Synthesis
What is synthesis?
Comparing and contrasting multiple sources to find the similarities/differences between them.
How many body paragraphs are in a five-paragraph essay?
Three.
What is a thesis statement?
A sentence that lays out the main argument of the essay.
What is the purpose of an outline in essay writing?
To lay out the paper before writing; organize ideas.
What "their" should be in this sentence? "Their going to the store later."
They're.
True or false: synthesis involves only comparing/contrasting written sources.
False; can include graphs, tables, pictures, etc.
True or False: The conclusion should introduce new arguments.
False.
Where is the thesis statement usually located?
The introduction paragraph.
What main three "sections" are in an outline?
Introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion.
Identify the verb in this sentence: "She quickly ran to the store."
Ran.
What type of essay often requires synthesis?
An argumentative essay.
What is the purpose of the introduction paragraph?
To introduce the topic, provide context, and present the thesis.
What is one key characteristic of a strong thesis statement?
How many main bullet points should an outline have?
5.
Which of these is a run-on sentence? A) "The sun is shining, and the birds are singing." B) "The sun is shining the birds are singing."
B
What is the first step in synthesizing sources?
Pick out the main ideas of each source.
What is the role of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?
It introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
What is wrong with this thesis? "Many people think school uniforms are either good or bad."
It does not take a clear stance.
In which section of the outline would you find topic sentences?
Body paragraphs.
Fix the subject-verb agreement error: "The team of players are excited for the game."
"The team of players is excited for the game."
Explain synthesis vs. summary.
Synthesis is actually comparing and contrasting ideas, whereas summarizing is just rewriting/shortening the author's main ideas of the text.
What is the most important piece, overall, of your five paragraph essay?
Your thesis statement.
Rewrite this weak thesis into a strong one: "Pollution is bad for the environment."
Something like: "Pollution is bad for the environment because it endangers animals around the world due to ecosystem destruction, poisons and damages water sources and other resources, and contributes to global warming because of toxic greenhouse gas emissions."
What are the three elements needed in an outline for an introduction paragraph?
Hook, background information, and thesis statement.
Make this sentence parallel: "She likes reading, to swim, and jogging."
Either "She likes to read, to swim, and to jog" or "She likes reading, swimming, and jogging."