than being talented.
- Everybody should visit a therapist at least once.
- Should universities be free?
- Artificial intelligence will cause huge unemployment rates.
- Gaming should not be allowed to children under 18.
- Components and strategies of social responsibility
- Integration of relevant ethical theory and conceptual principles in health care
- Children under 10 should be banned from gadgets.
- Social media platforms facilitate cyberbullying.
- Issues of distance education.
- Social media addiction is a serious disease.
- Deforestation critically contributes to global warming.
- Healthcare should be free for everyone.
📑 Synthesis Essay Example & Synthesis Essay Format Tips
Now let’s talk about formatting. There are two writing styles you can use for a synthesis essay: APA or MLA. You need to choose the one that is required for your assignment.
We will start with the paper in APA format. It is usually used in science and education.
And these are MLA formatting rules:
Finally, we’ve prepared a synthesis essay sample for you to check out. Feel free to download the PDF file below:
First introduced in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, affirmative action policies aim to mitigate the discrepancy in opportunities available for underrepresented social groups by taking into account one’s minority background. The policies have become a pressing public issue that obstructs previously marginalized individuals, particularly in the educational environment.
Thank you for reading the ultimate guide on synthesis essay writing. We hope you found it helpful. Don’t forget to share it with your friends. Good luck with your assignments!
🔍 References
- Writing a Synthesis Essay: Bowling Green State University
- What Is Synthesis: University of Manitoba
- Synthesis: Biology Online
- Reading Strategies: Difference Summarizing and Synthesizing: WordPress
- Summary, Analysis, Synthesis Definitions: University of Utah
- Argumentative Synthesis: University of Arkansas
- How to Synthesize Written Information: Simply Psychology
- Mapping of Synthesis Essay: University of Nevada, Reno
- Writing a Literature Review and Using a Synthesis Matrix: Florida International University
- Synthesis Essay: Cleveland State University
- Literature Review: Synthesizing Multiple Sources: Louisiana State University
- Writing a Conclusion: Texas Women’s University
- General APA Guidelines: Purdue University
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Synthesis Essay Guide
Synthesis Essay Outline
Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023
How to Write a Synthesis Essay Outline - Template & Examples
By: Nathan D.
Reviewed By: Rylee W.
Published on: Apr 20, 2021
Creating an outline is the first and foremost step of writing any type of essay. The same is the case with a synthesis paper. It is the most important essay that most high school and college students write in their academic life.
A perfect synthesis essay requires choosing a topic, collecting data from different sources, summarizing them, and developing an essay. An outline helps to organize the collected information within the writing piece.
This detailed guide will help you understand the complete procedure of developing a good synthesis essay outline. Read on to learn the step-by-step process.
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A synthesis essay collects data from a variety of sources and then combines it together to organize it properly. It further helps to explain the writer’s point of view by analyzing both sides of the issue.
Such a type of essay needs to be properly organized and structured; otherwise, it may confuse the audience. Moreover, a synthesis essay is more like an argumentative essay but complex in nature.
An argumentative essay presents an issue and supports it with authentic evidence to prove the point. In contrast, a synthesis essay evaluates the factors of a specific issue to discuss the implications of a decision.
For writing an engaging synthesis essay , it is important to choose strong synthesis essay topics. Here, you need to synthesize information from various sources. Thus, put the data into an argument by paraphrasing, summarizing, or directly quoting from the sources.
Keep in mind that the sources do not make a point. Instead, it just provides supporting evidence to prove it. Moreover, the outline also helps you relate and make a connection between the arguments.
Synthesis Essay Outline Format
Here is a complete synthesis essay outline template for you to follow. It usually consists of the following major sections.
SYNTHESIS ESSAY OUTLINE WORKSHEET
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How to Create a Synthesis Essay Outline?
Creating an outline means organizing the structure of the essay before you begin with the writing process. A typical outline of an essay starts with an introduction followed by the main body paragraphs and a conclusion.
An outline is important because it helps you maintain a logical flow in your paper. The structure of a synthesis essay usually has four major sections:
1. Synthesis Essay Introduction
The introduction paragraph of the synthesis essay is a section where you introduce the topic. It starts with an attention-grabbing hook statement to attract the audience. Also, provide a brief historical background of the topic here.
You can also convince the reader to review your work and discuss the importance of your viewpoint. Lastly, state the thesis statement that summarizes the main theme of your synthesis essay.
