what does synthesis mean in a synthesis essay quizlet

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Synthesis Essay

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When you write a synthesis essay, your focus should be on "synthesizing" provided source material in order to support your own opinion.

You get 15 minutes to read through the source material, but you can start writing before your time is up.

Synthesis writing is argumentative in nature.

You should never take a stance before reading the accompanying sources.

Your thesis statement should be structured like an argumentative thesis.

The synthesis prompt has only one answer: it is not open to interpretation.

Use source material that illustrates the points you make and cite them appropriately and consistently-- either use the "Source A, Source B..." citation or the descriptions in parentheses. Don't go back and forth.

Be sure to analyze the source material: you can do this by explaining how it illustrates your point or arguing how the source is incorrect.

Try to integrate your source material as smoothly and naturally as possible into your sentences.

It's your world, and the sources are just living in it.

Do not use more than one source in any single paragraph.

You may include outside sources for your synthesis essay.

What does synthesis mean?

a combination of various elements to form a cohesive whole

an intent focus on 1 perspective to delve deeper into it

an emotional and personal attack on the opposition' views

a critique of an author's use of rhetorical strategies

What stands out fro the other two prompts about the synthesis prompt?

it is short because it just asks you to take a position

it's associated with roughly 10-12 multiple choice questions

it includes a passage to read, analyze, and annotate

it has at least 6 sources included to use for evidence

In order to score at least a 4 on the AP rubric, you MUST cite how many different sources?

all of them

After the critical reading of the sources, how much time do you have to write the actual essay?

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Synthesis Essay Examples

A synthesis essay is another piece of academic discourse that students often find difficult to write. This assignment indeed requires a more nuanced approach to writing and performing research. It’s particularly relevant to students taking an AP English Language and Composition exam, so learning how to write a synthesis essay is crucial to getting a high score.

This article will explore the definition of a synthesis essay, its functions, and objectives, and provide a tutorial on how to write a synthesis essay.

What is a synthesis essay?

To understand how to write a synthesis essay, we first need to figure out why it is called this way.

The word “synthesis” comes from the Greek language where it means “composition” or “collection.” This means that a synthesis essay can be interpreted as a piece of writing that combines something together. But what?

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program known for developing complex courses for high-school students includes a synthesis essay as one of its Language and Composition exam questions. In it, the AP Program asks students to analyze several sources of information and write an essay that “synthesizes” (or incorporates) evidence from some of the sources.

Thus, a synthesis essay is a written text that explores a certain issue using perspectives derived from multiple different sources.

Synthesis essay: format and objectives

Unlike other types of academic analysis, synthesis questions do not aim to evaluate the overall persuasiveness of your arguments. As a writer, you should aim to analyze, evaluate, and integrate diverse ideas into a coherent whole. Here are some of the skills students need to demonstrate in their synthesis essays:

• Analyzing sources . Before you learn how to start a synthesis essay, your task is to read and analyze the sources presented to you and understand what they’re about.
• Assessing the arguments . After familiarizing yourself with the available sources, you are supposed to evaluate if the arguments they support are strong or weak, which will help you determine the course of your essay.
• Identifying common positions . The next skill you must demonstrate is identifying common positions across the sources. By comparing and contrasting different viewpoints, the writer should be able to detect repeating ideas that contribute to a deeper understanding of the topic.
• Integrating sources . Your main task in a synthesis essay is combining ideas from different authors to create a cohesive argument. This will help you show how well you can extract information from various sources.

As you see, the chief goal of synthesis questions is to show how well you can analyze sources and derive information from them.

How to start a synthesis essay: tutorial

During an AP examination, you don’t have a lot of time to write the text. It can be stressful, and it’s not rare for students to panic and forget what to do. Don’t worry, with these simple steps, you’ll be able to create a great synthesis essay and ace your exam.

1. Scan the given sources

At first, you will be handed six sources that you’re supposed to briefly examine. These can include academic and newspaper articles, graphs, schedules, prompts, and other documents that can be used to support your future thesis statement.

Remember that you don’t have a lot of time, so take a quick look at the documents and leave short remarks that can help you remember which source supports or argues a certain opinion.

2. Develop your stance

After you’ve studied the sources, it’s time to come up with your stance and thesis statement. Note that, unlike other essays, the stance you must take in your synthesis essay might not correlate with your actual opinion.

Your task is to choose a position that you can support with the sources provided to you. This will showcase your ability to draw an unbiased and logical conclusion from a wide range of references. However, your stance should express an original idea and cannot paraphrase the points given in the source texts.

3. Write your essay

Your essay should start with a two or three-sentence-long introduction that gives background to the topic you’re going to be writing about. It should also include your thesis – the idea based on the evidence you’ve gathered that you’re going to defend in the next part of your essay. Don’t use personal pronouns as a synthesis essay provides an overview of facts instead of your opinion

The body of your synthesis essay should be built of several arguments. Each argument should refer to a specific part of your thesis and provide evidence to support the claims. Use the sources provided to you as evidence to validate your arguments. You should use at least three sources, but the more you incorporate in your text, the better. You can draw arguments and evidence from your background knowledge or include counter-arguments from the remaining sources. When you refer to the original documents, make sure to include the number of the source in brackets at the end of a sentence.

In your conclusion, restate your original thesis and summarize what you stated before. Don’t repeat the same thoughts. Instead, include a new idea you haven’t mentioned before or a call to action to finish your essay properly.

Synthesis essay: examples

The list of sources provided as part of the examination:

• A New York Times article about the relevance of blue-collar workers;
• A Washington Post article about the uselessness of art degrees;
• The Economist’s article about the decreasing wages of college graduates;
• A New Your Times article proving that college does pay off;
• An article about a businessman giving money to teens to start businesses instead of going to college
• A survey on whether college education is worth it

Is college worth it?

In the current era of shifting economic landscapes and evolving societal expectations, the value of higher education has become a subject of intense scrutiny. While some decades ago, a college education was considered the only solution to a better life, nowadays this sentiment is no longer relevant. Higher education can no longer guarantee high salaries and employment, not to mention the unbearable strain it puts on a future graduate’s finances.

The modern world of employment has shifted. While decades ago society needed information-centric professionals, now the situation is different. With the Internet, employers can now find new hires from all over the world with much cheaper salary expectations, leaving local college graduates with no choice but to agree to a lower pay than they expected[3]. This demonstrates the new trend of decreasing rewards for higher education that is very likely to continue in the future.

Another issue is the lack of employment in certain areas. It is no secret that Art and Humanities graduates have a tough time finding positions with adequate pay in the field they studied[2]. Many of them have to search for employment in other fields that have nothing to do with their degrees, which further proves that higher education does not provide job security.

Furthermore, the cost of higher education in America has been the subject of many debates. Even with scholarships and financial aid, many students still find themselves facing daunting loan repayments upon graduation[6]. This financial pressure can delay important milestones such as buying a home, starting a family, or saving for retirement. Additionally, the job market may not always align with graduates' expectations, making it challenging to secure well-paying positions to effectively manage their debt. As a result, the financial impact of college can be felt long after receiving a diploma, shaping the economic landscape of young professionals for years to come.

In conclusion, higher education no longer offers guaranteed employment and financial stability benefits, often leaving graduates with an exorbitant debt they can not afford. Because of this, the governments should reevaluate their current educational and economic policies and develop other areas of education like vocational schools to provide stability to future generations.

Conclusion: Writing a synthesis essay

A synthesis essay tests your ability to conduct objective analysis and derive facts from multiple different references. It helps you learn to put aside your personal bias and provide an objective overview of information even if it contradicts your opinion. To produce a high-scoring synthesis essay, work on your analytical skills and use them to find evidence to defend your position.

If answering synthesis questions gives you trouble, use essay generator Aithor to generate sample essays, learn how to derive main information from source texts, create a plan, and express your thoughts concisely and eloquently.

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How to write a Synthesis Essays

Carla johnson.

• June 14, 2023
• How to Guides

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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How to Synthesize Written Information from Multiple Sources

Shona McCombes

Content Manager

B.A., English Literature, University of Glasgow

Shona McCombes is the content manager at Scribbr, Netherlands.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Saul McLeod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

On This Page:

When you write a literature review or essay, you have to go beyond just summarizing the articles you’ve read – you need to synthesize the literature to show how it all fits together (and how your own research fits in).

