1. The Synthesis Essay

2. Synthesis  the combining of the constituent elements of separate material or abstract entities into a single or unified entity  a complex whole formed by combining. How does this relate to what we are doing in this essay?

3. Your task  Take a series of separate and disconnected documents and organize them in a persuasive way to support a single argument of your creation.  Similar to preparing a meal. You are taking a series of separate ingredients and combining them thoughtfully to create a single unified and coherent dish.

4. You are given  A prompt that will ask you to formulate a unique point of view on some debatable issue.  Nine documents that represent a variety of perspectives on the issue. A mix of both primary and secondary sources.  15 minute reading period.  40 minute writing period. (out of 2 hours total)

5. You are expected to  Produce a coherent and unified argumentative essay in which you clearly define a point of view on the issue in the prompt.  Defend that point of view by appropriately synthesizing at least three of the documents into a logical and unified argument.

6. Steps  Read prompt and documents; annotate accordingly. –Issue  Begin formulating position –Evaluate documents.  POV  Rhetorical Situation  How can they support your thoughts?  What are their strengths?  What are their limitations?

7. Formulating Your Position  Recognize Complexity –Issue is never only two sided –Be thorough  Support, Refute, Qualify –Support: to argue in favor of (Yes…) –Refute: to argue against (No…) –Qualify: to modify an argument (Yes, but…) Which is going to lead to the most thorough and unique POV?

8. Progression of Thought  Should be determined by your POV rather than the documents  Not a summary of sources  Logical and progressive  Indicated to your reader by your transitions  Body paragraph for each section  Concession and refutation?  Think about argumentative essays we have read in class.

9. Sources  Determined by POT, not the other way around. Do not devote one body paragraph to each source  Sources should support whatever point you are making in that paragraph  Probably have multiple sources in each  Mix of primary and secondary sources  Support point, not to determine your point

10. Sources  Primary –Unanalyzed information  Secondary –The information analyzed  Rely on sources more than personal experience.  Use sources appropriately.  DON’T SUMMARIZE; USE AS SUPPORT

11. Tone, Voice, and Formality  Be mindful of rhetorical situation  Appropriateness  Do not write an exam response  Free standing essay  Voice does not necessarily mean informal

12. Rhetoric  Ethos and Pathos –Definitely incorporate  Diction –Be mindful of  Syntax –If you can pull it off