2. Synthesis Essay Body Paragraphs
It is better to start the body paragraphs with a topic sentence that usually supports the thesis statement. Discuss relevant data, facts, and supporting evidence to prove your point.
3. Refutation
In this section, consider the counter-arguments made by people who do not agree with your perspective. Discuss them in detail and state that despite being very good points, they do not make valid arguments.
Moreover, you can also provide evidence and examples to support your claim and refute the counter-arguments.
4. Synthesis Essay Conclusion
In this section, summarize the information that you have presented earlier in the essay. Restate the thesis statement and the major points of your paper and provide a call to action.
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Synthesis Essay Outline Example
AP LANGUAGE SYNTHESIS ESSAY OUTLINE EXAMPLE
ARGUMENTATIVE SYNTHESIS ESSAY OUTLINE EXAMPLE
EXPLANATORY SYNTHESIS ESSAY OUTLINE EXAMPLE
ANALYSIS SYNTHESIS ESSAY OUTLINE EXAMPLE
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you start an introduction for a synthesis essay.
The introductory paragraph is the first impression you want to make on your reader. Keep the following points in mind when you start writing an introduction for a synthesis essay.
- A strong position
- A testable thesis statement
- Few lines expanding on your position
How many paragraphs is a synthesis essay?
A synthesis essay is usually 5 to 6 paragraphs long. It is important to have an understanding of the five-to-six paragraph structure. It will help you keep your paper organized while also providing ample space for introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion.
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Synthesis Essays: A Step-by-Step How-To Guide
A synthesis essay is generally a short essay which brings two or more sources (or perspectives) into conversation with each other.
The word “synthesis” confuses every student a little bit. Fortunately, this step-by-step how-to guide will see you through to success!
Here’s a step-by-step how-to guide, with examples, that will help you write yours.
Before drafting your essay:
After reading the sources and before writing your essay, ask yourself these questions:
- What is the debate or issue that concerns all of the writers? In other words, what is the question they are trying to answer?
- On what points do they agree?
- On what points do they disagree?
- If they were having a verbal discussion, how would writer number one respond to the arguments of writer number two?
In a way, writing a synthesis essay is similar to composing a summary. But a synthesis essay requires you to read more than one source and to identify the way the writers’ ideas and points of view are related.
Sometimes several sources will reach the same conclusion even though each source approaches the subject from a different point of view.
Other times, sources will discuss the same aspects of the problem/issue/debate but will reach different conclusions.
And sometimes, sources will simply repeat ideas you have read in other sources; however, this is unlikely in a high school or AP situation.
To better organize your thoughts about what you’ve read, do this:
- Identify each writer’s thesis/claim/main idea
- List the writers supporting ideas (think topic sentences or substantiating ideas)
- List the types of support used by the writers that seem important. For example, if the writer uses a lot of statistics to support a claim, note this. If a writer uses historical facts, note this.
There’s one more thing to do before writing: You need to articulate for yourself the relationships and connections among these ideas.
Sometimes the relationships are easy to find. For example, after reading several articles about censorship in newspapers, you may notice that most of the writers refer to or in some way use the First Amendment to help support their arguments and help persuade readers. In this case, you would want to describe the different ways the writers use the First Amendment in their arguments. To do this, ask yourself, “How does this writer exploit the value of the First Amendment/use the First Amendment to help persuade or manipulate the readers into thinking that she is right?
Sometimes articulating the relationships between ideas is not as easy. If you have trouble articulating clear relationships among the shared ideas you have noted, ask yourself these questions:
- Do the ideas of one writer support the ideas of another? If so, how?
- Do the writers who reach the same conclusion use the same ideas in their writing? If not, is there a different persuasive value to the ideas used by one writer than by the other?
- Do the writers who disagree discuss similar points or did they approach the subject from a completely different angle and therefore use different points and different kinds of evidence to support their arguments?
- Review your list of ideas. Are any of the ideas you have listed actually the same idea, just written in different words?
What is a Synthesis Essay Writing?
Let’s define a synthesis essay before learning more about a synthesis paper outline. A synthesis essay is an academic project requiring students to take several sources and research before comparing and contrasting them.
Its purpose is to allow you to make logical conclusions based on your analysis supported by evidence in the texts. At times, you may need to use your own words and those in the sources to argue your case. This essay type is common in colleges and high schools at the semester’s end.
A typical synthesis essay structure has five paragraphs showcasing your viewpoints on a subject. Your drafting process follows these steps:
- Choosing a topic and sources.
- Analyzing each source comprehensively.
- Gathering all the information into a coherent argument.