Synthesizing simply means combining. Instead of summarizing the main points of each source in turn, you put together the ideas and findings of multiple sources in order to make an overall point.

At the most basic level, this involves looking for similarities and differences between your sources. Your synthesis should show the reader where the sources overlap and where they diverge.

Unsynthesized Example

Franz (2008) studied undergraduate online students. He looked at 17 females and 18 males and found that none of them liked APA. According to Franz, the evidence suggested that all students are reluctant to learn citations style. Perez (2010) also studies undergraduate students. She looked at 42 females and 50 males and found that males were significantly more inclined to use citation software ( p < .05). Findings suggest that females might graduate sooner. Goldstein (2012) looked at British undergraduates. Among a sample of 50, all females, all confident in their abilities to cite and were eager to write their dissertations.

Synthesized Example

Studies of undergraduate students reveal conflicting conclusions regarding relationships between advanced scholarly study and citation efficacy. Although Franz (2008) found that no participants enjoyed learning citation style, Goldstein (2012) determined in a larger study that all participants watched felt comfortable citing sources, suggesting that variables among participant and control group populations must be examined more closely. Although Perez (2010) expanded on Franz’s original study with a larger, more diverse sample…

Step 1: Organize your sources

After collecting the relevant literature, you’ve got a lot of information to work through, and no clear idea of how it all fits together.

Before you can start writing, you need to organize your notes in a way that allows you to see the relationships between sources.

One way to begin synthesizing the literature is to put your notes into a table. Depending on your topic and the type of literature you’re dealing with, there are a couple of different ways you can organize this.

Summary table

A summary table collates the key points of each source under consistent headings. This is a good approach if your sources tend to have a similar structure – for instance, if they’re all empirical papers.

Each row in the table lists one source, and each column identifies a specific part of the source. You can decide which headings to include based on what’s most relevant to the literature you’re dealing with.

For example, you might include columns for things like aims, methods, variables, population, sample size, and conclusion.

For each study, you briefly summarize each of these aspects. You can also include columns for your own evaluation and analysis.

The summary table gives you a quick overview of the key points of each source. This allows you to group sources by relevant similarities, as well as noticing important differences or contradictions in their findings.

Synthesis matrix

A synthesis matrix is useful when your sources are more varied in their purpose and structure – for example, when you’re dealing with books and essays making various different arguments about a topic.

Each column in the table lists one source. Each row is labeled with a specific concept, topic or theme that recurs across all or most of the sources.

Then, for each source, you summarize the main points or arguments related to the theme.

The purposes of the table is to identify the common points that connect the sources, as well as identifying points where they diverge or disagree.

Step 2: Outline your structure

Now you should have a clear overview of the main connections and differences between the sources you’ve read. Next, you need to decide how you’ll group them together and the order in which you’ll discuss them.

For shorter papers, your outline can just identify the focus of each paragraph; for longer papers, you might want to divide it into sections with headings.

There are a few different approaches you can take to help you structure your synthesis.

If your sources cover a broad time period, and you found patterns in how researchers approached the topic over time, you can organize your discussion chronologically .

That doesn’t mean you just summarize each paper in chronological order; instead, you should group articles into time periods and identify what they have in common, as well as signalling important turning points or developments in the literature.

If the literature covers various different topics, you can organize it thematically .

That means that each paragraph or section focuses on a specific theme and explains how that theme is approached in the literature.

Source Used with Permission: The Chicago School

If you’re drawing on literature from various different fields or they use a wide variety of research methods, you can organize your sources methodologically .

That means grouping together studies based on the type of research they did and discussing the findings that emerged from each method.

If your topic involves a debate between different schools of thought, you can organize it theoretically .

That means comparing the different theories that have been developed and grouping together papers based on the position or perspective they take on the topic, as well as evaluating which arguments are most convincing.

Step 3: Write paragraphs with topic sentences

What sets a synthesis apart from a summary is that it combines various sources. The easiest way to think about this is that each paragraph should discuss a few different sources, and you should be able to condense the overall point of the paragraph into one sentence.

This is called a topic sentence , and it usually appears at the start of the paragraph. The topic sentence signals what the whole paragraph is about; every sentence in the paragraph should be clearly related to it.

A topic sentence can be a simple summary of the paragraph’s content:

“Early research on [x] focused heavily on [y].”

For an effective synthesis, you can use topic sentences to link back to the previous paragraph, highlighting a point of debate or critique:

“Several scholars have pointed out the flaws in this approach.” “While recent research has attempted to address the problem, many of these studies have methodological flaws that limit their validity.”

By using topic sentences, you can ensure that your paragraphs are coherent and clearly show the connections between the articles you are discussing.

As you write your paragraphs, avoid quoting directly from sources: use your own words to explain the commonalities and differences that you found in the literature.

Don’t try to cover every single point from every single source – the key to synthesizing is to extract the most important and relevant information and combine it to give your reader an overall picture of the state of knowledge on your topic.

Step 4: Revise, edit and proofread

Like any other piece of academic writing, synthesizing literature doesn’t happen all in one go – it involves redrafting, revising, editing and proofreading your work.

Checklist for Synthesis

•   Do I introduce the paragraph with a clear, focused topic sentence?
•   Do I discuss more than one source in the paragraph?
•   Do I mention only the most relevant findings, rather than describing every part of the studies?
•   Do I discuss the similarities or differences between the sources, rather than summarizing each source in turn?
•   Do I put the findings or arguments of the sources in my own words?
•   Is the paragraph organized around a single idea?
•   Is the paragraph directly relevant to my research question or topic?
•   Is there a logical transition from this paragraph to the next one?

Further Information

How to Synthesise: a Step-by-Step Approach

Help…I”ve Been Asked to Synthesize!

Learn how to Synthesise (combine information from sources)

How to write a Psychology Essay

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Professors share 5 myths students believe about college, synthesis vs summary.

You may sometimes hear that the word “synthesis” is used as a synonym for the word “summary”. Even though they may be somewhat interchangeable in the overall daily routine context, in academic writing they have different meanings. The key distinction between synthesis vs summary is that the first one uses key points and ideas from various texts, combining them into one for a definite conclusion, while the summary is a condensed version of the main thoughts presented only in one piece of writing. This is a more simple explanation, so if you want to learn more details about text synthesis and summary, keep on reading.

Text Synthesis – Definition & Characteristics

Synthesis means putting together information from various sources. Suppose you are a chef in a kitchen, surrounded by a variety of ingredients—these are like the various texts, ideas, and pieces of information you find during your research. Just as a chef combines ingredients to create a new, flavorful dish, in text synthesis, you blend these ideas to form a new, coherent understanding or argument.

Imagine you’re working on a paper about environmental policies. You’ve read articles, watched documentaries, and looked at statistical studies. Text synthesis would help you a lot in this case. You take the essence of one argument, as a counterpoint, provide supportive data, and combine them. In the end you will have a conclusion that reveals your deep understanding of the topic, in all its complexity. It might go something like this,

“While renewable energy initiatives are crucial, the economic and social challenges they present cannot be overlooked.”

Here, you’ve created a new perspective that acknowledges multiple sides of the issue. Remember, synthesis requires you to engage critically with each source, understand its place in the larger conversation, and then integrate that with your unique insight. Later, you will find this skill to be essential for being an active participant in any academic or professional discussion.

Sometimes, you need to understand the essence of the article quickly, and in such cases, a new AHelp article summarizer comes to the rescue. This tool will analyze the article for you and return a brief overview in no time.

Types of Synthesis Writing

Synthesis may have various forms, depending on the type of sources you are trying to put together and the main idea that you want to transmit. For this reason, synthesis texts may be broken down into several types.

How can You Synthesize a Text?

This may seem like a simple task, no biggie, but in reality, to write a good synthesis you need to have specific skills. The good news is, that you can easily train yourself to put together well-written syntheses. And all you have to do is follow our guide below.

Finding Material

Start by seeking out sources that expose your topic from different angles. Read them thoroughly. As you do, highlight the main ideas—those that truly capture the essence of each text. You can write them down on a separate piece of paper or document. Just don’t forget to include information on where you took these details from.

