How to Write a Synthesis Essay

Matt Ellis

Synthesis essays are common assignments in both high school and university, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy or that everyone knows how to write them. In this guide, we discuss everything you need to know in order to write one yourself. We talk about synthesis essay structure and offer some general tips, plus we clarify any confusion between a synthesis essay versus an argumentative essay.

Cite your sources with confidence Grammarly helps you avoid plagiarism Write with Grammarly

What is a synthesis essay?

A synthesis essay is a type of essay that combines points, data, and evidence from multiple sources and turns them into one idea that the writing revolves around. In other words, the writer synthesizes their own idea using other sources’ research and points. Usually, synthesis essays are a type of analytical essay , but they have crossover with other types of essays as well, such as argumentative essays .

The central idea in a synthesis essay is represented by the thesis statement , a sentence that succinctly explains the main point of the essay. In a synthesis essay, this “new” idea usually consolidates the main points and/or findings of other sources.

Synthesis essay structure

Creating a solid synthesis essay structure is one of the hardest parts of writing a synthesis essay. Unlike most other essay outlines , an outline for a synthesis essay has to include points from multiple sources, and such combinations don’t always have a logical or chronological sequence. To help you out, here are three strategies for creating a synthesis essay structure and sample outlines that you can use as templates.

Synthesis essay structure 1: By topic

The first kind of synthesis essay structure involves discussing each topic individually, mentioning each source’s perspective on it, and then moving on to the next topic. This approach lets you compare or join together points made by different sources about the same specific topic.

Structuring your synthesis essay by topic works best for more complicated ideas with different aspects that should be explored individually.

Example outline:

I. Introduction A. Thesis statement

II. Topic 1 A. Source A discussing Topic 1 1. A point or piece of evidence/data from Source A about Topic 1 2. Another point or piece of evidence/data from Source A about Topic 1 3. [Etc.]

B. Source B discussing Topic 1 1. A point or piece of evidence/data from Source B about Topic 1 2. [Etc.] 

III. Topic 2 A. Source A discussing Topic 2 B. [Etc.] 

IV. Topic 3 A. [Etc.]

[You can keep going like this with as many topics as you need.]

V. Conclusion A. Revisit thesis statement

Synthesis essay structure 2: By source

Alternatively, you can organize your synthesis essay structure by source: You discuss the main points of one source together and then move on to another source. This approach lets you compartmentalize the main points according to where they come from but ultimately bring together the main points from different sources.

Structuring your synthesis essay by source works best when you want to emphasize the sources themselves over the points they make. For example, if you were using this type of structure for an argumentative essay, you might want to fully discuss the source you’re refuting before making your counterargument.

II. Source 1 A. Source 1 discussing Topic A 1. A point or piece of evidence/data from Source 1 about Topic A 2. Another point or piece of evidence/data from Source 1 about Topic A 3. [Etc.]

B. Source 1 discussing Topic B 1. A point or piece of evidence/data from Source 1 about Topic B 2. [Etc.]

III. Source 2 A. Source 2 discussing Topic A B. Source 2 discussing Topic B C. [Etc.]

IV. Source 3 A. [Etc.]

[You can keep going like this for all your sources.]

V. Conclusion 1. Revisit thesis statement

Synthesis essay structure 3: Combine

The synthesis essay structures above are by no means set in stone. You’re free to adapt or modify them however you need and can even combine them.

For example, what if there’s a special source that stands out from the others? You could begin your synthesis essay by discussing each topic individually so that your reader understands the issue. Then you could switch it up and include a section just for that one special source, explaining that source’s stance on the previously discussed topics.

3 tips for writing a synthesis essay

1 come up with a strong thesis statement.

As mentioned above, a thesis statement is a single sentence that briefly explains the main point of your essay. In a synthesis essay, the thesis statement should effectively bring together the ideas and points from multiple other sources.

Part of writing a strong thesis statement comes from choosing your essay topic . Pick a topic that is broad enough to have sufficient research and enough other sources discussing it but specific enough that you can cover everything.

As for writing the actual thesis statement, a helpful method is to phrase your topic as a question and then answer it. The answer could be a good start to your thesis statement sentence. For example, let’s say your topic is how Denmark came to be first in clean energy. You could phrase the question and answer as:

Q: “Why is Denmark the leading country in renewable energy?”

A: “Denmark is first in clean energy thanks in part to energy conservation from district heating, combined heat-and-power stations, and its use of small, locally based power plants instead of larger ones.”

That answer could double as your thesis statement and mentions some of the other types of sources you use in your essay.

2 Read all the sources carefully

A synthesis essay is only as good as its sources. The nature of a synthesis essay is to build on its sources, so you need to choose the best ones and understand each of them thoroughly.

Make sure you comb through your sources so you don’t miss a good point or piece of evidence you could use in your essay. It helps to come up with your thesis statement early on so you can look for points related to it when you’re reading.

3 Write a gripping introduction

One of the keys to any good essay, synthesis or not, is a strong opening. This is partially determined by your thesis statement, but the other sentences in your introduction also make a big impact.

For starters, you can learn how to write a hook . In writing, a hook is something that grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to keep reading. Hooks can essentially be anything interesting. Some common strategies for writing hooks include using personal anecdotes to create an emotional connection or providing exciting facts/statistics that the reader might not know.

Additionally, the introduction should also explain the scope of your topic and set the scene for people who aren’t familiar with it. The goal of the introduction is to prepare the reader for what follows so that afterward you can transition straight into making your points.

Synthesis essay vs. argumentative essay

Synthesis essays are often compared to argumentative essays, which attempt to refute, debunk, or criticize existing ideas or other research. The truth is that the two are not mutually exclusive. Although synthesis essays tend to be analytical or expository, they can also be argumentative.

A synthesis essay is any essay that combines ideas from multiple sources to create a new unified idea. If that new idea is a rebuttal to a preexisting idea and the entire essay is written as a critique, then the essay would be both synthesis and argumentative.

Synthesis essay FAQs

A synthesis essay is a type of essay that combines points, data, and evidence from multiple sources and turns them into one unified idea. In other words, the writer synthesizes their own idea using other sources’ research and ideas.

What is a good synthesis essay structure?

Traditionally, the common approaches to creating a synthesis essay structure are organizing by topic or organizing by source. The former means you discuss each source’s perspective on a topic before moving to the next topic; the latter means you discuss one source’s stance on each topic and then move to another source. You can also create a hybrid structure of the two for particular subjects.

What is the difference between a synthesis essay and an argumentative essay?

Synthesis essays are often contrasted with argumentative essays, but the truth is that the two are not mutually exclusive. For example, an argumentative essay can use the format of a synthesis essay—combining points from multiple sources to form a new unified idea—in order to refute a preexisting idea.

youtube synthesis essay

youtube synthesis essay

How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Your Guide From Start to Finish

youtube synthesis essay

In the fast-paced landscape of today's information age, the average person contends with an astonishing volume of data, akin to reading around 174 newspapers daily. The sources are diverse, ranging from news articles and social media updates to scientific studies and beyond. This constant deluge of information might create a sense of being overwhelmed—a feeling of drowning in a sea of facts, opinions, and statistics. Yet, amidst this information onslaught, the skill to synthesize and extract meaning is indispensable. As we navigate this era of data saturation, the ability to sift through and comprehend this abundance is not just valuable; it's a fundamental skill for navigating the complexities of our modern world.

How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Short Description

This guide goes beyond merely helping you navigate the sea of information; it empowers you to leverage it for crafting compelling synthesis essays. We'll walk you through crucial steps and tips, revealing the secrets to successful synthesis essay writing. Uncover the format that lends structure and clarity to your work, and master the art of selecting an essay topic that not only engages but also sparks critical thinking. So, let's delve in and discover how to transform fragmented information into coherent and persuasive essays that leave a lasting impression.

What Is a Synthesis Essay: Understanding Its Nature and Purpose

According to our ' write paper for me ' experts, the synthesis essay emerges as a dynamic catalyst in the realm of composition. Beyond the act of assembling disparate facts and opinions, it's a nuanced process of weaving coherence. Envision it as constructing an intricate tapestry from scattered threads.

The purpose of writing a synthesis essay extends far beyond the mere presentation of information; it beckons a deeper intellectual dive. This genre challenges writers to extract commonalities from diverse sources—be they articles, studies, or arguments—and leverage these connections to construct a compelling and persuasive narrative.

In our era of information saturation, this essay form has become an indispensable tool for insightful minds. It not only permits exploration of how diverse ideas interconnect but also serves as a platform for articulating well-considered perspectives on intricate subjects. Whether navigating through the realms of literature, science, history, or contemporary affairs, this kind of essay becomes a showcase of analytical finesse, offering a holistic viewpoint. It transcends the role of a mere knowledge conveyor; instead, it unveils profound insights by adeptly linking diverse pieces of information.

Explanatory vs. Argumentative Synthesis Essays: Key Differences

In the domain of synthesis writing, two primary categories come to the fore: explanatory and argumentative. Grasping the distinction between these is pivotal as it defines the purpose, tone, and approach of your essay.

Explanatory :

An explanatory synthesis essay precisely lives up to its name—it explains. These essays strive to offer an unbiased and well-balanced perspective on a topic by collecting information from various sources and presenting it in a clear, organized manner. The aim here is not to adopt a stance or persuade but rather to inform and clarify. Often serving as comprehensive overviews, they break down intricate concepts, theories, or ideas for a wider audience. These essays heavily lean on factual data and expert opinions to provide a thorough picture, steering clear of personal bias or persuasion.

Argumentative :

Conversely, argumentative synthesis essays are all about persuasion. They engage in the synthesis process with the primary goal of taking a stance on a particular issue or topic. They gather information from various sources not only to present a well-rounded view but also to construct a compelling argument. Argumentative essays aim to convince the reader of a specific viewpoint, leveraging the gathered information as evidence to support their claims. These papers inherently express opinions and employ rhetorical strategies to sway the reader's perspective.

And if you're keen on knowing how to write an informative essay , we've got you covered on that, too!

Synthesis Essay Structure

Knowing how to write a synthesis essay effectively is comparable to constructing a resilient building—it relies on a strong foundation. To guide you through this process, consider the following structured approach:

Introductory Paragraph: 

  • Creating a robust synthesis essay is comparable to constructing a resilient building—it relies on a strong foundation. To guide you through this process, consider the following structured approach:
  • Start with an engaging hook or an intriguing fact to immediately capture your reader's attention. Provide contextual information about your topic and the sources you'll be synthesizing. Present a concise and clear thesis statement outlining your primary argument or viewpoint.
  • If your topic requires it, incorporate background information to help readers understand the context of the sources.

Body Paragraphs:

  • Dedicate each paragraph to a specific sub-topic or source. Begin with a clear topic sentence directly related to your thesis. Introduce the source you're synthesizing and outline its key points.
  • Support your arguments with evidence from the source, employing quotes, paraphrases, or summaries. Analyze and interpret the source, elucidating its connection to your thesis and other sources.
  • Address counterarguments if relevant, ensuring a comprehensive exploration. Transition seamlessly between paragraphs to maintain the fluidity of your essay.
  • This pivotal section serves as the nexus between your sources, revealing intersections, divergences, or complementary aspects.
  • Highlight common themes, patterns, or contradictions among your sources.
  • Leverage your analysis to construct a coherent argument or perspective.
  • If pertinent, acknowledge opposing viewpoints and counter them with well-reasoned arguments.

Conclusion:

  • Restate your thesis and succinctly summarize the main points of your essay.
  • Emphasize the significance of your argument, elucidating its broader implications.
  • Conclude with a thought-provoking statement or a compelling call to action.

References:

  • Include a comprehensive list of all sources used in your essay, adhering to the prescribed citation style (e.g., MLA, APA).

Choosing a Synthesis Essay Topic: A Guide to Decision-Making

Selecting essay topics marks just the starting point; the synthesis process demands a critical evaluation and connection of various sources to construct a coherent argument or perspective. Here's a systematic approach to guide you in making an informed choice when choosing synthesis essay topics:

choosing a synthesis essay topic

How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Key Steps and Tips

Much like a compare and contrast essay , the process of writing a synthesis essay demands a systematic approach to effectively integrate information from various sources into a cohesive and compelling argument. Here are essential steps and insights to assist you throughout this journey:

  • Clarify Your Purpose

Define whether you are composing an explanatory or argumentative synthesis essay, as this choice will shape your approach and tone.

