MOVING FROM NOTES TO DRAFT Building the Synthesis

Brainstorming Using the Synthesis Worksheets  Review the lists of themes (right hand column) and look for patterns.  What exact repetitions do you see? Which words emerge in multiple places?  What kinds of strands or related words do you see?  What themes intrigue or attract you?

Analyzing Textual Evidence in Depth Analysis Illustration/ Evidence Example: This scene/this quotation could mean ____________, and yet it could also signify ____. Additionally, we can read __________ as ___________.

Freewriting Freewrite (5 minutes)  Introduce the first, strongest Illustration or piece of Evidence  A line of dialogue  A direct quote  The description of a scene  Explain or analyze that evidence  What do we learn from this piece of evidence?  Why is this so important?  Sample: This scene/this quotation could mean ____________, and yet it could also signify ____. Additionally, we can read __________ as ___________.  Sample 2: Although this scene shows _____________, it also reminds the reader that ____________.

Moving from Theme to (Rough Draft) Thesis Freewriting  What does each source say about this idea?  Freewriting Prompt 1: After reading/watching __________ and _________, we learn that ____________. We also learn that __________________.  What tensions or contradictions might be inherent in this idea?  E.g. _________ seems to be saying __________, and yet it is also saying _______________.

Moving from Theme to (Rough Draft) Thesis Drafting  Begin composing a Rough Draft thesis based on your notes.  After reading Source A and B, what have we learned about ______________?

Collecting Evidence Look through your notes and the readings or film with your rough draft thesis in front of you.  Gather Illustrations/Textual evidence that will support your argument.  Find at least 3 quotations or scenes from each source.  Gather additional evidence that might complicate or deepen your argument. Begin to Explain or Analyze your Illustration.  Do this step in a rough draft capacity before putting it all together. That is, analyze each piece of evidence carefully and fully before deciding where everything will go.

Moving from Evidence to Outline Begin a Conversation between Sources  Find a clear, strong Illustration or piece of Evidence from Source A that you can put in conversation with a clear, strong Illustration from Source B.  Throughout the essay, you will want to move between the sources. Create an Outline  Begin with the two pieces of Evidence above.  Build your Outline based on the conversational model  How does Source A speak back to Source B – and vice versa?  See Notes on Synthesis Handout for a sample outline.Notes on Synthesis Handout Understand that your Outline, like a Conversation, will remain fluid and changeable.