Synthesis essays come in two main forms, as discussed below.
An argumentative essay
This essay debates a single point, as in other papers. It argues to favor a perspective using facts, stats, and evidence you gathered from sources. It supports or opposes a specific idea or viewpoint.
An explanatory essay
This assignment type explains a given viewpoint. It also relies on facts and figures as important evidence. You must use sources from various angles and submit them objectively without favoring one.
How to Write an Outline For a Synthesis Essay?
Sometimes, drafting an argumentative synthesis essay outline without assistance from an academic essay writing service can be tedious. You must create a synthesis essay layout to accommodate your paper’s core components. All synthesis essay outlines have introductory sections, body paragraphs, and conclusions.
Creating a synthesis paragraph outline requires gathering all the necessary materials. A synthesis paper format is like an empty container. So, the outline doesn’t matter if you haven’t gotten the suitable materials to fill them in. Thus, consider how much information each source has to let everything match well in the paper. Otherwise, you might have gaps between your paragraphs.
The outline ensures that every idea, argument, and point falls in the proper place. It gives your piece order and a logical flow. Below are more details about an outline’s parts.
Synthesis essay introduction
An excellent outline for a synthesis essay has an introduction that presents your topic, explains what it’s about, and gives background information. Include an argument that synthesizes at least two thoughts from other sources.
This section should also hook your readers to attract and retain their attention. You may use relevant stats, humor, or a quote from a public figure your readers trust.
Additionally, it contains and explains your thesis statement to show readers why it matters. Limit it to one paragraph and ensure it doesn’t exceed 10% of your assignment’s word count. However, don’t pour everything here. The reader might feel they have read everything, killing their interest in your paper altogether. So, you should strive to a balance between whetting your audience’s appetite and introducing your piece.
Synthesis essay body paragraph
A great outline of a synthesis essay also comprises paragraphs that are your paper’s gist. It provides readers with the details about your thesis. Also, it contains proof from various sources to support your thesis. The evidence can be statistics or quotations from subject matter experts.
Individual paragraphs must carry one main idea or piece of evidence. The first two paragraphs support your thesis. The last one contains evidence against your thesis. Here, you show readers what other people believe about the subject. However, you don’t do so to water down your position. This mention of other contrary views keeps you objective and unbiased.
Start every paragraph with a topic sentence introducing the idea you want to discuss. Next, present the evidence that justifies the paragraph’s primary thought and use appropriate data and examples to consolidate it. Lastly, make a conclusion relating to the evidence and target point.
Synthesis essay conclusion
Your synthesis writing outline also contains a concluding section that summarizes your essential ideas. It also features the following components:
- Explains how your points relate to an issue or challenge it as with an argumentative paper.
- Describes how your discussion relates to other people’s opinions about a subject issue, as in the case of drafting an analytical assignment.
- It ends with a strong statement that ties all your points together to give readers your perspective on an issue.
Synthesis Essay Outline Template
Synthesis essay outline examples inspire your outline creation. Here’s a perfect synthesis essay outline example.
Introduction
- Hooks readers.
- Provides background data.
- Contains your thesis statement.
Body: Concessions and Refutation
- Briefly summarizes your viewpoints and arguments against it too.
Topic sentence:
- Gives a reason contrary to your thesis.
- Provides evidence supporting the opinion.
- States why the opposing view isn’t valid.
- Provides counter facts and explains why it’s weak.
- Concludes and offers final comments on the subject.
- States the least important reason supporting your thesis.
- Submits a topic statement ushering in your idea.
- Quotes one of your sources.
- Provides proof to back your idea.
- Comments on your proof and why it matters.
- Concludes by summarizing all your essential opinions.
- Discusses the second-most critical reason substantiating your thesis.
- Chooses an appropriate topic sentence.
- Embeds facts supporting your viewpoint and comments on them.
- Concludes everything based on the topic statement and proof.
- States your most important reason for bolstering your thesis.
- Optimizes the topic statement to offer a vibrant case.
- Quotes several sources and comments on them.
- Offers evidence to back your statement and comments on its relevance.
- Concludes by summarizing the facts.
- Summarizes all the facts.
- Restates your thesis.
- Summarizes your arguments and offers a relevant model.
- Include a call to action.
Synthesis Essay Format
A synthesis essay template has three main parts that guide your paper’s flow. As stated, this assignment requires stating your personal position on a matter and supporting it with multiple sources. Below are the four main sections contained in a sample synthesis essay outline.