  • Source Selection and Analysis

Carefully pick credible and pertinent sources that contribute to your synthesis essay topic. Maintain a balance among different source types, such as academic articles, books, and reputable websites. Critically analyze each source, identifying the main ideas, arguments, and evidence presented.

  • Formulate a Strong Thesis Statement

Develop a clear and concise thesis statement that communicates your central argument or perspective. Your synthesis essay thesis statement should serve as the guiding force for the entire essay.

  • Structure Your Essay

Organize your essay with a well-structured synthesis essay outline, typically featuring an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each body paragraph should center on a specific aspect of your topic, utilizing evidence from your sources to support your points.

  • Employ Effective Transition Sentences

Use transition sentences to smoothly connect paragraphs and ideas, ensuring a seamless flow in your essay.

  • Synthesize Information

Within the body paragraphs, synthesize information from your sources. Discuss how each source contributes to your thesis and identify common themes or contradictions.

  • Avoid Simple Summarization

Refuse the urge to merely summarize your sources. Instead, engage with them critically and employ them as building blocks for your argument.

  • Address Counterarguments (if applicable)

Recognize opposing viewpoints and counter them with well-reasoned arguments, showcasing a thorough understanding of the topic.

  • Craft a Resolute Conclusion

In your conclusion, restate your thesis and summarize your main points. Emphasize the significance of your argument or insights. Conclude with a thought-provoking closing statement or a compelling call to action.

  • Revise and Proofread

Review your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammar errors. Ensure your citations are accurate and consistent with the chosen citation style (e.g., MLA, APA).

  • Seek Feedback

Consider obtaining feedback from peers, instructors, or writing centers to enhance the overall quality of your essay.

  • Edit for Conciseness

Eliminate unnecessary repetition and ensure your writing is concise and direct, and don't overlook this step while learning how to write a good synthesis essay.

Ready to Transform Your Synthesis Essay from Bland to Grand?

Let's tap into the magic of our expert wordsmiths, who will create an essay that dances with ideas and dazzles with creativity!

Synthesis Essay Format

The structure of your synthesis paper hinges on the specific formatting style prescribed by your instructor. The most frequently employed styles encompass MLA, APA, and Chicago, each catering to distinct academic disciplines. APA takes center stage in Education, Psychology, and Science; MLA is the preferred choice for citations in Humanities, while the Chicago style finds its application in Business, History, and Fine Arts.

synthesis essay format

1. MLA (Modern Language Association):

  • Incorporates in-text citations featuring the author's last name and page number.
  • Concludes with a 'Works Cited' page at the paper's end, listing all sources alphabetically.
  • Prioritizes authorship and publication date.
  • Applied in academic essays, research papers, and literary analyses.

2. APA (American Psychological Association):

  • Utilizes in-text citations containing the author's last name and publication date within parentheses.
  • Includes a 'References' page, presenting all sources in alphabetical order.
  • Highlights the publication date and emphasizes scientific precision.
  • Adopted for research papers, scholarly articles, and empirical studies.

3. Chicago Style:

  • Provides two documentation styles: Notes-Bibliography (commonly used in humanities) and Author-Date (commonly used in social sciences).
  • Notes-Bibliography style incorporates footnotes or endnotes for citations, while the Author-Date style uses in-text citations with a reference list.
  • Suitable for a diverse array of academic writing, including research papers, theses, and historical studies.
  • Allows for flexibility in formatting and citation methods.

Synthesis Essay Example

In this section, we present two synthesis essay examples that exemplify the practical application of the synthesis process. They delve into intriguing topics and serve as practical guides for those looking to master the art of writing this kind of paper.

Synthesis Essay Example MLA

An article published by Jean Twenge clearly warns readers that the rise in the use of smartphones in the modern world is ruining teenagers. Furthermore, the author makes a sensational claim that the rise in social media and smartphone usage are creating a metaphorical earthquake, the likes of which have never been previously witnessed in the world. The author provides pieces of evidence from other studies concerning the issue, as well as personal observations—all of which support Twenge’s claim. According to Twenge, the main theory for claiming that smartphone and social media usage result in destroying a generation is that increased use of these two platforms results in mental depression and other mental problems. This paper will mainly refute the claims of the author by focusing on the issues raised by the author’s work.

Sample Synthesis Paper APA Style

Society has various aspects that signify the difference in lifestyles and behaviors amongst individuals in a community. Language is one of these essential aspects that help to identify individuals in a society. Identification of a common language will generalize a specific group of individuals possessing the same culture, even if they are from different races. In this essay, let’s examine how language defines our identity in society. Let’s also look at how two different authors have given different views about how language defines black schoolchildren in the Oakland School District.

Synthesis Essay Tips

Developing a compelling paper necessitates a reflective approach and strategic methodologies. Here are five crucial tips for writing a synthesis essay:

Thoughtful Source Selection : Opt for varied, reliable sources offering diverse perspectives on your chosen topic. Verify that your sources are recent and pertinent to the subject under consideration.

Skillful Source Integration : Steer clear of merely summarizing your sources; instead, seamlessly integrate them into your essay by analyzing, comparing, and contrasting their ideas. Demonstrate the connections between sources to construct a coherent narrative.

Maintain an Even-Handed Tone : In the process of learning how to write a synthesis essay, uphold a balanced tone in your writing. Despite personal opinions, synthesis essays demand objectivity. Present different viewpoints impartially and without bias.

Prioritize Synthesis, Not Recapitulation : Keep in mind that synthesis essays revolve around linking ideas, not solely summarizing sources. Scrutinize the relationships between sources and offer insights into how they interconnect to build a cohesive argument.

Address Counterarguments Deliberately : Similar to addressing persuasive essays topics , engage with counterarguments in a considerate and deliberate manner. Acknowledge opposing viewpoints and then elucidate why your perspective stands on firmer ground. This showcases a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Concluding Thoughts

When creating a synthesis essay, the crucial aspect involves choosing a range of reliable sources, skillfully integrating them to form a cohesive argument, and upholding objectivity. Utilize clear transitions, carefully consider counterarguments, and prioritize analysis over mere summarization. By employing these strategies, you'll craft essays that inform, persuade, and captivate your audience!

Want an Essay that Sings, Sparkles, and Stuns?

Fear not! Our expert wordsmiths are here to turn your thoughts into a symphony of ideas!

What Makes Synthesis Significant?

How should you conclude a synthesis essay, related articles.

How to Write a Concept Paper: Easy Guide for Students

  • PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game New
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Education and Communications
  • College University and Postgraduate
  • Academic Writing

How to Write a Synthesis Essay

Last Updated: January 15, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,115,717 times.

Writing a synthesis essay requires the ability to digest information and present it in an organized fashion. While this skill is developed in high school and college classes, it translates to the business and advertising world as well. Scroll down to Step 1 to begin learning how to write a synthesis essay.

Examining Your Topic

Step 1 Understand the concept of a synthesis essay.

  • Argument synthesis: This type of essay has a strong thesis statement that presents the writer's point of view. It organizes relevant information gathered from research in a logical manner to support the thesis' point of view. Business white papers known as position papers often take this form. This is the type of synthesis essay that students will write during the AP test.
  • Review: Often written as a preliminary essay to an argument synthesis, a review essay is a discussion of what has been written previously on a topic, with a critical analysis of the sources covered. Its unstated thesis is usually that more research needs to be done in that area or that the topic problem has not been adequately addressed. This type of paper is common in social science classes and in medicine.
  • Explanatory/background synthesis: This type of essay helps readers understand a topic by categorizing facts and presenting them to further the reader's understanding. It does not advocate a particular point of view, and if it has a thesis statement, the thesis is a weak one. Some business white papers take this form, although they are more likely to have a point of view, if understated.

Step 2 Choose a topic suitable for a synthesis essay.

  • Example of a broad topic narrowed down into a reasonable synthesis essay topic: Instead of the broad topic of Social Media, you could discuss your view on the effects texting has had on the English language.
  • If you've been assigned a topic as part of a class, make sure you read the prompt carefully and fully understand it.

Step 3 Choose and read your sources carefully.

  • Keep in mind that it's better to do three sources well than to do five sources incompletely.
  • Annotate each source by writing notes in the margins. This allows you to keep track of your train of thought, developing ideas, etc.

Step 4 Develop a thesis...

  • Example: Texting has had a positive impact on the English language as it has helped the millennial generation create their own form of the language.

Step 5 Re-read your source material for items to support your thesis.

  • If you wish to take on a claim by an opponent of your idea, and to poke holes in it, you should also find some ideas or quotes that go against your thesis statement, and plan ways to disprove them. This is called a concession, refutation, or rebuttal, which can strengthen your argument if you do it well.
  • Example : For the thesis statement listed above, excellent sources would include quotes from linguists discussing the new words that have developed through 'text-speak', statistics that show the English language has evolved with almost every generation, and facts that show students still have the ability to write with the use of grammar and spelling (which your opponents would bring up as the main reason texting has had a negative effect on the English language).

Outlining Your Essay

Step 1 Outline the structure of your thesis.

  • The introductory paragraph: 1. An introductory sentence that acts as a hook, capturing the reader's interest. 2. Identification of the issue you will be discussing. 3. Your thesis statement.
  • The body paragraphs: 1. Topic sentence that gives one reason to support your thesis. 2. Your explanation and opinion of the topic sentence. 3. Support from your sources that backs up the claim you just made. 4. Explanation of the significance of the source(s).
  • The conclusion paragraph: 1. State further significance of your topic from the evidence and reasons you discussed in the essay. 2. A profound thought or thoughtful ending for your paper.

Step 2 Use a more creative structure to present your thesis.

  • Example/illustration. This may be a detailed recount, summary, or direct quote from your source material that provides major support for your point of view. You may use more than one example or illustration, if your paper calls for it. You should not, however, make your paper a series of examples at the expense of supporting your thesis.
  • Straw man. With this technique, you present an argument opposed to the argument stated in your thesis, then show the weaknesses and flaws of the counter-argument. This format shows your awareness of the opposition and your readiness to answer it. You present the counter-argument right after your thesis, followed by the evidence to refute it, and end with a positive argument that supports your thesis. [6] X Research source
  • Concession. Essays with concessions are structured similar to those using the straw man technique, but they acknowledge the validity of the counter-argument while showing that the original argument is stronger. This structure is good for presenting papers to readers who hold the opposing viewpoint.
  • Comparison and contrast. This structure compares similarities and contrasts differences between two subjects or sources to show the facets of both. Writing an essay with this structure requires a careful reading of your source material to find both subtle and major points of similarity and difference. This kind of essay can present its arguments source-by-source or by points of similarity or difference.

Step 3 Create an outline appropriate for a background or review synthesis essay.

  • Summary. This structure presents summaries of each of your relevant sources, making a progressively stronger argument for your thesis. It provides specific evidence to support your point of view, but usually omits presenting your own opinions. It's most commonly used for background and review essays.
  • List of reasons. This is a series of sub-points that flow from the main point of your paper as stated in its thesis. Each reason is supported with evidence. As with the summary method, reasons should become progressively more important, with the most important reason last.

Writing Your Essay

Step 1 Write your first draft according to your outline.

  • Your essay should have an introductory paragraph that includes your thesis , a body to present evidence that supports your thesis, and a conclusion that summarizes your point of view.

Step 2 Write in the third person.

  • Lengthy quotes of three lines or more should generally be set off as block quotes to better call attention to them. [8] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source

Finalizing Your Essay

Step 1 Revise your essay.

  • Ask someone else to proofread your paper. The saying “two heads are better than one” still holds true. Ask a friend or colleague what would they add or remove from the paper. Most importantly, does your argument make sense, and is it clearly supported by your sources?

Step 2 Proofread your paper.

  • Read the paper aloud to guarantee that you don't accidentally add in or take out words when reading in your head.
  • If you can, get a friend or classmate to proofread your essay as well.

Step 3  Cite your...

  • Example of citing in an AP synthesis essay: McPherson claims “texting has changed the English language in a positive way--it has given a new generation their own unique way to communicate” (Source E).
  • For college essays, you'll most likely use MLA format. Whichever format you use, be consistent in its use. You may also be asked to use APA or Chicago style.

Step 4 Title your essay.

