1. Today’s goals
Discuss problems with technology and education and the economy
Form research groups
Begin synthesis research

2. Class Discussion- sources and research
What are the three types of sources we have discussed in class?
What four criteria do we use for evaluating sources?

3. Class discussion- problems with technology
Is technology more beneficial or harmful to society and individuals? Why?
How has technology affected your social life?
How has technology affected your sleep?
How has technology affected your memory?
What is cyberbullying? Have you or anyone you know ever been cyberbullied?

4. Class discussion – education & the economy
What are student loans? Why does the US have student loans?
Do your home countries have student loans?
Who should be responsible for paying for students’ educations?
Who benefits from students being educated?
How have student loans affected the economy?

5. Education & the economy
Student loan debt is the second largest debt category in the US (some argue it is the first)
Tere are more than $1.3 trillion in student loan debt with over 44 million borrowers in the US
The average college student will have $36,172 in loan debt in 2016
PhD level students usually graduate with $200,000+ of debt
In the 1970s, the government covered 65% of college costs. By 2013 this was down to 30%
Much of these changes came during the Reagan administration than slashed education budgets by almost 30% in the 1980s, forcing students to pay the difference
This massive student loan debt has affected many aspects of the US economy
Forbes: “Student Loan Debt in 2017”

6. Synthesis Essay Topics
Problems with technology
(Antisocial behavior, suicide and cyberbullies, technology effects on the middle class)
Problems involving health & food
(American obesity, fresh food, food processing considerations, negative health effects)
Problems involving education and the economy
(cost of a higher degree, rising college debt, how class affects education, student loan debt slowing spending)
Problems involving sleep & psychological disorders
(sleep effects on children, sleep and education, ADHD and sleep disorders)

7. Research groups
Select one of the 4 above topics to begin your synthesis research
We will be devoting homework and class time to evaluating and summarizing articles for research
If you decide to change your topic, do so soon! The longer you wait, the more work you will have to do to catch up on
We will be reading and evaluating 5+ sources for use with this essay

8. Synthesis process Steps for the synthesis writing process:
Explore your texts through summary writing
The goal here is to deepen your understanding of the issue. However, you do not need to summarize the sources in your final essay.
Explore your texts’ rhetorical strategies
What are their main supporting points and data? You may wish to use some of these when constructing your own argument.
Explore the main themes and similarities and differences in your texts’ ideas
Look for connections between the main ideas and data of all the different sources. Your quote bank may be very helpful here.
Generate ideas of your own
Consider your own viewpoint before and after reading your secondary sources. How has it changed? What is your unique perspective on the issue?
Take your position in the conversation: your synthesis
This will be your thesis, the most important part of the synthesis essay

9. Secondary Research process
Research Log/ Working Bibliography
As you find sources, write down relevant information so you can find them again when necessary
Make sure to indicate title, author, and in what search engine or location you found the article
Failure to log sources (especially with peer reviewed source) can result in complete loss of the source
Research logs are also incredibly helpful for writing works cited pages
Example Entry:
Source: “Why Stanford is Training Teens to Preach the Importance of Sleep”
Author: Nathania Johnson
Company/Website: Huffington Post
Date Found: 12 July 2016
Note: Your complete research log will be collected next week for a quiz grade

10. Group Activity: Analyzing Text 1
In your topic groups
Read through a text from the resource list in you topic groups and answer the following questions (corresponding to the first two steps of the synthesis writing process)
What is the main idea (or ideas) of the text? If you can identify a clear thesis, write it here as well.
What are the writer’s main strategies to support their argument? How does the writer utilize (or fail to utilize) the three rhetorical appeals?
How would you evaluate the source’s reliability, credibility, angle of vision, and degree of advocacy?
What are two weak points about the essay? Two strong points? (It may help to have part of your group read with the grain and part of your group read against the grain)
What is the in-text citation you would use to cite this source?

11. homework Advertising Project Final draft due Monday 3-26
Presented in class
Must describe and explain the 5 main strategies you are using in the project