Arranging Ideas

Now, bring these ideas together, arranging them by theme or argument. Paraphrase and summarize the points in your own words, so that the essence remains intact. Synthesis texts usuallly don’t include quotes, as they are mostly short and need to showcase just the relevant claims.

Improving Logic

Then, connect these points coherently. What you’re aiming for is a synthesis that doesn’t just echo individual sources but instead presents a narrative as a powerful and persuasive statement. It should also be easy to understand not just for you but for third-party readers too (you can ask your friend/brother/sister to read it to see if it works).

Revisioning & Refining

As you fine-tune your synthesis, maintain a clear focus, making sure your writing is precise and distinctly yours, never forgetting to credit the authors of original sources. You may not be specifically required to add a list of references, but it can help anyone reading your synthesis to track down the ideas you included there.

Summary – Clarifying What It Is

A summary distills the essence of a text into a concise and accessible format. It focuses on extracting and articulating the main points of a document or discussion briefly and clearly, often significantly reducing the length of the original text while maintaining its core message. Unlike a synthesis, which merges multiple texts to form a new, all-inclusive viewpoint, a summary confines itself to the boundaries of a single source.

Here’s how to think about it: if you’re summarizing, your goal is to strip the text down to its bare essentials. The process involves:

• reading the original material closely
• identifying its key sections
• and then rewriting these important elements in your own words.

Effective summarization requires a deep understanding of what constitutes the ‘heart’ of the text, which can be challenging as it demands both subtlety and clarity in communication. It’s a skill widely used across fields such as journalism, academia, and business, where relaying information quickly and effectively is crucial.

Try Summarizing With Our Free Tool

In educational settings, you will notice teachers often emphasize the importance of being able to identify and compress key information. This skill helps students like you understand and retain content more efficiently and improve their ability to focus on critical aspects of their studies.

Synthesis vs Summary: Impact on Learning Outcomes in Education

You may think that the skills for synthesizing and summarizing are only good for tests or for completing specific assignments. However, as recent studies show, these studying techniques can generally improve your educational efforts and help you get the most out of your lessons.

Think of the summary as your compass. It allows you to navigate through extensive texts by distilling complex information into its essential points. This technique to raise comprehension levels, as evidenced by research that saw s tudents’ understanding improve by 19% when effective summarizing strategies were actively used. This proves that summarizing can help you learn to identify key information, which sharpens your ability to process and understand intricate material. Synthesis, on the other hand, is about connection and creation. When doing it, you take various pieces of information and combine them to form a logical whole. This process helps you understand different viewpoints within a text as well as fosters a deeper level of thinking. Recognizing and integrating multiple text structures—such as comparisons or arguments—can significantly deepen your comprehension and support the development of analytical skills.

It’s important to note, that both synthesis and summarizing are active learning techniques. And those, even recently, were once again proven to have a great influence on learning and information retention. A study showcasing the use of active learning in a fourth-grade science course found that students exhibited not just higher academic performance but also improved long-term retention of information. This suggests that when you actively engage with the material, using synthesis and summary as part of the learning process, your ability to retain and apply knowledge is strengthened.

Clearly, these skills correlate strongly with not just academic performance and understanding levels but also with the retention of information. As a student, by applying these techniques, you can expect to improve your immediate understanding and achieve a lasting grasp of the subjects you study.

How do you write a synthesis?

To write a synthesis, start by gathering multiple sources that address the same topic. Read and understand these sources, identifying the key points and themes that emerge across them. Then, integrate these ideas to form a cohesive argument or new perspective, ensuring that your synthesis maintains a clear, logical structure. The goal is to blend the insights from various sources into a narrative that provides a broader understanding of the topic.

When should you use a summary?

A summary should be used when you need to condense a large amount of information into a more manageable, concise format without sacrificing the core message. This is particularly beneficial when you want to provide an overview or a quick understanding of a complex subject to your audience, such as during presentations, in executive summaries of reports, or when prefacing a discussion.

Can a summary be longer than the original text?

A summary cannot be longer than the original text. By definition, a summary must be shorter than the source material; it distills the primary points into a more concise form. If a summary is longer, it likely includes unnecessary details or deviates from the essence of the original content.

How do you avoid plagiarism in a synthesis?

To avoid plagiarism in a synthesis, always credit the original sources of your information. Use proper citations and develop your unique narrative around the information gathered from these sources. Ensure that while you are integrating ideas from various texts, your voice remains distinct, and the synthesis reflects your understanding and analysis, rather than merely copying or slightly altering the original texts. This approach not only respects intellectual property but also enhances your credibility and the originality of your synthesis.

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What Does It Mean to Synthesize for Writing Assignments?

Synthesis Writing – What It Means and How to Do it!

Have you been asked to synthesize material for a writing assignment? Are you taking a college course where your instructor doesn’t want you to use quotes but instead, write in your own words?

If the answer is yes, you’ve come to the right place. This post is all about that word “synthesize” with a specific focus on essay based writing for college students.

On this page, you will learn:

• The definition of synthesis
• What synthesis means in the context of writing assignments.
• How synthesizing looks in essays.
• How to synthesize the material you are reading and apply to your paper.
• See an example college essay written entirely through synthesis.
• Additional writing tips to help you earn the highest possible score on college papers.

You may be wondering what qualifies me to author this piece? It’s simple – I’m a college professor who has been teaching business and psychology courses at for almost twenty years. In my work, I evaluate writing submitted by students and assignment a grade.

So the bottom line is this: I know exactly what your professor is looking for when ask you to synthesize.  I require the same approach to writing for my learners.

OK – now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s jump right in.

What does synthesis or synthesize mean?

Synthesis is a ten-dollar word to describe the combination of two or more ideas or concepts into your writing using your own words .

Think of this as a way of bringing together different themes that you observe from your reading material and then writing about it in your own voice.

Example of synthesis in everyday life

If a friend asked you to explain the similarities and differences between Star Trek and Star Wars, how would you respond?

Whatever your answer might be, you will be synthesizing .

Here is how I might answer that question in casual conversation.

Star Trek is similar to Star Wars in that both take place in the future and presented as science fiction. Additionally, both draw upon age-old concepts of a shared journey.  

But the two shows differ in that Star Trek is heavily focused on exploration. Star Wars, on the other hand, is all about survival.

See how this works? Simple, huh?

Notice how I talked about both shows without quoting anyone else. In addition, did you see how I pulled in other material I knew about (“age-old concepts”) as part of the dynamic?

Folks, I promise you synthesis is not complicated. The problem is college educators, like English professors and business instructors, don’t take the time to explain what this term means or how it works.

In fact, the very reason I am blogging about this topic is that there’s not a lot of useful resources on the web that explains – with examples – how synthesis looks.

Most sites engage in babble and use a bunch of fancy words that don’t get to the heart of what you are looking for.

What does synthesis mean when I write essays?

When your professor or teacher asks you to write an essay and synthesize , here is what they are really saying to you:

• Discuss your understanding of the material in your own words.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of key concepts in your own words.
• Apply that knowledge to your writing in your own words.

As you will see, the “in your own words” is critical. To help draw a mental picture, let’s have a little fun and go camping.

Campfire Analogy

I’d like you to imagine that we are sitting around a campfire with your fellow classmates, roasting marshmallows.

As you take in the smell of burning wood and watch golden ambers float into the air, one of your classmates asks the group a question.

“ I wonder where marshmallows come from?”

Let’s assume you know the answer to this question. How would you respond?

Would you quote, verbatim, the words of someone else or would you simply start talking about your knowledge of marshmallows?

Hopefully, the answer to that question is the later. In other words, you might say something like:

Marshmallows are kind of amazing. They have been with us for nearly 2000 years, dating back to the early Egyptians.

Believe it or not, they are made from a combination of sap from the mallow plant – plus egg whites and a little sugar. They even make them in different colors, thanks to dyes. How cool is that?

Notice how you gave that answer is a very conversational way?

While you may not have recognized it, you were synthesizing!