  • Example title: : English and the iPhone: Exploring the Benefits of 'Text-Speak'

Outline Template

youtube synthesis essay

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Just as your title should fit your essay instead of writing your essay to fit the title, your thesis, once chosen, should direct your subsequent research instead of subsequent research altering your thesis � unless you find you've adopted an unsupportable thesis. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 8

youtube synthesis essay

You Might Also Like

Write an Essay

  • ↑ https://success.uark.edu/get-help/student-resources/synthesis-paper.php
  • ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/mapping-a-synthesis-essay
  • ↑ https://www.bgsu.edu/content/dam/BGSU/learning-commons/documents/writing/synthesis/planning-synthesis-essay.pdf
  • ↑ https://writingcenterofprinceton.com/synthesis-essays-a-step-by-step-how-to-guide/
  • ↑ https://jan.ucc.nau.edu/dso6/synthesis.htm
  • ↑ https://owl.excelsior.edu/argument-and-critical-thinking/logical-fallacies/logical-fallacies-straw-man/
  • ↑ https://writingcommons.org/section/rhetoric/rhetorical-stance/point-of-view/third-person-point-of-view/
  • ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_quotations.html
  • ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/steps_for_revising.html
  • ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/proofreading_suggestions.html
  • ↑ https://www.edhs.org/ourpages/auto/2010/5/17/41759867/Synthesis%20Essay%20Introduction.pdf
  • ↑ https://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/titles.pdf

About This Article

Christopher Taylor, PhD

To write a synthesis essay, start by coming up with a thesis statement that you can support using all of the sources you've read for your essay. For example, your thesis statement could be "Texting has had a positive impact on the English language." Once you've got your thesis, go through your sources to find specific quotes, facts, and statistics that back up your claim. Structure your essay so it has an introduction that includes your thesis statement, a body that includes your arguments and evidence, and a conclusion that wraps everything up. For more tips on structuring your synthesis essay, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

  • Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Anonymous

Aug 8, 2016

Did this article help you?

youtube synthesis essay

Adrian Mastrocola

Sep 29, 2016

Emmanuel Amoatey Djaba

Emmanuel Amoatey Djaba

Nov 26, 2016

Anna VonLeader

Anna VonLeader

Jun 6, 2016

Urvi Patel

May 7, 2017

Am I a Narcissist or an Empath Quiz

Featured Articles

Study Efficiently

Trending Articles

How to Take the Perfect Thirst Trap

Watch Articles

Wrap a Round Gift

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Duke University

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

youtube synthesis essay

How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay + Example

Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications.

See how your profile ranks among thousands of other students using CollegeVine. Calculate your chances at your dream schools and learn what areas you need to improve right now — it only takes 3 minutes and it's 100% free.

Show me what areas I need to improve

What’s Covered:

What is the ap lang synthesis essay, how will ap scores affect my college chances.

AP English Language and Composition, commonly known as AP Lang, is one of the most engaging and popular AP classes offered at most high schools, with over 535,000 students taking the class . AP Lang tests your ability to analyze written pieces, synthesize information, write rhetorical essays, and create cohesive and concrete arguments. However, the class is rather challenging as only 62% of students were able to score a three or higher on the exam. 

The AP Lang exam has two sections. The first consists of 45 multiple choice questions which need to be completed in an hour. This portion counts for around 45% of your total score. These questions ask students to analyze written pieces and answer questions related to each respective passage.  All possible answer choices can be found within the text, and no prior knowledge of literature is needed to understand the passages.

The second section contains three free-response questions to be finished in under two hours and 15 minutes. This section counts for 55% of your score and includes the synthesis essay, the rhetorical essay, and the argumentative essay.

  • The synthesis essay requires you to read 6-7 sources and create an argument using at least three sources.
  • The rhetorical analysis essay requires you to describe how a piece of writing evokes specific meanings and symbolism.
  • The argumentative essay requires you to pick a perspective of a debate and create an argument based on the evidence provided.

In this post, we will take a look at the AP Lang synthesis essay and discuss tips and tricks to master this part of the exam. We will also provide an example of a well-written essay for review.  

The AP Lang synthesis essay is the first of three essays included in the Free Response section of the AP Lang exam. The exam presents 6-7 sources that are organized around a specific topic, with two of those sources purely visual, including a single quantitative source (like a graph or pie chart). The remaining 4-5 sources are text-based, containing around 500 words each. It’s recommended that students spend an hour on this essay—15 minute reading period, 40 minutes writing, and 5 minutes of spare time to check over work.

Each synthesis essay has a topic that all the sources will relate to. A prompt will explaining the topic and provide some background, although the topics are usually broad so you will probably know something related to the issue. It will also present a claim that students will respond to in an essay format using information from at least three of the provided sources. You will need to take a stance, either agreeing or disagreeing with the position provided in the claim. 

According to the CollegeBoard, they are looking for essays that “combine different perspectives from sources to form a support of a coherent position.” This means that you must state your claim on the topic and highlight relationships between several sources that support your specific position on the topic. Additionally, you’ll need to cite clear evidence from your sources to prove your point.

The synthesis essay counts for six points on the AP Lang exam. Students can receive 0-1 points for writing a thesis statement, 0-4 based on the incorporation of evidence and commentary, and 0-1 points based on the sophistication of thought and demonstration of complex understanding.

While this essay seems extremely overwhelming, considering there are a total of three free-response essays to complete, with proper time management and practiced skills, this essay is manageable and straightforward. In order to enhance the time management aspect of the test to the best of your ability, it is essential to divide the essay up into five key steps.

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

As soon as the clock starts, carefully read and analyze what the prompt asks from you. It might be helpful to markup the text to identify the most critical details. You should only spend around 2 minutes reading the prompt so you have enough time to read all the sources and figure out your argument. Don’t feel like you need to immediately pick your stance on the claim right after reading the prompt. You should read the sources before you commit to your argument.

Step 2: Read the Sources Carefully

Although you are only required to use 3 of the 6-7 sources provides, make sure you read ALL of the sources. This will allow you to better understand the topic and make the most educated decision of which sources to use in your essay. Since there are a lot of sources to get through, you will need to read quickly and carefully.

Annotating will be your best friend during the reading period. Highlight and mark important concepts or lines from each passage that would be helpful in your essay. Your argument will probably begin forming in your head as you go through the passages, so you will save yourself a lot of time later on if you take a few seconds to write down notes in the margins. After you’ve finished reading a source, reflect on whether the source defends, challenges, or qualifies your argument.

You will have around 13 minutes to read through all the sources, but it’s very possible you will finish earlier if you are a fast reader. Take the leftover time to start developing your thesis and organizing your thoughts into an outline so you have more time to write. 

Step 3: Write a Strong Thesis Statement 

In order to write a good thesis statement, all you have to do is decide your stance on the claim provided in the prompt and give an overview of your evidence. You essentially have three choices on how to frame your thesis statement: You can defend, challenge or qualify a claim that’s been provided by the prompt. 

  • If you are defending the claim, your job will be to prove that the claim is correct .
  • If you are challenging the claim, your job will be to prove that the claim is incorrect .
  • If you choose to qualify the claim, your job will be to agree to a part of the claim and disagree with another part of the claim. 

A strong thesis statement will clearly state your stance without summarizing the issue or regurgitating the claim. The CollegeBoard is looking for a thesis statement that “states a defensible position and establishes a line of reasoning on the issue provided in the prompt.”

Step 4: Create a Minimal Essay Outline

Developing an outline might seem like a waste of time when you are up against the clock, but believe us, taking 5-10 minutes to outline your essay will be much more useful in the long run than jumping right into the essay.

Your outline should include your thesis statement and three main pieces of evidence that will constitute each body paragraph. Under each piece of evidence should be 2-3 details from the sources that you will use to back up your claim and some commentary on how that evidence proves your thesis.

Step 5: Write your Essay

Use the remaining 30-35 minutes to write your essay. This should be relatively easy if you took the time to mark up the sources and have a detailed outline.  Remember to add special consideration and emphasis to the commentary sections of the supporting arguments outlined in your thesis. These sentences are critical to the overall flow of the essay and where you will be explaining how the evidence supports or undermines the claim in the prompt.

Also, when referencing your sources, write the in-text citations as follows: “Source 1,” “Source 2,” “Source 3,” etc. Make sure to pay attention to which source is which in order to not incorrectly cite your sources. In-text citations will impact your score on the essay and are an integral part of the process.

After you finish writing, read through your essay for any grammatical errors or mistakes before you move onto the next essay.

Here are six must-have tips and tricks to get a good score on the synthesis essay:

  • Cite at least four sources , even though the minimum requirement is three. Remember not to plagiarize and cite everything you use in your arguments.
  • Make sure to develop a solid and clear thesis . Develop a stable stance for the claim and stick with it throughout the entire paper.
  • Don’t summarize the sources. The summary of the sources does not count as an argument. 
  • You don’t necessarily have to agree with the sources in order to cite them. Using a source to support a counterargument is still a good use of a source.
  • Cite the sources that you understand entirely . If you don’t, it could come back to bite you in the end. 
  • Use small quotes , do not quote entire paragraphs. Make sure the quote does not disrupt the flow or grammar of the sentence you write. 

youtube synthesis essay

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

Here is an example prompt and essay from 2019 that received 5 of the 6 total points available:

In response to our society’s increasing demand for energy, large-scale wind power has drawn attention from governments and consumers as a potential alternative to traditional materials that fuel our power grids, such as coal, oil, natural gas, water, or even newer sources such as nuclear or solar power. Yet the establishment of large-scale, commercial-grade wind farms is often the subject of controversy for a variety of reasons.

Carefully read the six sources, found on the AP English Language and Composition 2019 Exam (Question 1), including the introductory information for each source. Write an essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources and develops your position on the most important factors that an individual or agency should consider when deciding whether to establish a wind farm.

Source A (photo)

Source B (Layton)

Source C (Seltenrich)

Source D (Brown)

Source E (Rule)

Source F (Molla)

In your response you should do the following:

  • Respond to the prompt with a thesis presents a defensible position.
  • Select and use evidence from at least 3 of the provided sources to support your line of reasoning. Indicate clearly the sources used through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Sources may be cited as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the description in parentheses.
  • Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
  • Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

[1] The situation has been known for years, and still very little is being done: alternative power is the only way to reliably power the changing world. The draw of power coming from industry and private life is overwhelming current sources of non-renewable power, and with dwindling supplies of fossil fuels, it is merely a matter of time before coal and gas fuel plants are no longer in operation. So one viable alternative is wind power. But as with all things, there are pros and cons. The main factors for power companies to consider when building wind farms are environmental boon, aesthetic, and economic factors.

[2] The environmental benefits of using wind power are well-known and proven. Wind power is, as qualified by Source B, undeniably clean and renewable. From their production requiring very little in the way of dangerous materials to their lack of fuel, besides that which occurs naturally, wind power is by far one of the least environmentally impactful sources of power available. In addition, wind power by way of gearbox and advanced blade materials, has the highest percentage of energy retention. According to Source F, wind power retains 1,164% of the energy put into the system – meaning that it increases the energy converted from fuel (wind) to electricity 10 times! No other method of electricity production is even half that efficient. The efficiency and clean nature of wind power are important to consider, especially because they contribute back to power companies economically.

[3] Economically, wind power is both a boon and a bone to electric companies and other users. For consumers, wind power is very cheap, leading to lower bills than from any other source. Consumers also get an indirect reimbursement by way of taxes (Source D). In one Texan town, McCamey, tax revenue increased 30% from a wind farm being erected in the town. This helps to finance improvements to the town. But, there is no doubt that wind power is also hurting the power companies. Although, as renewable power goes, wind is incredibly cheap, it is still significantly more expensive than fossil fuels. So, while it is helping to cut down on emissions, it costs electric companies more than traditional fossil fuel plants. While the general economic trend is positive, there are some setbacks which must be overcome before wind power can take over as truly more effective than fossil fuels.

[4] Aesthetics may be the greatest setback for power companies. Although there may be significant economic and environmental benefit to wind power, people will always fight to preserve pure, unspoiled land. Unfortunately, not much can be done to improve the visual aesthetics of the turbines. White paint is the most common choice because it “[is] associated with cleanliness.” (Source E). But, this can make it stand out like a sore thumb, and make the gargantuan machines seem more out of place. The site can also not be altered because it affects generating capacity. Sound is almost worse of a concern because it interrupts personal productivity by interrupting people’s sleep patterns. One thing for power companies to consider is working with turbine manufacturing to make the machines less aesthetically impactful, so as to garner greater public support.

[5] As with most things, wind power has no easy answer. It is the responsibility of the companies building them to weigh the benefits and the consequences. But, by balancing economics, efficiency, and aesthetics, power companies can create a solution which balances human impact with environmental preservation.

More examples can be found here at College Board.