Introduction
This introductory part addresses the general landscape of your opinions surrounding the topic. It also introduces some of your sources. You must present your argument through a thesis statement expressed in one or two clear sentences at this section’s end.
This section is your paper’s gist. It contains three paragraphs, two of which support your thesis. The last one shows your readers contrary positions and refutes them to prove why they aren’t strong enough to weaken your thesis.
This final part restates your thesis and summarizes your primary ideas. It may emphasize how all your opinions substantiate your thesis.
Bibliography
You need to include this part, depending on your paper’s guidelines. The formatting style can be
APA, MLA, AP, or Chicago manual. You must include this list at your assignment’s end to credit your research sources and avoid plagiarism. This list can take between one and two pages.
Need Help With Synthesis Essay Writing?
Preparing a perfect structure of a synthesis essay is a vital stage as you plan to write your paper. That’s why this paper showed you everything you need to know about this crucial preparatory stage. It also provided an example of a synthesis essay outline to give you a practical demonstration. We hope these insights, plus the model outline we offered, will sharpen your skills in this assignment.
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Do you still have unaddressed questions about how to write a synthesis essay outline? No worries because this section features frequently asked questions, plus their answers.
How to write a synthesis essay outline?
You write a perfect outline after gathering sufficient materials you want to feature in your paper. Ensure that these materials will fit in your word count.
Do you have a synthesis essay outline template?
Yes. We provided a synthesis essay outline template to give you a realistic view of how an excellent outline should look.
What is the format of a synthesis essay?
An outline for a synthesis essay is its primary structure containing your ideas according to your instructor’s preferred formatting style, like MLA or APA.
Where can I get an example of a synthesis essay outline?
This post supplied a perfect sample synthesis essay outline to help structure your future assignments.
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How to write a Synthesis Essays
Synthesis essays are a common type of academic writing that asks students to put together information from different sources into a coherent argument or point of view about a certain topic. In a synthesis essay, students must analyze and combine information from different sources, such as articles, books, and other academic materials, to come up with a new way of looking at a certain issue or idea.
The importance of synthesis essays lies in the fact that they help students learn how to think critically, analyze information, and communicate effectively. By putting together information from different sources, students can learn more about complicated topics and form their own opinions about them.
Synthesis essays are important in the classroom, but they are also useful in the real world , such as in business, politics, and other professional fields. In many fields, it is important to be able to combine information from different sources into a coherent argument. This skill can help people communicate better and make better decisions.
In the sections that follow, we’ll talk about the most important parts of a good synthesis essay, such as how to find and analyze information, make a convincing argument, and explain your ideas to your audience. By learning how to write synthesis essays well, students can learn important skills that will help them both in school and in the workplace.
What You'll Learn
Elements of a Synthesis Essay
A synthesis essay uses information from more than one source to make an argument or point of view about a certain topic. Here are the most important parts of a good synthesis essay:
1. The purpose of a synthesis essay: The goal of a synthesis essay is to analyze and combine information from different sources into a new way of looking at a certain issue or idea. The essay should have a clear, well-thought-out argument based on evidence and analysis.
2. Analysis and evaluation of sources: To write a good synthesis essay, it’s important to carefully read and think about each source that will be used. This means judging the credibility and reliability of each source and figuring out how each source fits into the argument as a whole.
3. Creation of a thesis statement: The main idea or point of an essay is the thesis statement. It should be clear, short, and detailed, and it should sum up the main point or argument of the essay .
4. Integration of sources into the essay: Each source’s information should be put into the essay in a way that supports the overall argument. This means picking and arranging the information from each source carefully and putting it together in a way that is clear and easy to understand.
5. Development of a logical and coherent argument: The essay should be easy to understand and well-organized, with each paragraph building on the one before it to make a logical and coherent argument. Each paragraph should focus on a different part of the argument and use evidence and analysis from the sources to back it up.
Preparing to Write a Synthesis Essay
Preparing to write a synthesis essay involves several key steps, including:
1. Reading and analyzing sources: The first step in preparing to write a synthesis essay is to carefully read and analyze each source that will be used in the essay. This involves critically evaluating the credibility and reliability of each source, and identifying key themes, ideas, and arguments that will be relevant to the essay.
2. Brainstorming and outlining: Once the sources have been analyzed, the next step is to brainstorm ideas and create an outline for the essay . This involves identifying key themes and arguments that will be addressed in the essay , and organizing them into a logical and coherent structure.
