SYNTHESIS
Spring 2011, Dr. Quinn
WHAT IS A SYNTHESIS?
A synthesis is a
written discussion
that draws on two or
more sources.
It depends upon
your ability to infer
relationships among
sources.
SYNTHESIS
HOW DO WE “DO” SYNTHESIS?
1. we summarize our sources.
2. we make judgments of our sources based on a
critical reading.
3. we reach conclusions based on the quality
and validity of these sources and whether we
agree or disagree.
4. now that we have more than one source, we
need to determine relationships among our
sources.
IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR PURPOSE…
 Locate sources relevant to your topic
 Select only those parts that will fulfill your
purpose
 Relate selected parts to each other
 How you make use of each source depends on
your purpose
 Thus, you need to understand fully your
purpose before pursuing a research project
WHERE DO WE FIND WRITTEN SYNTHESES?
 Analysis papers
 Research papers
 Argument papers
 Essay exams
 Newspaper and
magazine articles
 Position papers
 Business plans
 Memos and letters
 Websites
TWO TYPES OF SYNTHESIS
 Explanatory ---
objective is to offer
information
 Argument ---
objective is to
persuade or
convey opinion or
interpretation
ARGUMENT OR EXPLANATORY
ARGUMENT OR EXPLANATORY?
THE ARGUMENT SYNTHESIS IS PERSUASIVE
ELEMENTS OF AN ARGUMENT
 Claim- a proposition or conclusion that you are
trying to prove
 Support (evidence) – comes in the form of fact or
expert opinion
 Assumption-an underlying belief or principal about
some aspect of the world and how it operates
*Your assumption links your supporting
evidence to your claim
* Assumptions tend to be general and unstated
APPEAL TO BOTH REASON AND EMOTIONS
PRESENT AND RESPOND TO
COUNTERARGUMENTS
 Introduction and claim
 Main opposing
argument
 Refutation of opposing
argument
 Main positive argument
USE CONCESSION
 Introduction and claim
 Important opposing
argument
 Concession of opposing
argument validity
 Positive arguments
AVOID THE “SO WHAT” OR “WHY DID I BOTHER
READING THIS” ENDING
 Conclusions should
be meaningful to
your reader.
 Comparison and
contrast is not an
ends to itself
 Raise pertinent
questions
AVOID COMMON FALLACIES
APPEAR TO BE REASONABLY OBJECTIVE IN
MANNER

Synthesispart1 11223

  • 1.
  • 2.
    WHAT IS ASYNTHESIS? A synthesis is a written discussion that draws on two or more sources. It depends upon your ability to infer relationships among sources.
  • 3.
  • 4.
    HOW DO WE“DO” SYNTHESIS? 1. we summarize our sources. 2. we make judgments of our sources based on a critical reading. 3. we reach conclusions based on the quality and validity of these sources and whether we agree or disagree. 4. now that we have more than one source, we need to determine relationships among our sources.
  • 5.
    IT ALL DEPENDSON YOUR PURPOSE…  Locate sources relevant to your topic  Select only those parts that will fulfill your purpose  Relate selected parts to each other  How you make use of each source depends on your purpose  Thus, you need to understand fully your purpose before pursuing a research project
  • 6.
    WHERE DO WEFIND WRITTEN SYNTHESES?  Analysis papers  Research papers  Argument papers  Essay exams  Newspaper and magazine articles  Position papers  Business plans  Memos and letters  Websites
  • 7.
    TWO TYPES OFSYNTHESIS  Explanatory --- objective is to offer information  Argument --- objective is to persuade or convey opinion or interpretation
  • 8.
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
    ELEMENTS OF ANARGUMENT  Claim- a proposition or conclusion that you are trying to prove  Support (evidence) – comes in the form of fact or expert opinion  Assumption-an underlying belief or principal about some aspect of the world and how it operates *Your assumption links your supporting evidence to your claim * Assumptions tend to be general and unstated
  • 12.
    APPEAL TO BOTHREASON AND EMOTIONS
  • 13.
    PRESENT AND RESPONDTO COUNTERARGUMENTS  Introduction and claim  Main opposing argument  Refutation of opposing argument  Main positive argument
  • 14.
    USE CONCESSION  Introductionand claim  Important opposing argument  Concession of opposing argument validity  Positive arguments
  • 15.
    AVOID THE “SOWHAT” OR “WHY DID I BOTHER READING THIS” ENDING  Conclusions should be meaningful to your reader.  Comparison and contrast is not an ends to itself  Raise pertinent questions
  • 16.
  • 17.
    APPEAR TO BEREASONABLY OBJECTIVE IN MANNER