While AP Scores help to boost your weighted GPA, or give you the option to get college credit, AP Scores don’t have a strong effect on your admissions chances . However, colleges can still see your self-reported scores, so you might not want to automatically send scores to colleges if they are lower than a 3. That being said, admissions officers care far more about your grade in an AP class than your score on the exam.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

youtube synthesis essay

How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Examples, Topics, & Outline

A synthesis essay requires you to work with multiple sources. You combine the information gathered from them to present a well-rounded argument on a topic. Are you looking for the ultimate guide on synthesis essay writing? You’ve come to the right place!

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

In this guide by our custom writing team, you will find:

  • a step-by-step writing guide;
  • a list of 34 synthesis essay topics;
  • a full essay sample in MLA format.
  • 📚 Synthesis Essay Definition
  • 📝 Essay Types
  • ✅ Step-by-Step Guide
  • ✍️ Topics & Prompts
  • 📑 Example & Formatting Tips

📚 What Is a Synthesis Essay?

A synthesis essay is an assignment that requires a unique interpretation of a particular topic using several reliable sources. To write it, you need to understand, analyze, and synthesize information. That is why this type of essay is used in the AP Lang exam to assess students’ reasoning skills.

The key features of the synthesis essay are:

  • Debatable topic . If your goal is to write a good synthesis essay, it’s necessary to choose an arguable topic. It’s best to choose something that people have different opinions about. This will allow you to use many sources with various viewpoints for your synthesis.
  • Clear thesis statement. It’s a sentence that briefly describes the main idea of your essay.
  • Reliable sources to prove your thesis . For a synthesis essay, your opinion is not enough. You also need to find the evidence. Keep in mind that simply reading an online encyclopedia won’t do; make sure to choose only reliable sources.

What Does It Mean to Synthesize Information?

Synthesis is a process that has huge importance in nature, science, and our everyday life. The word stems from Ancient Greek “synthesis,” which means “putting together.” In general, synthesis is the combination of components to form a connected whole.

The picture shows examples of synthesis usage in various spheres: biochemistry, physics, and sound creation.

In everyday life, we usually resort to it to synthesize information . This means taking the data from different sources and bringing it together. This process is the opposite of analyzing:

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

  • For an analysis , you break problems into pieces,
  • For a synthesis , you combine separate elements into a whole.

We use synthesis for analysis papers, research papers, argument papers, and business reports.

What Does Synthesis Mean in Writing?

Synthesis in writing means summarizing and connecting different sources considering a particular topic. Although synthesis and analysis are two opposite things, they usually go together in synthesis essays. The process consists of 2 stages:

  • Conduct the analysis. For that, you break down a problem into parts and analyze the sources. It’s helpful to highlight everything regarding your topic while reading.
  • Carry out the synthesis. The next step is to formulate an opinion and combine the highlighted information from the sources.

Synthesis is not only used in writing but also in reading comprehension . It’s useful to do this kind of reading while studying your sources. There are three reading comprehension stages:

  • Your previous knowledge about the topic.
  • Expansion of your knowledge while you are reading.
  • Understanding of the problem when you have finished reading.

So, synthesized reading comprehension means combining three stages in one and formulating one statement.

Synthesis vs Summary: What Is the Difference?

A summary is a paraphrasing of the written source in your own words. For a good summary, it’s necessary to include all of the text’s key elements. Meanwhile, synthesis means combining different ideas from different sources. You don’t have to include all the key points; just choose everything related to your topic.

Receive a plagiarism-free paper tailored to your instructions. Cut 20% off your first order!

The picture explains the difference between a synthesis and a summary.

Both of these techniques are used for the synthesis essay:

  • The summary goes in the conclusion. You briefly sum up your paper’s main ideas.
  • Synthesis goes in the body paragraphs. Here, you combine multiple sources to prove a point.

📝 Synthesis Essay Types

There are two main types of a synthesis essay: argument and explanatory synthesis.

Both of them require working with multiple reliable sources and analyzing information. The only difference is that an argument synthesis essay requires your own opinion, while an explanatory synthesis essay does not.

Argument Synthesis Essay: Outline and Definition

As you already know, an argument synthesis essay requires you to state your own opinion about the given topic and back it up with several reliable sources. The purpose of such an essay is to persuade the reader that your point is correct.

Here’s what an argument synthesis essay consists of:

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

Explanatory Synthesis Essay: Definition and How to Write

An explanatory informative synthesis essay requires you to stay neutral towards the problem you are discussing. This means you cannot express your own opinion considering the given question or a problem. Your task is just to inform the reader. That’s why this essay type is also called informative synthesis.

Check out this explanatory essay outline:

✅ How to Write a Synthesis Essay Step by Step

When it comes to the synthesis essay outline, it’s not too different from other assignments. Have a look at this template:

The picture shows a synthesis essay outline: introduction, main body, and conclusion.

How to Synthesize: Working with Sources

After you’ve decided on your topic, it’s time to figure out how to synthesize articles into one text. This is how you do it:

  • Choose reliable sources: the ones printed in journals or published on academic websites.
  • Become familiar with them and see if they fit into your essay.
  • Try to find a few sources for each point. It will increase your essay’s reliability.
  • Relate each source to your arguments and see similarities between them.
  • Don’t forget to list every source in the references.

When you are done with a comprehensive analysis of related literature, try to step back and imagine a person who has a different opinion on this topic. Think of some arguments that they can provide to prove their opinion. After you have the list of arguments, find the written evidence of why they are wrong and put them in your essay.

Analyzing and organizing sources is the first and very important step for the synthesis essay. So make sure you do understand what the text means before using it as a reference.

Synthesis Essay Outline: How to Write

For structuring your essay, it’s useful to try mapping . This technique means combining the information from different sources and rearranging it to create a new direction. To do it, you need to analyze the authors’ ideas and come up with your own conclusions.

The best way to do that is called synthesis matrix or graphic organizer. It’s a chart that you can make when you start working on your essay. Here you have a horizontal column that states the main ideas and a few vertical columns that present sources. Your task is to take sources you have chosen and write down the main ideas from them.

Here’s an example of a matrix chart:

While doing that, you will see how many sources contain the same ideas. When you analyze them, you will be able to formulate your thesis backed up with evidence. The synthesis matrix also helps to see new arguments you can cover in your synthesis paper.

How to Write an Introduction for a Synthesis Essay

Now it’s time to start writing the paper. In the introductory part of the essay, you can include:

  • A short yet catchy sentence or a quotation that would present the topic. The start of your essay should make people interested. It’s best to make the first sentence not only informative but also easy to understand.
  • The texts that are used for the essay. Provide the titles and the authors’ names (use the appropriate guidelines depending on the writing style.)
  • The background information which is needed to understand your essay. Definitions of terms or unknown words considering the topic can be included in this part. Otherwise, people may find it hard to understand what they are reading about.

How to Write a Thesis for a Synthesis Essay

A thesis statement is a point of view on a certain problem that you will defend in your essay. It should contain the key points that you want to include in your paper. Here’s how to create a perfect thesis statement:

  • Find several central ideas in the chart.
  • Choose the ones that are repeated the most often and the ones that you feel need to be in your essay.
  • Combine them, and you have a thesis statement with all the key points.
  • Make a draft of the thesis statement. Try to formulate the main idea you want to present in your essay.
  • Elaborate on this idea. Add some details and expand it a bit further.

If the whole picture is coherent, and it conveys exactly what you wanted, then this is your perfect thesis statement. See the example below:

Gender inequality still exists at the workplace: women are less likely to get the most responsible positions, easily lose careers due to maternity leave, and often receive less pay for the same amount of work.

How to Write Synthesis Paragraphs for the Main Body

Your essay’s main body consists of a few paragraphs. Each of them presents a different argument considering the topic. When you start a paragraph, make sure to begin with a topic sentence, which informs the reader about the paragraph’s main idea. Then, include the synthesized sources and elaborate on them.

Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do when writing the main body:

You can use the following words to present the ideas from your sources. They will help you reflect the authors’ tone:

How to Conclude a Synthesis Essay

There are quite a few ways to conclude the synthesis paper. Have a look at some of the options:

  • Paraphrase the thesis. As you remember, the thesis is the main idea of your essay. The conclusion is a good place to remind your readers about it. When they are done with the reading, they remember the most important thing from your essay.
  • Synthesize the arguments. There is no need to repeat everything you wrote in your essay. Just briefly summarize the most crucial points.
  • Answer the “So what” question. Tell the readers why this topic matters, why you’ve chosen it, and why it’s valuable for the reader.
  • Provide a closure. It’s an effective strategy when you want to make the reader think. Leave them with a strong statement at the end of your essay.

Synthesis Paper Proofreading Tips

When you have finally written your paper, there is still one important thing left to do. You need to check your paper for any grammatical and contextual mistakes. You certainly can do it yourself, but it would be perfect if you could ask somebody else to read it.

The first thing you need to check grammar-wise is the tense you are using. There is no single tense you need to use for the synthesis essay. It depends on the format:

  • If you’re writing in MLA format, use the present tense;
  • For APA essays, you use the past tense.

The next step is to check whether your synthesis essay has everything that’s required. For that, we have prepared the checklist of questions you can ask yourself to proofread your essays.

  • Is there a clear thesis statement?
  • Did you include all of the key points from the synthesis?
  • Are there clear transitions between paragraphs?
  • Did you organize a paragraph around a single idea?
  • Did you use reliable and up-to-date sources?
  • Did you analyze sources rather than just summarize them?
  • Did you mention every source you’ve used?

If you’ve answered “yes” to all the questions—congratulations, you are done with the essay! Otherwise, you need to come back and fix everything that you’ve answered “no” to.

✍️ Synthesis Essay Topics and Prompts

Sometimes, when you don’t have a topic , it is tough to come up with a suitable idea. That is why we have prepared two lists of topics that you can use for any synthesis essay type.

Explanatory Synthesis Essay Topics

The topics below are suitable for an explanatory synthesis essay:

  • The beginning of Hollywood cinema . Cinema is a huge industry in the USA. Tell the readers about its history. Describe what it was like in the beginning, which movie was the first one, and who started this industry.
  • Tactics on dealing with noisy children. Sometimes kids can be very loud, especially in public places. Write about different tactics that can help with this issue.
  • The effects of climate change  on the water cycle.  Climate change has affected the water cycle significantly. Your task is to explain how.
  • The best American cities to live in. Provide the list of the best cities and explain why you’ve included them.
  • The importance of a healthy diet . Keeping a healthy diet is beneficial in many ways. Write about all the advantages it brings.
  • Who can become an entrepreneur? Entrepreneurship is not for everybody. In this essay, you can describe the qualities needed for having your own business.
  • The correlation between overpopulation and poverty . Describe how overpopulation leads to poverty and vice versa.
  • The advantages of taking an active vacation.
  • Cultural shock as a part of moving to a different country.
  • The consequences of the first wave of feminism .
  • Synthesis of Tan and Rodriguez’ essays ideas.
  • Difficulties you may encounter during the job interview.
  • How does reading prevent Alzheimer’s disease ?
  • The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses .
  • The connection between  religion and politics  in ruling the country.
  • What can non-verbal signals tell you about a person ?
  • The psychology of leadership .
  • The origins of the most common  stereotypes  about Americans.
  • Role of social media in business communication .
  • The synthesis of personal nursing philosophy concept.
  • Behavioral components of schizophrenia and psychosis.
  • Main components of successful entrepreneurship.
  • Critical components of scientific research.
  • Change in religion and human beliefs throughout history.
  • The effect of global warming on modern life.

Argument Synthesis Paper Topics

The list of topics for the Argument Synthesis Essay:

  • Vaping is better than smoking . People are starting to exchange cigarettes for vapes and e-cigarettes. In what ways are they less harmful?
  • Rich people should pay higher taxes. The same percentage of money doesn’t equal for rich and poor people. Explain why the ones who can afford more should share with others.
  • Depression is a disease . Prove that psychological problems must be recognized as real health issues that should be cured and not ignored.
  • Social media affects young people’s lives. Social media has a massive influence on people. In this essay, you can discuss which life spheres are the most affected.
  • Beauty pageants should be banned. Provide the reasons why they should be banned and tell the reader about psychological problems they can cause.
  • People should cut meat from their diet to stop global warming . Describe how the meat industry influences climate change.
  • The voting age should be 25+. Your task is to show the reasons why the votes of people under 25 should not be taken into account during elections.
  • A healthy lifestyle requires a lot of money.
  • Each healthy man should serve in the military.
  • School bullying should be punished by immediate exclusion.
  • Does friendship exist between men and women?
  • Drinking coffee is a bad habit.
  • Working hard is more important than being talented.
  • Everybody should visit a therapist at least once.
  • Should universities be free ?
  • Artificial intelligence will cause huge unemployment rates.
  • Gaming should not be allowed to children under 18.
  • Components and strategies of social responsibility
  • Integration of relevant ethical theory and conceptual principles in health care
  • Children under 10 should be banned from gadgets .
  • Social media platforms facilitate cyberbullying.
  • Issues of distance education .
  • Social media addiction is a serious disease.
  • Deforestation critically contributes to global warming.
  • Healthcare should be free for everyone.