3. Identifying a thesis statement: The thesis statement is the main argument or focus of the essay. Once the key themes and arguments have been identified, it is important to develop a clear and concise thesis statement that summarizes the main argument or perspective of the essay .
4. Developing a plan for integrating sources: The information from each source should be integrated into the essay in a way that supports the overall argument. This involves developing a plan for how each source will be used in the essay, and how the information from each source will be integrated into the overall argument.
By following these key steps, students can effectively prepare to write a successful synthesis essay that is grounded in evidence and analysis, and presents a unique perspective on a particular topic.
Writing a Synthesis Essay
Writing a successful synthesis essay requires careful planning and attention to detail. The following tips can help you to write an effective synthesis essay:
1. Introduction: Start with an attention-grabbing hook that provides context for the essay, and introduce the topic and purpose of the essay. Provide a clear and concise thesis statement that summarizes the main argument or focus of the essay.
2. Body paragraphs: The body of the essay should include several paragraphs that address different aspects of the topic, and integrate information from multiple sources to support your argument. Use specific examples and evidence to support your claims , and make sure that each paragraph focuses on a specific idea or theme.
3. Conclusion: Summarize the main points of the essay, restate the thesis statement, and provide a thoughtful reflection on what has been learned from the synthesis process. It should also include suggestions for further research or discussion.
4. Tone and style: Use a professional and objective tone when writing a synthesis essay. Avoid using overly emotional or biased language, and focus on presenting a well-supported argument that is grounded in evidence and analysis .
5. Grammar and mechanics: Pay careful attention to grammar, mechanics, and spelling when writing a synthesis essay. Use clear and concise language, and proofread your essay carefully to ensure that it is error-free.
Synthesis Essay Examples
To better understand how to write a synthesis essay, it can be helpful to examine examples of effective essays . Here are some key takeaways from successful synthesis essays:
1. Effective synthesis essays draw on a variety of sources to support a well-developed argument or perspective on a particular topic.
2. The best synthesis essays use a clear and logical structure to present information and ideas in a way that is easy to follow.
3. Successful synthesis essays use specific examples and evidence to support claims, and provide thoughtful analysis and evaluation of sources.
4. The most effective synthesis essays present a unique perspective on a particular topic, and offer insights or perspectives that are not readily available in other sources.
5. Finally, successful synthesis essays demonstrate strong writing skills, including a clear and concise writing style, good grammar and mechanics, and effective use of transitions and other writing devices.
By examining examples of effective synthesis essays, students can gain a deeper understanding of the key elements of successful synthesis writing, and develop their own skills and abilities in this important area of academic and professional writing.
Synthesis Essay Topics
Synthesis essays can cover a wide range of topics and subjects. Here are some examples of common synthesis essay topics:
1. Social issues and activism: This topic might include analysis and synthesis of information related to social justice, human rights, inequality, or activism.
2. Science and technology: This topic might include analysis and synthesis of information related to scientific research, technological advancements, or the impact of technology on society.
3. Politics and government : This topic might include analysis and synthesis of information related to government policies, political systems, or the impact of politics on society.
4. Education and learning: This topic might include analysis and synthesis of information related to educational practices, learning theories, or the role of education in society.
5. Culture and media : This topic might include analysis and synthesis of information related to popular culture, media messages, or the impact of media on society.
Synthesis Essay Outline
Creating an effective outline is an important step in the process of writing a synthesis essay. The following are some tips for creating an effective outline, as well as examples of synthesis essay outlines:
1. Basic outline structure: A simple outline for a synthesis essay should have an intro, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should have a hook, set the scene for the essay , and have a clear statement of the essay’s main point. The body of the essay should be made up of several paragraphs that cover different parts of the topic . The conclusion should summarize the main points of the essay and offer a thoughtful reflection on what has been learned.
2. Tips for creating an effective outline: When making an outline for a synthesis essay, it is important to focus on the main argument or point of view of the essay and to organize the information from each source in a way that supports the overall argument. Use subheadings and bullet points to organize information and ideas, and make sure that each paragraph focuses on a single idea or theme.
3. Examples of synthesis essay outlines:
I. Introduction
– Hook
– Context
– Thesis statement
II. Body Paragraphs
– Analysis of source 1
– Analysis of source 2
– Integration of sources into the essay
– Development of a logical and coherent argument
III. Conclusion
– Summary of main points
– Reflection on what has been learned
– Suggestions for further research or discussion
Another example:
– Analysis of source 3
– Reflection on what was learned
By following these tips and examples, students can create effective outlines for their synthesis essays, which will help them to organize their ideas and information, and to create a clear and well-supported argument or perspective on a particular topic .