Just for the sake of demonstration, here’s how you wouldn’t answer that question:

According to the Encyclopedia, “Marshmallows are a sugar-based confectionery that in its modern form typically consists of sugar, water and gelatin whipped to a squishy consistency, molded into small cylindrical pieces, and coated with corn starch. Additives may be included to change the color-scheme”

The reasons you wouldn’t answer it this way is because:

1)  Nobody talks like that unless they are an android.

2) Quoting doesn’t demonstrate you really know the answer. All it shows is that somebody else knows the answer and you don’t.

My point is this  – Your professor will be grading you on your ability to explain different concepts in your own words.

That’s synthesis.

Let’s look at another example but this time, something more complex. Again, I’d like you to pretend we are all sitting around the campfire.

As your fellow students gossip about the latest rumors, somebody points to the sky and shouts, “Holy crap – look, it’s a shooting star!”

Suddenly you gaze towards the heavens. Your eye catches a fast-moving white light racing from east to west. Seconds later, it’s gone.

Excited, everyone starts talking about where comets come from and if they present a risk to earth. Mesmerized by the conversation, you find yourself sucked in.

That’s when somebody asks:

“Do you think an asteroid killed the dinosaurs?”

Based on your knowledge of this topic, how might you respond? Well, assuming you knew the answer, you might say something like:

A lot of people say that the dinosaurs were killed off by a huge asteroid, which blocked the sun and triggered a mass extinction event.

The problem is not everyone agrees.

There are some scientists who believe the dinosaurs died off because of massive volcanic eruptions, which made the air unbeathable. 

What you just read above is an example of synthesis. In your own words, you explained two theories in a straightforward, easy to understand way.

Not so difficult, is it?

How does synthesis look in a writing assignment?

Now that you’ve grasped the basics, let’s look at an example for a writing assignment.

Pretend your instructor gives you this as homework.

Assignment Directions:

Define Freud’s theory of denial. Discuss what denial is used for. Apply denial to a hypothetical situation. Write out your thoughts about denial by answering the question: Do you believe denial serves a purpose?

Right off the top, the first thing you’ll want to do is underline the action words in the directions.

– Define

– Discuss

– Apply

Once you’ve done this, it’s time to formulate a reply using synthesis. Here’s what you might write:

Sigmund Freud is considered the father of modern psychotherapy and one of the most important contributors to the field of psychology.

As part of his extensive body of work, he postulated that human beings use various kinds of defense mechanisms as tools for coping with unpleasant life situations (Smith, 2017).

One of those defense mechanisms is called denial.

In Freudian psychology, denial simply means that a person is unable to acknowledge something negative.

For example, a college student named Ed gets caught plagiarizing on an essay. As a result, he fails the course and is told by student services that his scholarship will be canceled.

To deal with the bad news, Ed pretends everything is fine. He even registers for new courses as part of his degree program.

But the reality of his situation sets in days later.

That’s when Ed receives an email from the registrar informing him that he must use a credit card to pay for his classes. Additionally, the email states that because of plagiarism, his scholarship is no longer active.

Suddenly, he starts to feel deep shame, particularly when it dawns on him that he’ll have to beg his parents for money. 

In short, denial acts as a kind of subconscious shield against psychological or emotional trauma. Sometimes, the shield is short term.

Other times, it can be extended for many years (Davis, 2018). Much depends on the person, the events, and the individual’s life history.

In the narrow sense, I believe denial allows a person to get through the present moment. The problem, however, occurs when denial is left unchecked and doesn’t allow space for the person to take responsibility for their actions.

Notice how I wrote the response. Using the action words from the directions, I synthesized material from various sources and applied it to my writing.

That’s called synthesizing.

By writing in your own voice, you demonstrate to your instructor that:

• You can define a topic
• You can discuss a concept coherently.
• You can apply the construct to a hypothetical situation.
• You can pull together different theories.

Synthesizing is not the same summarizing

I am often asked if synthesis is the same as summarizing. The answer to that question is a solid no .

When you are asked to summarize, your instructor is requesting that you break down the major highlights of a theory, case study, concept or news story.

Here’s an example of summarizing, using Freud’s theory of denial.

Freud believed that people employ denial as a shield against emotional or psychological trauma.

All I’ve done with the above example is provided a quick snapshot about Freud’s theory. In short, I’m reiterating a main point.

With synthesis, I’m pulling on different areas to create a meaningful answer. I’m also expanding the conversation with different ideas.

Additional tips when asked to synthesize

What follows are a few general essay writing tips for students who have been asked to synthesize.

• Underline all action words in the directions.
• Use those action words as a guide for what you will write.
• Never start your essay off with a quote.
• Unless absolutely necessary, don’t use quotes at all.
• NEVER copy and paste from the web and try to pass it off as your writing. With today’s plagiarism technology, there’s a good chance you will get busted.
• Write your essays in a conversational tone. This will help you to synthesize, much like the campfire examples mentioned earlier.
• When referencing the work of others, speak in your own voice and then cite at the end of the sentence.
• Break up paragraphs to help with flow
• Ask your professor if you can write in the first person.
• Expand on the topic you have been asked to write about and go beyond simply answering the essay question.

Example essay using synthesis

Because I understand it helps to see real life examples, I’m sharing an essay with you that I wrote using synthesis. Notice that I never quote in this document.

Instead, I speak in my own voice (third person) and cite where necessary.

By the way, I don’t pretend to be the perfect writer. Use the downloadable PDF below as an example of what synthesizing looks like.

Click for Example Synthesis Writing Essay

Questions about synthesis?

Are you struggling with writing in synthesis? Share your questions below and let others respond.

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How to tell what you know well

Summary and Synthesis – What is the difference?

The terms of summary and synthesis are felt in common language as synonyms.

Actually, there are important differences between a summary and a synthesis.

The differences are:

• the number of texts (sources) taken into consideration.
• the way these texts (sources) are then interpreted.

A summary is an objective, short written presentation in your own words of ideas, facts, events, in a SINGLE PIECE OF TEXT .

A synthesis is a “combination” of SEVERAL TEXTS into a single one , which aims to create an understanding or original perspective of the information in those texts.

Be aware that there are many types of synthesis, shown in examples below.

Review Synthesis = a presentation of ideas in texts treating the same subjects.

Example : An essay about African Big Cats

Explanatory Synthesis = a particular theme in several texts in the same area.

Argument ative Synthesis = a selection of ideas in several texts, with aim to argument a certain point of view or your own point of view.

Illustration synthesis = ideas supporting your point of view, from several texts.

Example : Personalities pledging for Big Cats’ preservation in Africa

Concession synthesis = differing views that make stronger your point of view

Example : Big Cats hunting – a solution for species preservation?

Comparison synthesis = different views on a subject, presented with aim to highlight the most important aspects related to that subject.

Example : Big cats preservation – Mistakes and accomplishments

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• Essay Writing Guides

How to Write a Synthesis Essay

A step-by-step guide to writing a synthesis essay.

Essay writing has always confused students. While your pals write informative or argumentative essays, you are left alone with a synthesis essay. What the heck is it? Does it imply synthesizing new materials for NASA rovers?

If you have no idea what a synthesis essay is and how to write one, you’re in the right place. Today, you will learn all about writing synthesis essays, from outline specifics to editing tips for the highest grades. So check the synthesis essay definition from our essay service below.

What is a Synthesis Essay?

A synthesis essay definition might seem daunting, but it appears straightforward if you know what synthesis means. To synthesize means to combine and mix different parts into a whole. In essay writing, synthesizing means researching, reviewing, and evaluating various sources and deriving conclusions based on these sources. In other words, writing a synthesis essay means making up ideas and conclusions based on the reviewed information. Scholars differentiate a couple of synthesis essay types:

Expository Synthesis Essay

An informative/expository synthesis essay aims to explain a concept or idea comprehensively and leave any questions behind. For instance, medical reviews fall into the explanatory synthesis writing category. In essence, for a medical overview, one collects, evaluates, and analyzes different medical studies to synthesize a conclusion.

Argumentative Synthesis Writing

An argumentative synthesis essay aims to prove a thesis statement with different sources of evidence. For example, let’s say your topic is: Do video games trigger violence in teenagers? Once you know the subject, you will start researching it and collecting both supporting and disproving evidence.

Then, you will come up with the thesis statement. In it, you can make the following statement: insufficient supervision and living conditions, systemic humiliation, and corporal punishment rather than video games are the main drivers of youth violence.