📑 Synthesis Essay Example & Synthesis Essay Format Tips

Now let’s talk about formatting. There are two writing styles you can use for a synthesis essay: APA or MLA. You need to choose the one that is required for your assignment.

We will start with the paper in APA format. It is usually used in science and education.

And these are MLA formatting rules:

Finally, we’ve prepared a synthesis essay sample for you to check out. Feel free to download the PDF file below:

First introduced in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, affirmative action policies aim to mitigate the discrepancy in opportunities available for underrepresented social groups by taking into account one’s minority background. The policies have become a pressing public issue that obstructs previously marginalized individuals, particularly in the educational environment.

Thank you for reading the ultimate guide on synthesis essay writing. We hope you found it helpful. Don’t forget to share it with your friends. Good luck with your assignments!

🔍 References

  • Writing a Synthesis Essay: Bowling Green State University
  • What Is Synthesis: University of Manitoba
  • Synthesis: Biology Online
  • Reading Strategies: Difference Summarizing and Synthesizing: WordPress
  • Summary, Analysis, Synthesis Definitions: University of Utah
  • Argumentative Synthesis: University of Arkansas
  • How to Synthesize Written Information: Simply Psychology
  • Mapping of Synthesis Essay: University of Nevada, Reno
  • Writing a Literature Review and Using a Synthesis Matrix: Florida International University
  • Synthesis Essay: Cleveland State University
  • Literature Review: Synthesizing Multiple Sources: Louisiana State University
  • Writing a Conclusion: Texas Women’s University
  • General APA Guidelines: Purdue University
  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to LinkedIn
  • Share to email

Recommended for You

How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay: Examples & Guide

How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay: Examples & Guide

A critical analysis essay is an academic paper that requires a thorough examination of theoretical concepts and ideas. It includes a comparison of facts, differentiation between evidence and argument, and identification of biases. Crafting a good paper can be a daunting experience, but it will be much easier if you...

How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay: Examples & Outline

How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay: Examples & Outline

Critical thinking is the process of evaluating and analyzing information. People who use it in everyday life are open to different opinions. They rely on reason and logic when making conclusions about certain issues. A critical thinking essay shows how your thoughts change as you research your topic. This type...

How to Write a Process Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline

How to Write a Process Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline

Process analysis is an explanation of how something works or happens. Want to know more? Read the following article prepared by our custom writing specialists and learn about: process analysis and its typesa process analysis outline tipsfree examples and other tips that might be helpful for your college assignment So,...

How to Write a Visual Analysis Essay: Examples & Template

How to Write a Visual Analysis Essay: Examples & Template

A visual analysis essay is an academic paper type that history and art students often deal with. It consists of a detailed description of an image or object. It can also include an interpretation or an argument that is supported by visual evidence. In this article, our custom writing experts...

How to Write a Reflection Paper: Example & Tips

How to Write a Reflection Paper: Example & Tips

Want to know how to write a reflection paper for college or school? To do that, you need to connect your personal experiences with theoretical knowledge. Usually, students are asked to reflect on a documentary, a text, or their experience. Sometimes one needs to write a paper about a lesson...

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline

A character analysis is an examination of the personalities and actions of protagonists and antagonists that make up a story. It discusses their role in the story, evaluates their traits, and looks at their conflicts and experiences. You might need to write this assignment in school or college. Like any...

Become a Writer Today

What Is a Synthesis Essay? Prepare For Your Exam With Our Guide!

Preparing for the AP Exam? Read our guide to synthesis essays to learn what you need to know to write a winning, high-scoring essay for this written exam.

A synthesis essay takes information from several sources to create a new idea or thesis. It uses available data and evidence to synthesize a new thought or hypothesis, then uses the essay to back up this original thought with the collected evidence.

Students will study a topic from many sources when writing a synthesis essay. They will then craft their hypothesis using that information. Rather than summarizing the information and restating an existing idea, the writer will create a new idea from their point of view, then use the main points from the source material to back up those ideas. Synthesis essays typically follow the five-paragraph essay structure to flush out the ideas and provide the necessary evidence.

Learning how to write a synthesis essay is essential because this type of essay is often used on college entrance exams. If you are taking the AP exam, you must write a synthesis essay as one of the three essays you submit. Since those essays are 55% of your overall score, they are essential to do well. Looking for essay prompts? Check out these  essays about beliefs !

Guide to Synthesis Essays

Explanatory synthesis essay, argumentative synthesis essay, synthesis essay template, step 1: choose the right topic, step 2: research, step 3: outline your essay, step 4: write your thesis statement, step 5: write your body paragraphs, step 6: write your introduction, step 7: write the conclusion, step 8: proofread your essay, the synthesis essay on the ap exam, read the requirements carefully, read sources with thought, choose a position, create a detailed outline, print it out, example 1: homeschooling synthesis essay, example 2: dress codes synthesis essay, example 3: social media synthesis essay.

If you write a synthesis essay, you must clearly understand these essays, how to write them well, and how to structure them appropriately. The overall writing process is similar to other types of essays. These essays follow a particular structure and typically use in-text citations to reference the resources used. Keep in mind that you will want to have multiple sources for your arguments and points.

Types of Synthesis Essays

There are two basic types of synthesis essays you can write. Both will have a unique thought as their thesis statement, but how you approach the essay’s body will vary. The two main types of synthesis essays are:

Explanatory essays aim to explain your point of view on the topic. You will not try to persuade the reader to come to your choice but will use objective reasoning to look at two sides of an idea. It requires a variety of sources to get multiple points of view before concluding one particular stance. You might also be wondering, can essay titles be questions .

When writing an argumentative synthesis essay, your goal is to bring the reader to the point of agreeing with your point of view. You will use an argumentative essay structure to draw the reader to the conclusion you want in a step-by-step manner, using each of your points to show why your stance on that specific topic is preferred.

Synthesis Essay Structure

How to write a good introduction for an essay?

Regardless of why you’re writing a synthesis essay, it will follow a basic synthesis essay outline structure. This is as follows:

  • Introduction: In the essay introduction, you will start with a court of hooks that interests the reader in your writing. You will then introduce your main points and your sources. You will write a strong thesis statement and your primary argument at the end of your introductory paragraph. This should be at most two sentences. You can add some background information to this introductory paragraph showing why your topic is essential.
  • Body Paragraphs: Next comes the body paragraphs, three paragraphs in a five-paragraph essay. If you are writing a full research paper, you may need more than three body paragraphs. Each body paragraph will start with a topic sentence, followed by proof from your resources. Remember to summarize what your resources say so you are not guilty of plagiarism, and always use proper citations when required.
  • Conclusion: The final paragraph of a synthesis paper or essay is the conclusion. It will restate your arguments and main points, then paraphrase your thesis statement. This is often a shorter paragraph, but it concludes the entire piece.
  • Bibliography: Finally, you will finish your essay with a bibliography or works cited page. Depending on the project’s requirements, this should follow the APA Style Guide , the Chicago Manual of Style, or the MLA Style Guide.

Another way to consider writing a synthesis essay is to use a template. This template can help:

  • Paragraph 1: Start with a hook, summarize your main points, and end with your thesis statement.
  • Paragraph 2: The topic sentence introduces your first point, and the remaining sentences provide proof. It ends with a transition that flows naturally to the next point.
  • Paragraph 3: Following the same structure, the topic sentence introduces the second point and is proven with the remaining sentences. A transition moves the reader to the next paragraph.
  • Paragraph 4: This is the final body paragraph and follows the same structure as the first two but with point three.
  • Paragraph 5: This paragraph starts with a topic sentence summarizing the thesis. Then it summarizes the three main points before concluding with one more exciting statement.

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Synthesis Essay

First, choose your topic. Since you’ll be spending a lot of time researching the topic, choose something you’re interested in but don’t know much about. Also, choose something with an opportunity for arguments and counterarguments and sufficient resources. You will want at least three to build your supporting arguments from multiple sources.

Do your research

Now you are ready to research. Try to enter the research process without a preconceived idea of your thesis statement. Use your library and online sources to find many ideas on your topic. Keep careful notes, using notecards if possible, and connect each idea in your research to the proper topic.

You can label your topics with letters, then at the bottom of the notecard, write “Source A” or “Source B.” This will help you avoid plagiarism as you write by giving you the tools to make proper in-text citations. While researching, you need to think about your potential thesis statement. Research with questions in mind, such as:

  • Where do these sources agree or disagree?
  • What are some counterarguments to the arguments presented by this source?
  • Do I agree or disagree with this source? Why?

These questions will help guide you toward a thesis statement that will work. Remember, your goal with synthesis writing is to synthesize a new argument or point of view from the existing research, so try to determine what new take you could bring to your writing.

Outlining should be a simple step if you are writing an essay, but getting your main thoughts on paper is crucial. Each paragraph should receive a Roman numeral on your essay, with sub-points being the supporting evidence that will go into your paragraphs.

Even though it is part of your introduction, you will write your thesis statement before writing the introductory paragraph. This happens before any other writing takes place because it will define the rest of your essay. Remember not to restate your writing prompt or synthesis essay topic in the thesis statement. It must show your argument or position.

In other words, a strong thesis statement will have your opinion built in, taking a clear position on the topic or the prompt you were given to write on. It needs to be something you can defend and argue using your resources, so you will write it only after you’ve done your research. Many writers will also present their three main points in the thesis statement.

Many writers find it easiest to write the body paragraphs before their introduction. If you are in this group, write your three body paragraphs next. The topic sentence should be the main point, and then you will use the remaining sentences to support that point and conclude it with some sort of transition. Keep each paragraph focused on one main idea that supports your thesis statement.

In a synthesis essay, your points for your body paragraphs should be points discussed by two or more sources. Your thesis needs research that backs it, so avoid points only in one source or from your mind. It would be best if you wrote objectively with this style of essay.

Now you’re ready to write the introduction. Remember to start with some hook, then summarize your main points. The hook needs to be thoughtful and entice the reader to read the essay, but it should not be a restatement of your thesis statement. You will conclude with the thesis statement, so your hook needs something else. A good example of a hook is a startling statistic or a statement defining the problem you will address in the essay that follows.

Your conclusion should wrap up and restate your ideas. It starts with a summary of your thesis statement, followed by restating your supporting ideas. You will end with one more impression of the main idea.

Never send your essay to the teacher or publish it without proofreading it carefully. If your essay is particularly important, such as using it to apply for scholarships or as part of your college application, consider having someone else proofread it. A few spelling or grammar errors can hurt the overall impression of your essay, even if you have careful arguments and the right structure.

Since the synthesis essay is part of the AP exam, it is important to look closely at how this is structured. If you take this exam, you will be given six to seven sources on a topic. You will then get 15 minutes to read those sources and 40 minutes to write three essays on an established subject. One of those essays will be a synthesis essay.

In the exam, you will be given a writing prompt. The prompt will not tell you a position to take. It will instead give you a question or problem that the provided sources address and ask you to defend, challenge, or qualify a particular claim about that topic. You will read the sources, decide about your thesis, and then write an essay that synthesizes the sources to support your thesis.

The  College Board  has a specific idea in mind when it asks writers to synthesize their resources. It wants the writer to combine the perspectives of different sources into one position, which is their thesis statement. This essay section of the AP exam aims to show that the writer can read and reflect on the source material and draw conclusions from it. The essay is worth six points on the AP language exam. These points are awarded as follows:

  • Up to 1 point for writing a thesis statement.
  • Up to 4 points for evidence and commentary to synthesize the sources.
  • Up to 1 point for thought and syntax throughout the essay.

Tips and Tricks for Writing Your Essay

Most synthesis essays provide some writing prompt or instructions. Read these carefully. If you don’t understand the assignment, you won’t score well. Ensure you discuss the correct topic and use the recommended sources. Do not lose points simply for not following the instructions.

