This document provides instructions for writing a synthesis essay. A synthesis essay combines information from multiple sources and develops an original perspective. Key elements include reporting information from sources using varied phrasing, organizing sources to show overlaps, and helping readers understand sources more deeply. Writers should review sources for common themes, summarize these, and choose an effective organizational structure. The body should integrate and attribute sources fairly using transitions and topic sentences. The conclusion restates significant themes and connections to the overall topic.

1. How to Write a Synthesis
Essay

2. Synthesis Writing: to combine the ideas of
more than one source with your own.
Key Features of a Synthesis
• Report information from the sources using
different phrases and sentences;
• Organize so that readers can immediately
see where information from the sources
overlap;
• Make sense of the sources and help the
reader understand them in greater depth.

3. Preparing to Write your Synthesis Essay
• The writing prompt should direct you to what sort
of themes or traits you should look for in your
synthesis.
• You may be assigned two or more sources for
synthesizing. In such cases you need to
formulate your own purpose, and develop your
own perspectives and interpretations.
• A preliminary comparison will help. Begin by
summarizing briefly the points, themes, or traits
that the texts have in common.

4. • Explore different ways to organize the
information depending on what you find or
what you want to demonstrate.

5. Writing the Synthesis Essay
• Your synthesis should be organized so
that others can understand the sources
and evaluate your comprehension of them
and their presentation of specific data,
themes, etc.

6. Structure
a. The introduction:
• Write a one-sentence statement that sums up
the focus of your synthesis.
• Introduce the texts to be synthesized:
– Give the title of each source
– Provide the name of each author for each source;
– Provide pertinent background information about the
authors, about the texts to be summarized, and about
the general topic from which the texts are drawn.

7. The body:
• Your organization will be determined by
the assignment or by the patterns you
see in the material you are synthesizing
(theme, point, similarity, or aspect of the
topic).
• The organization is the most important
part of a synthesis, so choose the most
effective format for your topic.

8. Be sure that each paragraph:
• Begins with a sentence or phrase that informs
readers of the topic of the paragraph;
• Include information from more than one source;
• Clearly indicate which material comes from
which source using transitions and topic
sentences, and in-text citations.
• Show the similarities or differences between the
different sources in ways that make the paper as
informative as possible;
• Represent the texts fairly--even if that seems to
weaken the paper; you are simply repeating
what the source says in fewer words and in your
own words. The fact that you are using your
own words does not mean that you are in
anyway changing what the source says.

9. Conclusion:
• When you have finished your paper, write a
conclusion reminding readers of the most
significant themes you have found and the ways
they connect to the overall topic.
• You may also want to comment further on things
that it was not possible for you to discuss in the
paper.
• If you are writing a background synthesis, in
some cases it may be appropriate for you to
offer an interpretation of the material or take a
position (thesis).

10. Checking your own writing and that of your
peers
• Read your synthesis and then answer the
following questions:
• Is it clear what is being synthesized?
• Is it always clear which source your peer is
talking about at any given moment?
• Is the thesis of each original text clear in the
synthesis?
• Does it seem like any key points are missing
from the synthesis? (If so, what are they?)
• Did you include opinions in your synthesis?

11. 4 key elements
• Report and analyze both sources as
related to the guiding question
• Make a judgement on which better
answers the guiding question in terms of
content
• Make a judgement on which better
answers the guiding question in terms of
format, codes and conventions
• Make a global connection to the sources