After that, you will provide supportive evidence and evaluate counterarguments, just like you will do while writing a regular argumentative essay. However, the number of sources is the crucial point that differentiates a synthesis essay from an argumentative one. In a synthesis essay, you need to derive a particular thesis-supporting argument from at least three sources.

The Purpose of a Synthesis Essay

Writing a synthesis essay is all about evaluating and synthesizing different research pieces or proving your thesis with arguments based on multiple sources.

As for a synthesis essay as an academic writing task, it has the following purposes:

• To let you practice analyzing different information sources
• To enhance your research skills
• To improve your critical and logical thinking
• To boost your ability to back up your statements and ideas

How to Choose a Topic for a Synthesis Essay?

Choosing a topic for a synthesis essay might be challenging since a significant part of your writing success depends on the selected or given subject. It’s much better to choose a theme for your essay by yourself since this gives you much more space for creativity. Now let’s check some tips for picking the best subject for your synthesis essay:

Choose a Controversial Topic

The Earth orbits the Sun, and there is nothing to argue on. Who would ever disagree with that? Therefore, you have to avoid non-debatable topics. Otherwise, you will fail to build a written discussion since you will struggle to bring meaningful counter-evidence to your thesis.

Choose a Well-Researched Topic

You may want to write a synthesis essay on a topic of your interest. It’s an excellent approach as long as you can do enough research on your subject. If you fail to find relevant studies, you will have to switch to a different, well-researched idea.

Focus on Specific Ideas

Choosing some generic topics like discrimination will force you to scatter your attention around the subject’s different aspects. Will you write about racial or age discrimination? In the United States or Mongolia? The topic of inequality is too generic to cover all its aspects in a single essay. Consequently, you need to pick narrower subjects like pregnancy discrimination in the workspace, for example.

Check for Meaningful Ideas

You may struggle to come up with the topic for your essay, and that’s normal. To saturate your mind with compelling ideas, you need to do some brainstorming and look up for synthesis essay topics on the Internet or in books. You may find hundreds of essay topics and choose the one you like the most.

How To Write a Synthesis Essay?

Writing a synthesis essay involves the following steps:

• Researching the topic 
• Checking for valid information sources
• Creating an essay outline
• Developing a thesis statement
• Analyzing sources to support your thesis statement
• Writing your essay
• Proofreading your paper
• Getting a high grade

MEAL Approach

The MEAL approach is an excellent way to arrange your body paragraphs so that they sound clear and logical. MEAL stands for:

The main idea means the same as a thesis statement, except that it applies to a particular paragraph rather than an entire paper. It is a topic sentence that opens an essay body section.

Evidence serves to explain a paragraph’s main idea in a paper and supports it with facts and statistics.

Once you have found striking evidence for your paragraph’s topic sentence, the analysis is used to answer the ‘so what’ question and give meaning to your arguments.

A link is used to summarize an essay body section and connect it to the next one. 

Overall, an essay paragraph contains the following:

• The main idea/topic sentence
• The link/conclusion/transition to another body section

Synthesis Essay Outline

Make up an outline after deciding on your topic and checking sources. Don’t hesitate to write headings since you will elaborate on them while writing your draft.

You can follow a classic five-paragraph structure and modify it depending on your topic complexity and required word count. So check the synthesis essay structure below:

Introduction

How to start a synthesis essay the right way? An essay introduction contains several elements:

• A hook. Begin your essay with a striking passage to grab readers’ attention. It might be a provocative question, an eye-opening fact, or shocking statistics about your topic.
• Background information. After placing the essay hook, you need to explain to your reader why your topic matters. So include a couple of sentences regarding your subject’s significance.
• A thesis statement. Finally, you need to include the main idea that you will describe in your essay – that will be your thesis statement. At the end of your introduction, you need to make a smooth and logical transition to your body paragraphs.

In the main part, you can include as many paragraphs as you need to cover your topic to the fullest.

Let’s assume you will write about whether animal testing is justified. Your paper body might look like this:

H2 What is Animal Testing?

H2 Top Animal Testing Applications

H3 Animal Testing in Producing Save Products for Humans

H3 Animal Testing in Developing New Treatments

H3 Animal Testing for Genetic Studies

H2 Top Reasons to Avoid Animal Testing

H2 Animal Testing Alternatives

H3 Flaws of Current Animal Testing Alternatives

H2 Seeking a Reasonable Compromise

A synthesis essay conclusion summarizes the entire essay and answers whether your thesis statement makes sense or not. An essay finale should also contain several elements:

• A rephrased thesis statement
• A summary of your essay’s body sections
• A final closing sentence to sum up the entire paper

Synthesis Essay Writing Tips

The following tips will help you finish your synthesis essay a couple of hours earlier than usual and get a higher grade at the same time. So check the pro writing tips below:

Outline Your Essay

“I’ll think of my essay later. I’ll come up with ideas without writing an outline first.” That’s a common yet wrong approach since you will fail to follow the essay direction this way. Besides, you will spend more time thinking of your essay ideas instead of having a prepared foundation for writing them out. 

Use Writing Tools

Creating a reference list, editing, and proofreading your essay on your own is the right approach. But why not use writing tools to save time on building your bibliography and spotting more errors? The following tools will help boost your grades:

• Citation machines for organizing your synthesis essay format and listing used sources.
• Grammar and spelling checkers. A good rule of thumb is to use Grammarly to polish your text.
• Plagiarism checkers to ensure your piece is 100% unique.

Elaborate on Your Essay Introduction in the End

An experienced essay writer will edit their paper introduction in the end, after the conclusion is done. Just after using all research, constructing arguments, and grasping all angles of your topic you can make a much more engaging essay introduction.

Besides, you can elaborate on your thesis statement. So editing your introduction is an excellent way to make your paper sound more convincing and logical.

Effective Proofreading Approaches

Many articles on the web will tell you how to write a synthesis essay. But only a few will explain how to edit and proofread one. In practice, editing is as important as writing. You should never neglect this part. So follow these tips to edit and proofread your essay like a pro:

• Grammar and spelling checkers are a must
• Let your eyes have a rest. Once you finish your draft, take at least half an hour off. The crucial point is to distract yourself from writing for this period. Then, return to your piece and start editing.
• Use a different font to proofread your piece. In this way, you will trick your brain that your text is something it hasn’t previously seen. This approach will help you spot more errors.
• Enlarge your font. Increasing the font size will help you spot more spelling mistakes.
• Proofread your essay three times. First, elaborate on the logic, style, tone, and consistency of your writing. For the second time, check your text for grammatical and spelling mistakes. For the third time, reread your text.

Write My Synthesis Essay for Me, Please!

Synthesis writing is easier than most students think. In practice, all the “complicated synthesis stuff” means generating arguments based on multiple sources. Indeed, some concepts and terms might seem complex because of their sophisticated name. Yet, writing synthesis essays is fairly easy.

However, if you have tons of assignments alongside academic writing, you can ask expert Ph.D. writers from our essay writing service to craft well-researched, original papers for you. Feel free to register on our website and place an order.

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Synthesis Essay: Definition & Example

The synthesis essay writing process requires curiosity, in-depth research, and a unique perception for debating or elucidating an idea. The art of writing a synthesis essay is technical; it requires a high level of intelligence. Students have to learn synthesis essay writing skills because this is a knowledge they can apply in other essay writings.

You have an edge in various other fields of study when you know how to write an enthralling, compelling discussion out of a given or chosen topic.

Synthesis definition: what is a synthesis essay?

If you are new to this subject, the first thing you need to know is “what is a synthesis essay.” Simply put: a synthesis essay is an essay type that involves gathering information from various sources. Then, you derive a question, a new idea, or a debatable thesis from the information gathered. Then, when writing a synthesis essay, you will have to discuss ideas, data, and idea-validating evidence from several sources. Finally, this evidence is used to explain or argue an original idea.

The category of people who write synthesis essays the most are college and high school students. A synthesis essay would typically follow a standard structure, including one paragraph for the introduction, three for the body, and one for the conclusion. The questions or theses a writer derives guide their synthesis essay writing, which may be based on their opinion. The writer then uses objective essays and data to argue and justify their point of view.