Even on the AP exam, when you have limited time, you need to consider your various sources. You have to critically reflect on what the sources say to synthesize their ideas into a new essay topic. Take notes, if you can, and tie those notes into the source material.

Synthesis essays require you to take a position in your thesis statement, so decide what that position will be. Once you choose it, stick to it. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore counterarguments. To strengthen your essay, find a way to include counterarguments and defend yourself against them.

Outlining is essential even if all you are writing is a five-paragraph essay. It keeps your thoughts organized so you can write well. Add sub-thoughts under your main points to keep you on track and allow you to write thorough paragraphs.

Print it out

Before submitting, print your essay and proofread the printed copy. Sometimes you will find more errors with printed paper than with the essay on the computer screen. Read it out loud while proofreading to help you catch as many errors as possible. Printing it will also allow you to check the formatting to ensure it matches the project’s requirements.

Synthesis Essay Examples

If you’re looking for synthesis essay topics to use in your next piece, check out our examples below.

In  this synthesis essay  on the topic of homeschooling, the writer uses a hook to introduce the topic that utilizes pop culture to guide the reader. They then introduce the question and one counterargument and wrap the introduction up with a thesis statement summarizing their main points. Each body paragraph outlines one argument against homeschooling, then provides a counterargument about why that’s no longer an issue. The conclusion reiterates the main points and summarizes that homeschooling “can be a positive experience for children.”

This  example of a synthesis essay  takes on the topic of dress codes and how they can unfairly target females. It has a strong thesis statement explaining the writer’s position (“These standards to conform students and promote learning become sexist”) and provides three reasons for being sexist. The body paragraphs further develop those three main reasons, and the conclusion adds some background information and summarizes the writer’s thoughts.

The  final example of a synthesis essay takes on the topic of social media and how it makes people feel lonely. It utilizes transitions well, starting each body paragraph with some transitions, and it has in-text citations to the resources. The essay concludes with a strong argument against social media for teens due to the research presented. Looking for more? Check out our guide with essays about biology !

youtube synthesis essay

Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006. She specializes in education content and real estate writing but enjoys a wide gamut of topics. Her goal is to connect with the reader in an engaging, but informative way. Her work has been featured on USA Today, and she ghostwrites for many high-profile companies. As a former teacher, she is passionate about both research and grammar, giving her clients the quality they demand in today's online marketing world.

View all posts

Synthesis Essay

Caleb S.

Writing a Perfect Synthesis Essay: Definition & Examples

16 min read

Published on: Mar 1, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

Synthesis Essay

People also read

Interesting Synthesis Essay Topics You Must Consider

Synthesis Essay Examples: Learn From Powerful Example

Share this article

Do you have a ton of research to synthesize but don't know how? Or maybe you're not sure what a synthesis essay is and how to write a good synthesis essay. 

We know writing a synthesis essay is not an easy task to do; it’s challenging for most of us. But it can be perfectly done with the right guidance and preparation. 

In this blog, we'll walk you through all the necessary information to craft a perfect synthesis essay. So you can get done with your assignments confidently! 

Let’s get started.

On This Page On This Page -->

What is a Synthesis Essay?

Synthesis essay definition states:

It is a piece of writing that takes a unique perspective on a central idea, topic, or theme. Then backs it up with evidence from multiple sources.

A synthesis essay is an important part of academic writing. The main purpose of this essay is to show your ability to prove an argument.

To make sense of these arguments, you need to use different credible sources. It demonstrates your basic understanding of the main subject. This type of essay help to enhance your critical, analytical, and research skills.

A synthesis essay is made up of ideas and conclusions based on the information reviewed. Also, this essay asks you to summarize the topic and add your own thoughts about it in relation to what you have read.

Furthermore, the synthesis essays can be similar to analytical essays , argumentative essays , or compare and contrast essays .

Synthesis Essay Types

There are three types of a synthesis essay:

1. Argument Synthesis Essay

This essay's purpose is to debate or argue on a certain topic or issue. It justifies its claims by providing evidence in the body of the essay.

In contrast to the explanatory essay, you will perform the same thing as if you were writing a typical argumentative paper. First, state your argument, make supporting statements, and back up each claim with reliable facts.

2. Review Essay

A review essay is frequently written as a preparatory essay to an argument synthesis. Review essays are commonly used in social science and medicine classes.

It is a discussion of what has already been published on a topic, with a critical examination of the sources mentioned.

An unwritten thesis statement is added to it, which is not final and indicates that further study is needed in that area.

3. Explanatory Synthesis Essay

In this essay, the writer helps the reader to grasp deeper knowledge about the topic. Rather than arguing or debating on some points, the goal of this essay is to explain a certain topic.

Like any other essay, it needs backing up with supporting claims and credible sources.

How to Start a Synthesis Essay?

The following are some helpful techniques for writing an essay. These will help you start the process and avoid common errors that plague many writers.

1. Choosing a Synthesis Essay Topic 

A prompt for a synthesis paper must be arguable. Based on your project, you may be required to select primary content. Select a book that may include contrasting perspectives. Here are some important tips for choosing a topic for a synthesis essay.

  • Look through the themes and ideas. Read from sources and investigate specific topics thoroughly to see if any of them catch your interest.
  • Select a topic and collect relevant and valuable references for your synthesis paper.
  • Outline your synthesis essay using concepts or ideas from the sources. This should make writing a lot simpler and save you a lot of time.

It is necessary to find an arguable topic to make your synthesis essay effective. Another reason is that these topics have been discussed in public for decades. 

Examples of good synthesis essay topics are;

  • The process of hiring in the age of social media
  • Social networks promote suicide
  • Should higher education be free?
  • Is it necessary to remove marks in education 
  • The importance of getting a good education
  • 3D printers are not used efficiently nowadays.
  • Is technology really helping people?
  • Why has technology made surgery safe and effective?
  • What is the cause of widespread obesity in teens?
  • What is the role of gender today?

2. Analyze Your Topic

Here's how you can fully understand your synthesis essay topic.

  • Grasp the Idea of a Synthesis Essay

A synthesis essay's purpose is to establish meaningful connections between sections of a work. When conducting research on a topic, you have to look for connections to build a strong viewpoint on the subject. The ultimate goal of the essay is to present and prove a claim about a topic .

  • Select a Topic Appropriate for a Synthesis Essay

The subject and topic must be extensive enough to include multiple relevant sources. If you have a free hand in deciding what to write about, some preparatory research may assist you in researching and choosing the right topic. 

  •  Select and Study Your Sources Carefully

Research and find relevant information and sources. Generally, choose at least three references for your essay. It's a good idea to learn one or two additional sources for better understanding but no matter what it is, make sure that you study it properly.

Remember that it is better to read three sources properly than five sources poorly.

Compile each source by writing notes in the margins. This allows you to keep track of your thoughts, fresh ideas, and so on. 

Order Essay

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

  • Reread the Source Material 

Reread your source material for elements that will help to support your argument. 

Examine your sources for important statements, figures, thoughts, and facts that support your thesis. Make a note of them when you come across them. This will be very useful throughout your writing process. 

3. Develop a Thesis Statement 

Your thesis statement will be the central idea of your essay. It should cover the topic and express your viewpoint on it. After reading the sources and conducting your research, form an opinion on your topic. 

It should be stated as a complete sentence. Based on the essay, your thesis statement could be the first sentence of the essay or the last sentence of the first paragraph.

  • Structure Your Thesis Statement Creatively 

To present your thesis, use a more creative structure. You can use a more elaborate structure than the one outlined above. You can develop your essay using the following approaches:

Straw man: In this approach, you will present the counter-arguments first. Then demonstrate their weaknesses and flaws. 

Such an approach demonstrates your awareness of the opposition as well as your readiness to respond to it. You present the counter-argument immediately following your thesis statement, followed by evidence to refute it. And conclude with a positive argument that supports your thesis.

Concession: In structure, concessions in essays are similar to the straw man. But this approach acknowledges the validity of the counter-argument while demonstrating that your argument is stronger. This structure is suitable for presenting papers to readers who hold opposing views. 

Illustration/ Example: It could be a thorough narrative, synopsis, or quotation from your source material that provides support for your position. However, you should not make your paper a collection of examples at the expense of supporting your thesis statement.

Comparison and Contrast: In this approach, similarities and differences between two subjects or sources demonstrate both aspects. It requires a thorough reading of your source material to identify both subtle and major points of comparison.

This type of essay can present its arguments source by source or by points of similarity or difference.

4. Create an Outline for Your Essay

An essay outline is a method for outlining the framework of your essay. Here’s what you have to do. Outlining can help you structure and plan your synthesis paper. 

The standard outline of a synthesis essay is divided into three sections:

Need detailed guidance on how to write a synthesis essay? Check out this video?

How to Write a Synthesis Essay?

For writing a great essay, you have to do extensive research on your subject. This essay connects sections of multiple works and develops a strong viewpoint on a subject.

There are some major steps of the process:

1. Start Writing Your Essay 

After getting done with the preparation part, start to write your synthesis essay. 

2. Write Your First Draft Using Your Outline as a Guide

But be prepared to change your strategy if you discover fresh ideas and information. And make sure it supports your thesis and the source material. 

Your essay should have an introduction paragraph with your thesis statement at the end of it. A body with evidence that supports your main topic and thesis statement. Lastly, a conclusion that summarizes your point of view.

3. Use Transitions 

To make the content flow logically, use transitions between paragraphs. Transition words are an excellent method to highlight areas where your sources complement one another. 

Longer quotes of three lines or more should be presented as block quotes to draw emphasis to them.

4. Wrap Up Your Essay 

Here you have completed the writing process, but still, you need to make sure that your essay is flawless. 

5. Revise Your Essay

This is the time to enhance transitions between points and paragraphs and to reinforce arguments. You should strive to make your argument as concise and clear to understand as possible. It is beneficial to read your essay aloud so you can spot problematic phrases or unclear ideas.

Request someone else to proofread your paper. Have you heard the cliché "two heads are better than one"? Is it still valid?

Ask a friend or coworker what they would add or eliminate from the paper. Most importantly, does your thesis statement make sense, and are your references clearly supporting it?

Answer these questions in your essay.

6. Proofread Your Content

Examine your document for any grammatical, punctuation, or spelling mistakes. 

Are all the terms, names, and words accurately spelled? Are there any extraneous English language or sentence fragments? As you go, correct them.

Read the essay loudly to ensure that you don't accidentally add or remove words when reading in your mind. If possible, ask a friend or classmate to edit your writing.

7. Must Cite Sources

Use footnotes to mention information in the body paragraph and bibliography of cited books at the conclusion. Footnotes and in-text citations should be used for any information that is quoted, paraphrased, or cited.

8. Title Your Essay 

The point of view expressed in your thesis statement and supporting arguments should be reflected in your title. Therefore, choose a title that suits your essay rather than constructing your essay to fit the title.

Synthesis Essay Format

The format of your synthesis paper is chosen by your high school, college, or university professor. MLA, APA, and Chicago styles are the most often used styles.

The APA format is followed in the disciplines of science, education, and psychology. Chicago is commonly followed in the field of history, fine arts, and business. And MLA is the style of citation used in the humanities.

APA Style Format

The following are some APA style important details:

  • Add a page header to the top of each page.
  • Times New Roman, 1” margins, 12 pt. Font, double-spaced.
  • The format of a synthesis essay should be separated into four sections: title page, abstract, main body, and references.
  • Insert a page number in the upper right corner.

Chicago Style Format

The following are some Chicago style key points:

  • Use double-spacing between the paper's lines.
  • Make margins of one inch.
  • Font size: 12 pt. Times New Roman font style.
  • Create text that is left-justified with a rugged edge.
  • Mention the full name of a person, place, or organization.
  • At the start of the paragraph, use half-inch indents.
  • The bibliography should be on its own page.

MLA Style Format

The following are some MLA style significant points:

  • The title must be centered.
  • Font: Times New Roman, 1” margins, 12 pt font size, double-spaced
  • Mention your name, professor's name, the course number, and the date (dd/mm/yy).
  • On each page, the top right corner displays the last name and page number.
  • The final page provides a “Works Cited” list.

Synthesis Essay Rubric

A rubric is essentially a list of criteria that your professor will use to grade your paper. 

Knowing how each criterion is weighted can help make sure you get the best grade possible on your synthesis essay. 

The Basics of the Synthesis Essay Rubric

The basic elements of any synthesis essay rubric include organization, focus/development, and language use/style. 

