Synthesis Essay A-How-To

What Is It? This is what we want to do with synthesis: Multiple texts/sources that are pulled together to support one argument. This is where we started: One text, breaking it apart, evaluating its pieces.

More about Synthesis Writing When you synthesize, you take disparate elements and combine them into one whole. You take the sources you are given in the synthesis prompt, and synthesize them into a cogent argument of your own design. Sound like the Grad Paper? You examine sources, take information (stats, expert opinions) from those sources and use it to create your own argument. The thesis is a logical development based on the information you have gathered. This isn’t quite the same thing as just plopping a quote down in the middle of a paragraph. Plopping quotes: Is the quote really all that strong if you plop it? Synthesis: Focus is more directed at the proving of your point with specifically chosen information. More about Synthesis Writing

*This format is NOT appropriate for our Grad Paper thesis statements! This is a particular kind of stylistic writing which has a formulaic thesis structure. We don’t need to establish a problem or provide a solution. This is best suited for a structure like “_____________ should happen because _______________” *This format is NOT appropriate for our Grad Paper thesis statements!

Penny Synthesis Essay Our prompt is: In 2001 United States Representative Jim Kolbe introduced legislation to Congress to eliminate the penny coin in most transactions. Although this legislation failed, there are still consistent calls to eliminate the penny as the smallest-denomination United States Coin. Read the following sources. Then write an essay in which you develop a position on whether or not the penny coin should be eliminated.

Source A What is the claim? (Think about ulterior motives here…) Decide whether or not this source can best used for a pro-penny or anti-penny argument. Identify the stats used in the article. How does Lewis (the author) use these stats?

Source B As you read through source, annotate for two basic things: Stat(s) used in the source. Expert opinion(s) used in the source. After you have annotated for these two items, do the following. Decide whether or not this source can best used for a pro-penny or anti-penny argument.

Source C Read the for claim, stats, and expert opinions. How is this source biased? What could be problematic about using this source?

Source D Read the for claim, stats, and expert opinions. How is this source biased? What does this source do in regards to C that makes it seem more valuable?

Source E What are some issues with this chart? Is this source biased?

Source F Read the for claim, stats, and expert opinions. What is the implied claim of this source? Is this source biased?

Source G

Some More Source Questions Who is William Safire (Source C)? Does he establish his credibility to speak on the penny issue? Do you feel comfortable using Mark Weller (Source D) as an expert to base your argument for getting rid of the penny? Who is more credible based on the statistics they cite? Safire or Weller? How many people were polled for the graph in Source E? How does this number affect the data and your use of it? How might the question asked in Source E affect the outcome of the survey? Is there any bias in Source F?

Model Introductions You will be given three introductions for this essay. DO NOT WRITE ON THE PAPER! I want you to pick the best of those three intros. What makes it the best?

The Actual Writing Write your introduction. Create a thesis statement for this prompt. This should be your last sentence of the intro. Write a body paragraph that supports your thesis. Remember, you are pulling together many sources to support your argument. Don’t use only one source! Make sure that you return to your claim when you discuss your evidence.

Why are we doing this? Formal writing in class on 9/12 This will be worth 25 points. Same format as this penny one.