The major types of synthesis essay

Synthesis essays are mainly of two types, but both generally follow the same structure and formatting. The two major types of synthesis essays are argumentative and explanatory.

1. Argumentative Synthesis Essay

As the name implies, the basis of an argumentative essay is to argue a writer’s opinion or point, providing compelling shreds of evidence. Argumentative synthesis essays are written in the same way one would write a normal argumentative essay.

2. Explanatory Synthesis Essay

An explanatory synthesis essay explains rather than argues; a writer uses different sources to explain or elucidate a specific point. An explanatory synthesis essay would normally investigate similarities and differences between different ideas. However, it is not biased; it does not choose a side or sway its audience towards its point of view.

What does Synthesis mean in essay writing?

Synthesizing in essays means combining points of several sources rather than summarizing to derive a general conclusion. A writer gathers several sources and extracts the main points in each. Then the writer puts together the points, ideas, and findings to make a general point. Synthesis essays go beyond summarizing scholarly articles and research papers; they need to be synthesized to see how they fit. Also, synthesizing should reveal how your research work fits in.

Synthesizing involves investigating differences and similarities between sources at the most basic level. A good synthesis essay should show the audience where the sources converge and diverge.

Steps involved in synthesizing points from various sources

Find below the steps involved in synthesizing ideas from several sources.

Step 1: Source Organization

After gathering the articles, you need to organize them in a way that will reveal to you the correlation between them. You can organize your sources in two ways, including a summary table or synthesis matrix. Which of the two methods you use depends on your topic and the category of literature you are working with.

Step 2: Structure Outline

There is a clear view of the connections and dissimilarities between your sources. The next thing is to group them in the order you will discuss them. The outline will focus on each paragraph if it is a short paper. However, you may need to divide your outline into sections with headings for a longer paper.

Step 3: Condensing Paragraphs

Sectionalize your paper, letting a paragraph be about a few different sources; write each paragraph with a topic sentence. That means that you condense the all-encompassing point in the paragraph into one sentence. The topic sentence would usually appear at the start of its corresponding paragraph and tells what the paragraph is all about.

Step 4: Conclude

Finally, wrap up the whole paper with a conclusion, which should occupy a paragraph. The conclusion summarizes all the major themes you covered and should clarify how they relate to the topic.

Synthesis Essay example on Nature

Let’s take a look at an example to better understand the thought process behind a synthesis essay writing:

Introduction

Nature, the mention of the term nature takes one back to the days of the creation of everything that is but was never there. Others call this evolution. This is the beginning of everything in existence that is seen today. Then one would ask what exactly is nature? In the words of the oxford dictionary, nature is “all the animals, plants, and other things in the world that are not made by people and all the events and processes that are caused by people” (Oxford, 2007).

Other authors say that nature refers to all the things that were placed on this planet earth be it the animals that we see, the food we eat, the minerals deep inside the belly of the earth, the springs of water, the wood that we see around all belong to nature and we are part of that nature. Something of interest that needs noting is the fact that nature is very wide and embarking on discussing the entire aspects of nature is like dropping a small particle of sand into the vast ocean and expecting to find it later. Therefore the subject of discussion here is part of nature that is ecology and environment.

Ecology is the study of how organisms intermingle with each other in their surrounding (Kolbert, 2014). This interaction involves the groups that these organisms make, the environment they live in which includes non – living things, which is referred to as “Ecosystem”. This should be noted does not just mean the organisms but also people and how they relate to other living things and the environment where they live. A human being is known to be the most destructive of the living things in existence which is the very reason he is being included in the study. The environment then refers to the power and the resource that is involved in a system that affects organisms either in the way they live and react to situations. It also affects the way organisms eat, grow and die. The environment can be said to be the creator of the life of organisms and makes the ability of their being. According to Bohmbach in her book Eco-Lutheranism , ecology and environment together with human interaction form a complex system that creates competition for all stakeholders; the organisms, the human beings and the environment that man creates for the organisms (2013).

Some school of thought also come up that involves evolution in the ecology and claims that ecology defines and forms evolution which in turn responds by inducing what happens in the ecology. This then means that nature has a way of defining itself, influencing itself and forming itself into what it is. According to Conti in the book The Selfish Cell , what nature is meant to be is what it becomes. The cells that form an organism will always produce what they are meant to produce with the help of the environment which favors the cell’s existence and being (2008). Conti(2008) continues to say that researchers of biology have proved that ecology and evolution are progressions that intermingle with each other bringing out results that mean and say that indeed our understanding of the same has to change and we must begin to acknowledge the fact that the two have a relationship that is interdependent on either of them and none can be wished away. The relationship that exists between the ecology (and the organisms in the ecology) and its environment is that of creating new types of organisms and transforming those in existence. 

It is possible to overlook the fact that evolution is a silent agent in the activities going on in the ecology affected by the environment because it is widely perceived and believed that the ecology is a “constant”( Conti(2008). However, researchers have found out that both the ecology and the environment are interdependent on each other in many ways. Organisms in the ecology have evolved over and with time from their original being into something different thanks to evolution. Some of these organisms have become smaller in size because of the predators in their environment, which of course is a defense mechanism against the attackers while some have grown bigger which is also means the same thing; defense against attackers. This is evolution which in brief means a slow change that takes place after a long period of time, a period within which various types of animals, insects, plants and general living things change their physical appearance and characteristics. For this to take place, Edward Wilson in his book the social conquest of earth says, the environment contributes a lot to this (2013). The change or evolution of some of these organisms still is as a result the kind of food they eat over time, which has also changed due to interference by man over time which has forced some of these organisms to change their eating habits.

Ecology of Man

To define Ecology once more from the perspective of Wilson (2013), it is the “study of organisms” and the way they relate and react to the environment. To add on to this, it should be remembered that there is no single organism that can exist in the absence of the other and this connection between various components that are involved is sometimes referred to as “the web of life”. The environment sometimes can be stable when the variables do not change within short periods and this is usually known as “the balance of nature”. This then means that the elements extracted from the environment is the same as those added which strikes a balance.

However, there are instances where this balance does not exist as in cases where a vast area can be physically affected when climatic changes take place which cause substantial changes in the environment. Such changes can cause fires which devastate large areas forcing restoration to take place. This restoration is done with the help of mankind in the form of reforestation and many other activities are involved to restore the environment to its former state. This finally creates a new balance that is “stable”. This is however something that takes time but finally happens. It should also be said here that some of this destruction of the environment as earlier said is caused by the most central animal to the environment and that is man (Wilson, 2013). 

The ecology where man is expected to live has greatly become small because of his activities as an act of inventiveness and growing population. This has contributed a great deal to the destruction of the environment and even if replacement of the destroyed forests and other elements is done, it can never be as it were before because the natural forest as it were was home to many types of animals that may not find it comfortable living in artificial forests without their natural food. This has also affected the animals in the seas that depended on the forests for survival. As it is known, forests are a great contributor to water and the absence of the same means less water and the result is death of the sea animals. It is important also to note that it is not only the “organic” matter that is affected by man’s activities but also inorganic as well.

Bohmbach, Karla G. (2013). Eco-Lutheranism: Lutheran Perspectives on Ecology. Minneapolis. Lutheran University Press. Print

Brockman John. (2014). Leading Scientists Explore the Origin, Mysteries and Future Cosmos the Universe . NewYork. Harpercollins Publishers. Print

Conti, Matteo. (2008). The Selfish Cell: Evolutionary Defeat. New York. Springer Publishers.

Kolbert, Elizabeth (2014). The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History . New York. Henry Holt & Co.

Wilson, Edward O. (2013). The Social Conquest of Earth. New York. Liveright Publishers.

In conclusion, a synthesis essay is undoubtedly one of the most difficult essays to write. Nevertheless, if you have tips like the ones in this article on hand, you will do just fine. Moreover, the more you write a synthetic essay, the better you get at it.

How to Write a Synthesis Essay With PDF Download

To write a synthesis essay, you need to have great coordination skills. You will need it to link various sources and research outcomes together while deriving and building on your thesis statement.

