1. Synthesis Essay: Is college worth its cost?

2. Always introduce your thesis with a few sentences of context
Always introduce your thesis with a few sentences of context. “College is a huge investment—now more than ever—and with many graduates saddled with student debtr well into their adulthood, some are beginning to doubt the value of it. However, despite the increasing cost of college, the benefits still outweigh the costs.”

3. Make sure that your thesis addresses the prompt
Make sure that your thesis addresses the prompt. In this case, the prompt asks for an essay that addresses whether college is worth its cost.

4. It’s = it is its = possession

5. “In today’s society…” not In todays society…

6. Make your argument the focus of your essay, and synthesize evidence from the sources to support and develop your position.

7. Weave in information and ideas from sources
Weave in information and ideas from sources. Avoid the temptation to merely tack on a quote that seems to support your claim.

8. Begin paragraphs with a claim, ideally of your own making
Begin paragraphs with a claim, ideally of your own making. “In today’s high schools students are told that a higher-education is of extreme importance and that it is the only way to not become a McDonald’s employee.”

9. Body paragraphs generally should be structured like this: claim (topic sentence) evidence explanation (clincher)

10. Don’t begin body paragraphs with: Source A talks about… According to Source F… Source D says… Instead, put the attribution at the end of the sentence

11. Avoid merely summarizing sources. That is not synthesis.

12. Avoid quoting more than a sentence—if that—from a source
Avoid quoting more than a sentence—if that—from a source. Instead, paraphrase the idea and give the source credit at the end of the sentence.

13. About half of each body paragraph should be explanation
About half of each body paragraph should be explanation. Never end a body paragraph with a quote; explain the quote instead.

14. Consider beginning a clincher sentence with a word that suggests a conclusion: therefore, hence, thus, consequently.

15. Be sure to synthesize and properly cite at least three sources
Be sure to synthesize and properly cite at least three sources. Using four sources can be good insurance against coming up short.

16. Always acknowledge the opposition to show that you understand the issue at hand. “Opponents of this idea might say…..However, (then explain why your opponents are wrong).

17. Avoid writing in second-person (e. g
Avoid writing in second-person (e.g. you go to college, you learn lots of things…). Instead, write in third-person (e.g. “One goes to college in order to become educated).

18. Be aware of time so that you can write an adequate conclusion to your essay. Don’t get caught by the bell. Save a minute or two for proofreading and light editing.

19. Your conclusion should revisit the thesis that you’ve proven in the essay. Tying up the package is one way to look at it. Consider leaving the reader with something to think about that is related to the topic.

20. A compound sentence (two independent clauses) is punctuated with a comma before the conjunction (FANBOYS)

21. Receive not recieve “I before e, except after c.”

22. Avoid redundancy (saying something twice) Throughout the entire experience, he had grave doubts about the plan.

23. If you can count something, use fewer and number
If you can count something, use fewer and number. If you can’t count something, use less and amount. Fewer people attended due to the amount of garbage in the streets. Less attendance meant less profit for the organizers of the event.