  • Organization refers to how well you structure your paper. It should flow logically and have clear transitions between sections. 
  • Focus/development looks at how well you develop your argument throughout the paper. Are you able to clearly explain why each point supports your thesis?
  • Language use/style focuses on grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Was the paper proofread thoroughly or did careless errors slip in?

For example , your synthesis essay thesis statement is

“Capital punishment should be abolished in all states." 

Do you provide evidence from different angles, such as legal history, religious beliefs, or moral arguments to back up this claim? 

Does this evidence prove why capital punishment should be abolished?

How to Write a Synthesis Essay - Ap Lang

Are you an AP Lang student who’s been assigned the dreaded synthesis essay? Here’s how to write a successful synthesis essay for AP Lang. 

  • Understand the Prompt 

The first step in writing any synthesis essay is to read and understand the prompt. It’s also important to note any specific requirements such as word count, formatting style, or sources that must be used in your essay. 

  • Organize Your Argument 

Once you have all the information necessary, it’s time to start organizing your argument.

Start by identifying any common themes or ideas between the various sources of evidence and create an outline with these points at its core. 

  • Write Your Essay 

Now comes the fun part—writing! 

You should now have a comprehensive outline of all the points and evidence you want to include in your essay. So use this as a guide when crafting your argument. 

Make sure that each point has supporting evidence from credible sources and that everything flows logically from one point to another. 

Finally, don’t forget to proofread and edit before submitting so that there are no errors in grammar or spelling. These small details can make all the difference! 

Synthesis Essay Tips

Working on a synthesis paper requires a thorough study of a particular given prompt. To evaluate it properly, you must first understand the prompt’s goal, argument, author’s claim, and rhetoric.

To compose a successful synthesis essay, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.

  • Use Multiple Reasons

It is well recognized that the use of various reasons (generally two) is a very successful approach.

Present one argument against your strong thesis statement. This type of evidence presents an introduction and description. The advantage of this method is to teach awareness of the other side of the argument. It is followed by the opposing view and a decisive factor.

This is one of the most basic ways of organizing. It enables you to summarise the sources that are most relevant to you. The problem is that this technique excludes any of your individual thinking.

  • Compare and Contrast

Comparing reveals similarities, while contrasting reveals distinctions. It is feasible to show an in-depth analysis of your chosen topic. It allows writers to compare and contrast two sources at the same time.

Write quotations from sources in your own words. This approach also allows the usage of quotable sources. Ensure to cite the reference when you use the reference.

This method depicts the opposing point of view. It demonstrates that the positives outweigh the negatives.

Writing a synthesis essay is not as difficult as it may seem. You can also try our AI essay writer to generate plagiarism-free content and make the process easier. 

However, if you are having trouble understanding the concepts or writing a synthesis essay, it is best to hire professionals.

Our synthesis essay writing service is the perfect solution to your problems. We have a team of skilled writers who will help you through each step of the essay-writing process.

You contact our professionals at CollegeEssay.org to get essay writing help online . Our essay writer service is always ready to ace your assignments. 

So don't hesitate and order your essay now!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you end a synthesis essay.

A strong ending fulfills these 3 things: 

  • Restate your thesis. 
  • Summarize or synthesize key points. 
  • Make your argument's context explicit. 

What is a synthesis paragraph?

A synthesis is a textual debate that includes support from multiple sources with opposing viewpoints. This type of work requires analysis by using different sources and determining their relevance to your thesis.

Why is synthesis important?

It is important because it allows us to: 

  • Test and validate hypotheses. 
  • Comprehend key processes. 
  • Plan future research efforts. 

How to conclude a synthesis essay?

Synthesize rather than summarize your argument. No need to go over your entire paper again. Instead, include a brief summary of the main points of the paper and explain to your reader how you've made points.

What is an example of a synthesis?

Making connections or putting things together is all that is required. We naturally synthesize information to assist others in seeing connections between things. For example, synthesis occurs when you report to a friend what other friends have said about a film or book.

How many paragraphs is a synthesis essay?

According to the standard outline provided, you should stick to the basic five-to-six paragraph structure. In rare cases, there may be more paragraphs in the main body.

Caleb S. (Literature, Marketing)

Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Get Help

Keep reading

Synthesis Essay

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refunds & Cancellations
  • Our Writers
  • Success Stories
  • Our Guarantees
  • Affiliate Program
  • Referral Program
  • AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

youtube synthesis essay

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

  • Knowledge Base
  • Working with sources
  • Synthesizing Sources | Examples & Synthesis Matrix

Synthesizing Sources | Examples & Synthesis Matrix

Published on July 4, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Synthesizing sources involves combining the work of other scholars to provide new insights. It’s a way of integrating sources that helps situate your work in relation to existing research.

Synthesizing sources involves more than just summarizing . You must emphasize how each source contributes to current debates, highlighting points of (dis)agreement and putting the sources in conversation with each other.

You might synthesize sources in your literature review to give an overview of the field or throughout your research paper when you want to position your work in relation to existing research.

Table of contents

Example of synthesizing sources, how to synthesize sources, synthesis matrix, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about synthesizing sources.

Let’s take a look at an example where sources are not properly synthesized, and then see what can be done to improve it.

This paragraph provides no context for the information and does not explain the relationships between the sources described. It also doesn’t analyze the sources or consider gaps in existing research.

Research on the barriers to second language acquisition has primarily focused on age-related difficulties. Building on Lenneberg’s (1967) theory of a critical period of language acquisition, Johnson and Newport (1988) tested Lenneberg’s idea in the context of second language acquisition. Their research seemed to confirm that young learners acquire a second language more easily than older learners. Recent research has considered other potential barriers to language acquisition. Schepens, van Hout, and van der Slik (2022) have revealed that the difficulties of learning a second language at an older age are compounded by dissimilarity between a learner’s first language and the language they aim to acquire. Further research needs to be carried out to determine whether the difficulty faced by adult monoglot speakers is also faced by adults who acquired a second language during the “critical period.”

Scribbr Citation Checker New

The AI-powered Citation Checker helps you avoid common mistakes such as:

  • Missing commas and periods
  • Incorrect usage of “et al.”
  • Ampersands (&) in narrative citations
  • Missing reference entries

youtube synthesis essay

To synthesize sources, group them around a specific theme or point of contention.

As you read sources, ask:

  • What questions or ideas recur? Do the sources focus on the same points, or do they look at the issue from different angles?
  • How does each source relate to others? Does it confirm or challenge the findings of past research?
  • Where do the sources agree or disagree?

Once you have a clear idea of how each source positions itself, put them in conversation with each other. Analyze and interpret their points of agreement and disagreement. This displays the relationships among sources and creates a sense of coherence.

Consider both implicit and explicit (dis)agreements. Whether one source specifically refutes another or just happens to come to different conclusions without specifically engaging with it, you can mention it in your synthesis either way.

Synthesize your sources using:

  • Topic sentences to introduce the relationship between the sources
  • Signal phrases to attribute ideas to their authors
  • Transition words and phrases to link together different ideas

To more easily determine the similarities and dissimilarities among your sources, you can create a visual representation of their main ideas with a synthesis matrix . This is a tool that you can use when researching and writing your paper, not a part of the final text.

In a synthesis matrix, each column represents one source, and each row represents a common theme or idea among the sources. In the relevant rows, fill in a short summary of how the source treats each theme or topic.

This helps you to clearly see the commonalities or points of divergence among your sources. You can then synthesize these sources in your work by explaining their relationship.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

  • ChatGPT vs human editor
  • ChatGPT citations
  • Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
  • Using ChatGPT for your studies
  • What is ChatGPT?
  • Chicago style
  • Paraphrasing

 Plagiarism

  • Types of plagiarism
  • Self-plagiarism
  • Avoiding plagiarism
  • Academic integrity
  • Consequences of plagiarism
  • Common knowledge

Synthesizing sources means comparing and contrasting the work of other scholars to provide new insights.

It involves analyzing and interpreting the points of agreement and disagreement among sources.

You might synthesize sources in your literature review to give an overview of the field of research or throughout your paper when you want to contribute something new to existing research.

A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources (such as books, journal articles, and theses) related to a specific topic or research question .

It is often written as part of a thesis, dissertation , or research paper , in order to situate your work in relation to existing knowledge.

Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.

In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Ryan, E. (2023, May 31). Synthesizing Sources | Examples & Synthesis Matrix. Scribbr. Retrieved February 19, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/synthesizing-sources/

Is this article helpful?

Eoghan Ryan

Eoghan Ryan

Other students also liked, signal phrases | definition, explanation & examples, how to write a literature review | guide, examples, & templates, how to find sources | scholarly articles, books, etc..

AP ® Lang teachers: looking to help your students improve their rhetorical analysis essays?

Coach Hall Writes

clear, concise rhetorical analysis instruction.

How to Cite Sources in a Synthesis Essay

November 15, 2022 by Beth Hall

When taking AP ® Lang, you might wonder how to cite sources in a synthesis essay. The good news is that it isn’t difficult. In fact, including proper citations in a research paper is an important academic skill for high school and college.

What is a Synthesis Essay?

A synthesis essay is like a mini research paper. You use provided sources to support your argument. For more information about how to write a synthesis essay, check out this blog post.

Synthesis Sources

For the AP ® Lang exam, your prompt will have 6-8 provided sources. You MUST cite at least 3 of the sources.

Here’s a couple things to remember:

  • Citing the same source more than once only counts as one source.
  • You do not get extra credit for citing all the sources.
  • While it isn’t required, citing 2-3 sources in a paragraph helps create a conversation–just be sure you are not summarizing the sources.

Synthesis essay citations are similar parenthetical citations in MLA or APA format.

A parenthetical citation is when you reference the name of the source in parenthesis at the end of a sentence. The period goes outside the second parenthesis.

On the AP ® Lang exam, the sources will be listed on the cover page. You can refer to the sources as “Source A” or by the author’s last name. Both options are provided for you. Just be sure to be consistent. If you cite your first source as “Source A,” then continue that method throughout your essay.

While both “Source A” and the author’s last name are allowed, for timed synthesis essays, as a teacher, I find listing the source and letter a bit easier to remember. However, if you’re writing an MLA or APA format research paper, you’ll want to be sure that you’re using the correct citation method for that format.

How to Add Evidence in an Essay

When writing a synthesis essay, you’ll want to include embedded evidence. This means that you’ll “embed” or “integrate” the evidence into a sentence of your own.

For synthesis essays, there are two options for evidence: direct quotes or a paraphrase.

Selecting Evidence for Synthesis Essays

When annotating the sources, be sure to look for facts, statistics, expert testimony, or real-world examples, as these are excellent evidence to help you construct a logical argument.

As you read, look for short quotes: approximately 3-8 words. Shorter quotes are easier to embed in a sentence of your own.

If you select a quote that is 12-15 words long, you can often “scale back” by selecting the key words or breaking the quote into two quotes.

Be mindful of long quotes. Not only are the more difficult to embed but also they take time to write and throw off your evidence to commentary ratio.

In a synthesis essay, you want to have more commentary than evidence.

ICE Method for Embedded Evidence

Use the ICE method to help you remember how to embed evidence. ICE stands for introduce, cite, explain.

In academic writing, one should not have freestanding quotes, meaning that the quote should not just be “dropped” into the paragraph. It requires a “lead in.”

That’s what the “I” in ICE is for: introduce.

The most effective way to embed evidence is to integrate it into a sentence of your own. If done correctly, the quotes will be seamlessly embedded. If the sentence were read aloud, someone listening wouldn’t know the sentence contained a quote because the sentence would flow well.

Check out the example of embedded evidence with a parenthetical citation in the image below.

youtube synthesis essay

Analyzing Visual Texts

On the AP ® Lang exam, at least one of the synthesis sources will be a visual text, which can include photos, charts, graphs, comics, etc.

For more information about how to analyze a visual text, check out this video.

For comics, charts, graphs, schedules, you can quote or paraphrase the information.

For photographs, you’ll want to reference an element of the image and include the citation.

Visual texts can be helpful because they don’t take as long to “read” or analyze. However, sometimes they can be difficult to include in an essay. Don’t force it. Remember that you only need 3 different sources.

If you encounter a visual text early on in the sources and you’re not sure how to interpret it, skip it and come back to it. Chances are, the visual text might make more sense after you’ve read the other sources.

youtube synthesis essay

Can You Cite a Source in the Introduction?

Technically, yes, you can cite a source in the introduction. If you have a fact, statistic, or example that you think would help you introduce the topic, feel free to include it.