Fredrick Eghosa

Aug 26, 2024

Table of Contents

Key takeaways

What is a synthesis essay, components of a synthesis essay, the difference between a synthesis essay and an argumentative essay, different types of synthesis essays, how to write a synthesis essay step-by-step with examples, steps to write a synthetic essay, how to use ai to write a synthesis essay.

• A synthesis essay involves analyzing various sources and combining them to create a cohesive and well-supported argument. It is more than just summarizing; it requires blending information to reveal new insights.
• The key components of a synthesis essay are:
• Synthesis essays combine multiple viewpoints to create a new viewpoint whereas argumentative essays focus on rebuttal.
• AI tools like Cowriter.ai can assist with research, summarizing sources, drafting, paraphrasing, editing, and managing citations, making the essay-writing process more efficient.
• Use a provocative question, a jarring fact, a relevant quote, or statistics to make your readers interested in what you have to say.
• A smart writing assistant like Cowriter.ai makes writing hooks so fun and simple. All you need to do is input the topic and nudge it in the direction you desire, depending on whether you want your hook to be a provocative question or a jarring fact.
• Introduction
• The body of the essay is divided into paragraphs for each point. (Combine information from different sources within each paragraph to support the point. Note that you can improve your essay by using transition words to show how the sources connect to each other and to your thesis.)
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in a new way. Explain why this synthesis is important or what it shows about the topic.

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Frequently asked questions

What does it mean to synthesize sources.

Synthesizing sources means comparing and contrasting the work of other scholars to provide new insights.

It involves analyzing and interpreting the points of agreement and disagreement among sources.

You might synthesize sources in your literature review to give an overview of the field of research or throughout your paper when you want to contribute something new to existing research.

Frequently asked questions: Working with sources

You can find sources online using databases and search engines like Google Scholar . Use Boolean operators or advanced search functions to narrow or expand your search.

For print sources, you can use your institution’s library database. This will allow you to explore the library’s catalog and to search relevant keywords.

Lateral reading is the act of evaluating the credibility of a source by comparing it with other sources. This allows you to:

• Verify evidence
• Contextualize information
• Find potential weaknesses

As you cannot possibly read every source related to your topic, it’s important to evaluate sources to assess their relevance. Use preliminary evaluation to determine whether a source is worth examining in more depth.

This involves:

• Reading abstracts , prefaces, introductions , and conclusions
• Looking at the table of contents to determine the scope of the work
• Consulting the index for key terms or the names of important scholars

An abstract concisely explains all the key points of an academic text such as a thesis , dissertation or journal article. It should summarize the whole text, not just introduce it.

An abstract is a type of summary , but summaries are also written elsewhere in academic writing . For example, you might summarize a source in a paper , in a literature review , or as a standalone assignment.

All can be done within seconds with our free text summarizer .

You might have to write a summary of a source:

• As a stand-alone assignment to prove you understand the material
• For your own use, to keep notes on your reading
• To provide an overview of other researchers’ work in a literature review
• In a paper , to summarize or introduce a relevant study

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert?
• Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

Critical thinking skills include the ability to:

• Identify credible sources
• Evaluate and respond to arguments
• Assess alternative viewpoints
• Test hypotheses against relevant criteria

Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

It is important to find credible sources and use those that you can be sure are sufficiently scholarly .

• Consult your institute’s library to find out what books, journals, research databases, and other types of sources they provide access to.
• Look for books published by respected academic publishing houses and university presses, as these are typically considered trustworthy sources.
• Look for journals that use a peer review process. This means that experts in the field assess the quality and credibility of an article before it is published.

In academic writing, the sources you cite should be credible and scholarly. Some of the main types of sources used are:

• Academic journals: These are the most up-to-date sources in academia. They are published more frequently than books and provide cutting-edge research.
• Books: These are great sources to use, as they are typically written by experts and provide an extensive overview and analysis of a specific topic.

Scholarly sources are written by experts in their field and are typically subjected to peer review . They are intended for a scholarly audience, include a full bibliography, and use scholarly or technical language. For these reasons, they are typically considered credible sources .

Popular sources like magazines and news articles are typically written by journalists. These types of sources usually don’t include a bibliography and are written for a popular, rather than academic, audience. They are not always reliable and may be written from a biased or uninformed perspective, but they can still be cited in some contexts.

There are many types of sources commonly used in research. These include:

• Journal articles
• Encyclopedias

You’ll likely use a variety of these sources throughout the research process , and the kinds of sources you use will depend on your research topic and goals.

You usually shouldn’t cite tertiary sources as evidence in your research paper, but you can use them in the beginning stages of the research process to:

• Establish background information
• Identify relevant keywords and terms
• Familiarize yourself with current debates in your field

Use tertiary sources in your preliminary research to find relevant primary and secondary sources that you will engage with in more depth during the writing process .

What constitutes a tertiary source depends on your research question and how you use the source.

To determine whether a source is tertiary, ask:

• Am I examining the source itself, or am I using it for background information?
• Does the source provide original information ( primary ) or analyze information from other sources ( secondary )? Or does it consolidate information from other sources (tertiary)?

Primary sources provide direct evidence about your research topic (photographs, personal letters, etc.).

Secondary sources interpret and comment on information from primary sources (academic books, journal articles, etc.).

Tertiary sources are reference works that identify and provide background information on primary and secondary sources . They do not provide original insights or analysis.

A tertiary source may list, summarize , or index primary and secondary sources or provide general information from a variety of sources. But it does not provide original interpretations or analysis.

Some examples of tertiary sources include:

• Bibliographies
• Dictionaries

It can sometimes be hard to distinguish accurate from inaccurate sources , especially online. Published articles are not always credible and can reflect a biased viewpoint without providing evidence to support their conclusions.

Information literacy is important because it helps you to be aware of such unreliable content and to evaluate sources effectively, both in an academic context and more generally.

Information literacy refers to a broad range of skills, including the ability to find, evaluate, and use sources of information effectively.

Being information literate means that you:

• Know how to find credible sources
• Use relevant sources to inform your research
• Understand what constitutes plagiarism
• Know how to cite your sources correctly

When searching for sources in databases, think of specific keywords that are relevant to your topic , and consider variations on them or synonyms that might be relevant.

Once you have a clear idea of your research parameters and key terms, choose a database that is relevant to your research (e.g., Medline, JSTOR, Project MUSE).

Find out if the database has a “subject search” option. This can help to refine your search. Use Boolean operators to combine your keywords, exclude specific search terms, and search exact phrases to find the most relevant sources.

Proximity operators are specific words used alongside your chosen keywords that let you specify the proximity of one keyword in relation to another.

The most common proximity operators include NEAR ( N x ), WITHIN ( W x ), and SENTENCE .

Each proximity operator has a unique function. For example, N x allows you to find sources that contain the specified keywords within a set number of words ( x ) of each other.

Boolean operators are specific words and symbols that you can use to expand or narrow your search parameters when using a database or search engine.

The most common Boolean operators are AND , OR , NOT or AND NOT , quotation marks “” , parentheses () , and asterisks * .

Each Boolean operator has a unique function. For example, the Boolean operator AND will provide search results containing both/all of your keywords.

A Boolean search uses specific words and symbols known as Boolean operators (e.g., AND , OR ) alongside keywords to limit or expand search results. Boolean searches allow you to:

• Prioritize keywords
• Exclude keywords
• Search exact keywords
• Search variations of your keywords

The CRAAP test is an acronym to help you evaluate the credibility of a source you are considering using. It is an important component of information literacy .

The CRAAP test has five main components:

• Currency: Is the source up to date?
• Relevance: Is the source relevant to your research?
• Authority: Where is the source published? Who is the author? Are they considered reputable and trustworthy in their field?
• Accuracy: Is the source supported by evidence? Are the claims cited correctly?
• Purpose: What was the motive behind publishing this source?

To avoid plagiarism when summarizing an article or other source, follow these two rules:

• Write the summary entirely in your own words by paraphrasing the author’s ideas.
• Cite the source with an in-text citation and a full reference so your reader can easily find the original text.

A summary is always much shorter than the original text. The length of a summary can range from just a few sentences to several paragraphs; it depends on the length of the article you’re summarizing, and on the purpose of the summary.

A summary is a short overview of the main points of an article or other source, written entirely in your own words. Want to make your life super easy? Try our free text summarizer today!