Frequently Asked Questions
1. what is a synthesis essay.
A synthesis essay is a type of academic writing that asks students to put together information from different sources into a coherent argument or point of view about a certain topic. The goal of a synthesis essay is to analyze and combine information from different sources into a new way of looking at a certain issue or idea.
2. What are the elements of a synthesis essay?
The parts of a synthesis essay are the essay’s purpose, the analysis and evaluation of sources, the creation of a thesis statement, the integration of sources into the essay, and the development of an argument that makes sense and flows well.
3. How do I choose a topic for a synthesis essay?
When choosing a topic for a synthesis essay, think about things that you are really interested in or know a lot about. Also, look for topics that are complicated and have many different sides. Social issues, science and technology, politics and the government, education and learning, culture and the media can all be used as topics.
4. How do I structure a synthesis essay?
The format of a synthesis essay should be clear and well-structured, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should have a hook, set the scene for the essay, and have a clear statement of the essay’s main point. The body of the essay should be made up of several paragraphs that cover different parts of the topic. The conclusion should summarize the main points of the essay and offer a thoughtful reflection on what has been learned.
5. What are some tips for writing a successful synthesis essay?
Some tips for writing a good synthesis essay include carefully reading and analyzing sources, coming up with a clear and concise thesis statement, putting sources into the essay in a way that supports the overall argument , and making an argument that makes sense and flows well. It’s also important to use clear, concise language, pay attention to grammar and mechanics, and carefully proofread the essay before sending it in.
In conclusion , students need to learn how to write synthesis essays if they want to do well in school and in their careers. Students can make a well-supported argument or point of view on a certain topic if they know the key parts of a good synthesis essay and follow the steps for preparing, structuring, and writing the essay . Students can use the skills and techniques they learn in writing synthesis essays to communicate effectively and make well-informed decisions in a wide range of situations. This is true whether they are writing about social issues and activism, science and technology, politics and government, education and learning, or culture and media.
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Synthesis essay structure. Creating a solid synthesis essay structure is one of the hardest parts of writing a synthesis essay. Unlike most other essay outlines, an outline for a synthesis essay has to include points from multiple sources, and such combinations don't always have a logical or chronological sequence. To help you out, here are ...
Here is a synthesis essay outline template that you can follow while writing your essay: Synthesis Essay Outline Format. 1. Introduction. Grab the reader's attention; Provide a little background information; Explain the specific terminology; Write a strong t hesis statement; 2. Body Paragraph I.
Make a Synthesis Essay Outline to Structure Content. Earlier, we emphasized the importance of orchestrating your main content under study. This section covers the crucial thing in writing a synthesis essay: an outline. The outline is a great synthesis essay template for structuring your entire paper. We recommend you always stick to it once you ...
Learn how to organize your synthesis essay with a comprehensive plan that shows your thesis, arguments, evidence, and counterarguments. Follow the template and example to structure your paper and avoid writer's block.
Argument Synthesis Essay: Outline and Definition. As you already know, an argument synthesis essay requires you to state your own opinion about the given topic and back it up with several reliable sources. The purpose of such an essay is to persuade the reader that your point is correct. Here's what an argument synthesis essay consists of:
A perfect synthesis essay requires choosing a topic, collecting data from different sources, summarizing them, and developing an essay. An outline helps to organize the collected information within the writing piece. This detailed guide will help you understand the complete procedure of developing a good synthesis essay outline.
A synthesis essay uses a variety of sources to form a new idea, answer a question, or defend an argumentative thesis statement. A synthesis does not summarize but shows the connections among the different sources and the writers' ideas. A successful synthesis essay overviews research on the chosen
In a way, writing a synthesis essay is similar to composing a summary. But a synthesis essay requires you to read more than one source and to identify the way the writers' ideas and points of view are related. Sometimes several sources will reach the same conclusion even though each source approaches the subject from a different point of view.
An outline for a synthesis essay is its primary structure containing your ideas according to your instructor's preferred formatting style, like MLA or APA. Where can I get an example of a synthesis essay outline? This post supplied a perfect sample synthesis essay outline to help structure your future assignments.
Synthesis Essay Outline. Creating an effective outline is an important step in the process of writing a synthesis essay. The following are some tips for creating an effective outline, as well as examples of synthesis essay outlines: 1. Basic outline structure: A simple outline for a synthesis essay should have an intro, body paragraphs, and a ...