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Dictionary definition of synthesis

The combining of different elements or components to create something new. "The synthesis of different musical genres gave birth to rock and roll."

Detailed meaning of synthesis

It involves the integration of ideas, concepts, or materials to produce a unified whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Synthesis is often used in scientific, artistic, and philosophical contexts to describe the process of bringing together various ideas or elements to create a new understanding or expression. In chemistry, synthesis involves combining different chemicals to create a new compound, while in music, it involves blending different sounds and musical styles to create a unique composition. Synthesis is an important skill in problem-solving, creativity, and innovation as it requires the ability to analyze, evaluate, and integrate diverse information to produce a novel and cohesive solution.

Example sentences containing synthesis

1. The chemist conducted a synthesis of new compounds in the laboratory. 2. The synthesis of art and technology resulted in stunning digital masterpieces. 3. The synthesis of different musical genres created a unique and captivating sound. 4. The researcher presented a synthesis of various scientific theories to support her hypothesis. 5. The company achieved success through the synthesis of innovative ideas and market demands. 6. The synthesis of historical events provided a comprehensive understanding of the time period.

History and etymology of synthesis

The noun ' synthesis ' has its etymology rooted in Greek. It is derived from the Greek word 'sunthesis,' which combines 'sun,' meaning 'together,' and 'thesis,' meaning 'a placing' or 'a proposition.' In Greek, 'sunthesis' referred to the act of placing different things together to form a whole or the composition of various elements into a unified entity. ' Synthesis ' entered the English language in the 17th century and is used to describe the process of combining different elements or components to create something new. Its etymology underscores the idea of bringing things together to form a coherent whole, as implied by its Greek origins in 'sunthesis,' highlighting the process of integration and unification that characterizes synthesis .

Quiz: Find the meaning of the noun synthesis :

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Further usage examples of synthesis

1. The synthesis of flavors in the recipe created a delicious and harmonious dish. 2. The student's essay was praised for its synthesis of multiple perspectives on the topic. 3. The artist's work showcased the synthesis of vibrant colors and abstract forms. 4. The synthesis of data from multiple studies revealed significant correlations. 5. The professor encouraged critical thinking and synthesis of information in the classroom. 6. The synthesis of classical and modern dance styles produced a captivating performance. 7. The researcher proposed a synthesis of existing research findings to address the research gap. 8. The chemist used a complex synthesis to create a new compound. 9. The synthesis of various ideas led to the development of modern psychology. 10. The artist's latest painting was a synthesis of different styles and techniques. 11. The synthesis of different research studies produced a comprehensive report. 12. The synthesis of historical events helped us understand the cultural context of the time. 13. The scientist was praised for his innovative synthesis of existing theories. 14. The synthesis of different teaching strategies improved student learning outcomes. 15. The writer's novel was a synthesis of personal experiences and fictional elements. 16. The synthesis of different perspectives helped resolve the conflict. 17. The designer's clothing line was a synthesis of traditional and modern fashion. 18. The engineer's synthesis of various technologies created a groundbreaking invention.

Quiz categories containing synthesis

Find the Synonym

Find the Antonym

Same or Different?

Spelling Bee

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TOEFL 14, Inventive and Inspired, Innovation and Inception, Creation and Production

blend,cocktail,composite,compound,fusion

amalgamation,coalescence,integration,meld

combination, separation, division, disconnection

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Quick Answer: Why Is Synthesis Used In Writing

Writing a research paper usually requires synthesizing the available sources in order to provide new insight or a different perspective into your particular topic (as opposed to simply restating what each individual source says about your research topic).

What is synthesis in writing?

A synthesis is a written discussion incorporating support from several sources of differing views. This type of assignment requires that you examine a variety of sources and identify their relationship to your thesis.

Why is synthesis used in writing quizlet?

when written with sources, it is important not to summarize the source. use the sources to strengthen your own argument. The purpose of an argument synthesis is for you to present your own point of view – supported, of course, by relevant facts, drawn from sources, and presented in a logical manner.

What is the purpose of synthesis?

Synthesis Synthesis means to combine a number of different pieces into a whole. Synthesis is about concisely summarizing and linking different sources in order to review the literature on a topic, make recommendations, and connect your practice to the research.

How is synthesis different than summarizing?

Synthesizing takes the process of summarizing one step further. Instead of just restating the important points from text, synthesizing involves combining ideas and allowing an evolving understanding of text.

What does synthesis mean in English language?

1a : the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole. b : the production of a substance by the union of chemical elements, groups, or simpler compounds or by the degradation of a complex compound.

What is Analysis and Synthesis in academic writing?

While analytical writing is about breaking something apart and looking at the pieces individually, synthesis is about putting ideas and information together to see an overall pattern how things come together.

What is synthesis quizlet?

Synthesis reaction. a chem reaction in which two or more reactants combine to produce a single compound. Decomposition reaction. a chem reaction in which a compound breaks down into elements or simpler compounds.

How do you synthesize and paraphrase?

To make a synthesis you need to find suitable sources, and then to select the relevant parts in those sources. You will then use your paraphrase and summary skills to write the information in your own words. The information from all the sources has to fit together into one continuous text.

What is the main purpose of synthesis paper?

The purpose of a synthesis paper is to connect specific themes or traits from various texts and then organize them according to central or common themes. In short, the readings will stimulate your own thoughts and you will convey your own ideas in essay form.

What is the point of view of synthesis paper?

Understand the concept of a synthesis essay. Argument synthesis: This type of essay has a strong thesis statement that presents the writer’s point of view. Its unstated thesis is usually that more research needs to be done in that area or that the topic problem has not been adequately addressed.

What is synthesis paper all about?

Writing a synthesis paper is just like creating any other form of thesis. According to the synthesis essay definition, it is a written discussion of ideas. They tend to draw on two or more sources from academic papers, fiction sources, speeches, interviews, articles, lectures, or observations.

Why is it important to synthesize information?

Synthesizing information is the way that students can take information from multiple sources and bring the information together. When these sources are combined together, it creates one cohesive idea. This is typically how students learn new ideas, theories and information in class.

How is writing a synthesis different from writing a summary?

A summary is an objective, short written presentation in your own words of ideas, facts, events, in a SINGLE PIECE OF TEXT. A synthesis is a “combination” of SEVERAL TEXTS into a single one, which aims to create an understanding or original perspective of the information in those texts.

Why is summarize and synthesize important?

Summarizing and synthesizing are both strategies used in reading and research. They are important skills, as they help learners make sense of what they reading.

How do you synthesis information from relevant literature?

Step 1: Organize your sources. After collecting the relevant literature, you’ve got a lot of information to work through, and no clear idea of how it all fits together. Step 2: Outline your structure. Step 3: Write paragraphs with topic sentences. Step 4: Revise, edit and proofread.

Does synthesis mean making?

English Language Learners Definition of synthesize : to make (something) by combining different things. : to combine (things) in order to make something new. : to make (something) from simpler substances through a chemical process.

What is sentence synthesis?

Synthesis means the combination of a number of simple sentences into one new sentence – simple, compound or complex. The following are the chief ways of combining two or more simple sentences into one large simple sentence. By using a participle. He sprang up to his feet. He ran away.

What is difference between synthesis and analysis?

In general, analysis is defined as the procedure by which we break down an intellectual or substantial whole into parts or components. Synthesis is defined as the opposite procedure: to combine separate elements or components in order to form a coherent whole.

What is an example of a synthesis?

Synthesis is defined as combining a number of different parts or ideas to come up with a new idea or theory. An example of synthesis is when you read several books and use all of the information to come up with a thesis on the subject.

How do you write a synthesis report?

What does it mean to synthesize the literature quizlet?

To translate, analyze, or give examples drawn from a text. This process involves making an inference beyond the literal meaning of a text in order to determine meaning.

What is synthesis quizlet English?

Define Synthesis. Weighing sources against one another in order to compose a response that is informed by the sources and situated in the conversation they represent.

What is true of a synthesis reaction?

A synthesis reaction is a type of reaction in which multiple reactants combine to form a single product. Synthesis reactions release energy in the form of heat and light, so they are exothermic. An example of a synthesis reaction is the formation of water from hydrogen and oxygen.

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