It is not required to cite a source in the introduction, and honestly, most students don’t do it.

If you are considering citing a source in the intro of your synthesis essay, make sure the intro is the best place for that information.

Remember that you’ll need to include layers of evidence and commentary in your body paragraphs as well. For the AP ® Lang exam, the bulk of the points on the rubric are for evidence and commentary, which is why 2-3 strong body paragraphs is important.

For more information about writing a synthesis essay introduction, check out this video.

Can You Cite Two Sources in One Sentence?

Yes, you can. You’ll include both sources in your parenthetical citation in the order in which they appear in the sentence. For example, if you have a quote from Source A and later on in the same sentence you have a quote from Source D, the citation would look like this: (Sources A and D) or (Source A; Source D). Either option is fine.

What to Avoid

When citing a source in a synthesis essay, it can be tempting to start the sentence with “According to Source A.” While this is allowed, it’s not the most nuanced way to introduce a source.

Instead, try to include the information from the original source. For example, “According to a 2017 New York Times article” or “According to chart from the Pew Research Center.”

You can also cite the author (or an expert quoted in the article) and their credentials. That would look like this: Daniel Shepherd, senior lecturer at the University of Technology in Auckland, claims…

Noting the person’s name and credentials sounds better than “According to Source A…”

Want more tips about how to cite sources in a synthesis essay? Then, check out this video.

AP® Lang Teachers

Looking to help your students improve their rhetorical analysis essays?

[…] Blogs https://coachhallwrites.com/how-to-cite-sources-in-a-synthesis-essay-2/ https://coachhallwrites.com/how-to-write-a-synthesis-essay/ […]

… [Trackback]

[…] Read More here: coachhallwrites.com/how-to-cite-sources-in-a-synthesis-essay-2/ […]

Latest on Instagram

youtube synthesis essay

Shop My TPT Store

  • Newsletters
  • Account Activating this button will toggle the display of additional content Account Sign out

Michiko Kakutani Was the Most Feared Woman in Publishing. What Happened?

The former new york times book critic was known for her devastating pans. how did she get so bland.

It’s hard to explain just how much power Michiko Kakutani once seemed to have in publishing. The New York Times’ book critic from 1983 to 2017, Kakutani weighed in on every important novel, memoir, and nonfiction book, speaking with the institutional authority of the world’s most important newspaper. For most of her career there was no Goodreads, no BookTok, no Amazon. For the Manhattan-centric publishing industry, Kakutani’s was the voice that rang the loudest.

A Times reporter elevated to the critic’s chair at 28, she often seemed to approach the job of book reviewing as a reportorial one: She took great notes, she assembled them smartly, and she moved on to the next story. Kakutani did seem to take seriously the reviewer’s role as consumer guide. “My job as a critic was to give honest evaluations of new books and to try to explain why I thought they were worth reading —or not,” she said after she left the paper. She didn’t shy away from the question that some critics find oversimplified, or even demeaning: Well, was it good?

Sign up for the Slate Culture Newsletter

The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox.

Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

There were times that a rave from her seemed to make a writer’s career: Mary Karr, for example, said that Kakutani’s laudatory review of her memoir The Liars’ Club felt “like having the good fairy touch you on your shoulder with her wand.” But what people mostly remember about Kakutani were her pans. She was, to her credit, fearless in print—indeed, seemed to take special delight in cutting literary lions down to size. With richly deserved hatchet job after richly deserved hatchet job, she drove Norman Mailer to distraction, such that he finally responded with a racist rant. Other writers took it on the chin with a little more grace. Nicholson Baker joked that reading her review of A Box of Matches was “like having my liver taken out without anesthesia.” Lorrie Moore once slyly remarked that “a writer friend” likes to lean over babies’ bassinets and bless them thus: “May you never be reviewed by Michiko Kakutani.”

Rereading those pans now, they often feel arbitrary and not argued with any particular verve. Kakutani’s response to an author’s career often followed a recognizable pattern, which Margaret Atwood described as “praising you one time, and then nuking you the next, just so you don’t get complacent.” You can see this pattern in Kakutani’s treatment of Zadie Smith, whose 2000 debut, White Teeth , certainly benefited from Kakutani’s plaudits . Two years later, Kakutani seemingly couldn’t wait to compare the follow-up, The Autograph Man , unfavorably: It was “dour where White Teeth was exuberant; abstract and pompous where White Teeth was brightly satiric; tight and preachy where White Teeth was expansive.” On Beauty , three years later? “After the weirdly sodden detour she took with her last novel … Ms. Smith has written a wonderfully engaging, wonderfully observed follow-up to her dazzling 2000 novel White Teeth .”

And she could keep it up for decades! NW in 2012 : “Like her disappointing second novel, The Autograph Man , NW and its paper-doll-like characters do a disservice to this hugely talented author.” Finally, in 2016, she seemed to exhaust herself, declaring Swing Time half good, half bad. The actual truth is that all these books are pretty good, and a more interesting critic, a more stylish one, might have found fruitful terrain in writing about the very different goals Smith had set herself and the ways in which those goals followed or bucked against certain trends in the fiction of the day.

But style was not the point for Kakutani. When she wasn’t impersonating a creaky fictional character , her reviews were more or less voiceless, substituting bland tics (like her much-mocked dependence on the word limn ) for crackling prose. Or perhaps a better way to say it is that her only voice was authority, the Timesian declaration of critical judgment. She never wrestled with a book, not publicly, unlike many of the critics who have followed her at the Times. She delivered her reviews with the serene assurance of the always-right, secure in her belief that she could even see into writers’ hearts to see just how deeply they were feeling.

Though she was a Pulitzer-winning star in an age when critics could still be stars, she didn’t act like one. She avoided the literary party circuit and shared so little about her life that a publicist once cracked, “We know more about J.D. Salinger.” Such was the mystery surrounding her that a rumor spread that she had dated Woody Allen, based seemingly on nothing but the fact that she interviewed him at Elaine’s and the results ended up in the Paris Review. In 1999 the new satirical website McSweeney’s had one of its first big hits with a gag essay by a white guy titled “ I Am Michiko Kakutani .” Even recently, the comedian Bowen Yang, searching for a surprising Asian character to portray in his Saturday Night Live audition, chose Kakutani , and created a larger-than-life monster to play off her shy, reclusive image.

And then, in 2017, she took a buyout and departed the Times. She’s returned to the paper now and then, mostly to write about owls , but at age 69 she’s carved out an unlikely second career as an author—not primarily of literary criticism, though she did release one of those “books to read before you die ”–type deals, the 401(k) of the retired reviewer. Kakutani’s real passion seems to be for diagnosing our modern maladies, serving as an anti-Trump chronicler of our era’s absurdities, first in 2018’s bestselling The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump and now with The Great Wave: The Era of Radical Disruption and the Rise of the Outsider .

Why has a respected and feared book critic turned to writing books, and particularly these kinds of books? Why does Michiko Kakutani want to be David Brooks, or Yuval Noah Harari, synthesizing potted history and the Way We Live Now between the pages of hardcovers? And … well … is it good?

The Great Wave: The Era of Radical Disruption and the Rise of the Outsider

By Michiko Kakutani. Crown.

Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support.

The Great Wave takes as its cover image and central metaphor Hokusai’s 1831 woodblock print of a stormy sea framing a distant Mount Fuji. “The great wave of change breaking over today’s world,” Kakutani writes in the book’s introduction, “is sweeping away old certainties and assumptions and creating an inflection point of both opportunity and danger.” But if you’re not feeling that metaphor, she’s got others! That introduction is rich with buzzwords meant to drive home the unique nature of our contemporary problem: In addition to the aquatic imagery, Kakutani mentions “the military acronym VUCA” (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity), “the butterfly effect,” “future shock,” and “adaptive breakdown.” In one paragraph she name-drops Trump, COVID, income inequality, and artificial intelligence, then adds that “looming over all of this, like Godzilla, is the dark cloud of climate change.”

Kakutani declares the 2020s a “hinge moment” in world history, and describes other such inflection points: the late Middle Ages, the end of the Gilded Age, the years between the world wars. These pages have the feel of a helpful teacher skimming through the textbook for our benefit, but even the most casual reader of history will find herself unsurprised by Kakutani’s glosses on complex moments of change. Oh, word? The Spanish flu compounded the already tectonic changes wrought by industrialization? You don’t say.

The chaos of those eras, Kakutani suggests, is suggestive of the chaos through which we’re all living now. But in attempting to limn that chaos, Kakutani reveals the shortcomings of synthesis. It simply is beyond her abilities to evoke the modern era with any kind of individual, creative language. All she has are references, and all her references are basic as hell. “It’s difficult to convey just how strange life in the third decade of the third millennium has become,” she posits. “It often feels like a preposterous mash-up of political satire, disaster movie, reality show, and horror film tropes all at once.” She laments that 2024 feels less like the future of The Jetsons and more like the future of Black Mirror .

In later chapters, as Kakutani explores the current cultural landscape, she name-drops plenty of interesting writers, musicians, and artists, from Kendrick Lamar to Jackie Sibblies Drury to Bad Bunny to “the remarkable Bowen Yang.” (I sincerely hope someone sent her a tape of his audition.) She includes a list of “first- and second-generation immigrants” whose work defines the modern literary landscape, which is only slightly updated from a list she gave the Guardian in 2020. She runs through such famous American “heroic outsiders” as Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca , Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man (?), and Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator (?!).

It’s all a gloss, that is to say, names cherry-picked to support trend-piece-level arguments about the evolution of culture. “Around the same time that graphic novels and manga were going mainstream, there was a surge of interest in fantasy and science fiction,” she writes confidently, tossing out, as examples, the very obviously unrelated phenomena of Star Wars and Maus . Any number of critics I know would be surprised to read her conclusion that unlike the metafictional novelists of the 1970s or the miniaturists of the 1980s, “the twenty-first century’s most influential artists tend to look outward toward the world at large and the unfurling vistas of history.” Yes, I thought, nodding—that’s why they call the most notable literary movement of the past 10 years auto fiction, because it’s looking aut ward.

The buzzwords, jargon, and tired cultural references reach their apogee in Kakutani’s chapter headings, which read like baroque PowerPoint slides for an undergraduate survey course about all the shit we’re already thinking about every minute of every day. I simply cannot decide which of these induced in me the deepest, most soul-weary shudder. I think it’s a three-way tie, between

There’s a role for books like this, I understand. The Great Wave will likely join other such flight-length skims on airport-bookstore display tables, offering 190 pages of synthetic, Resistance-y culture crit with a hint of literary flair—Thomas Friedman for people who like Pynchon. But it’s so impersonal, so disheartening, barely a book at all, really. Michiko Kakutani, expert reviewer, has reviewed the past 10 years. She’s read everything there is to read on the internet, and taken extensive notes, and now she’s delivering her take. Well, was it good? No—it was bad.

comscore beacon

IMAGES

  1. How to Write a Synthesis Essay

    youtube synthesis essay

  2. An Introduction to the Synthesis Essay

    youtube synthesis essay

  3. How to Write a Synthesis Essay

    youtube synthesis essay

  4. How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Analysis and Synthesis Paragraphs

    youtube synthesis essay

  5. 5 TIPS for Writing a SYNTHESIS ESSAY (Question 1)

    youtube synthesis essay

  6. AP Synthesis Essay: The Basics

    youtube synthesis essay

VIDEO

  1. Synthesis Essay Revision

  2. AP Synthesis Essay Review

  3. The Synthesis Essay

  4. How to Write SYNTHESIS CONCLUSIONS (Your Reader Will Love)

  5. AP English Language Exam Hacks: Q1 Synthesis Essay

  6. How to Write SYNTHESIS BODY PARAGRAPHS

COMMENTS

  1. How to Write a Synthesis Essay

    Wondering what a synthesis essay is? This video offers tips about how to write a synthesis essay for AP Language and Composition.Let's Connect on Social Medi...

  2. How to Write a Synthesis Essay

    Here's a step by step tutorial on how to write a synthesis essay. Synthesizing two or more sources in your essay or research paper can be tricky. Let me take...

  3. HOW TO WRITE A SYNTHESIS ESSAY

    HOW TO WRITE A SYNTHESIS ESSAY KUIDEE ONLINE CLASSROOM 1.41K subscribers 9 959 views 10 months ago KEMI TUTORIALS This is a simple tutorial outlining the steps of writing a synthesis essay...

  4. The Synthesis Essay

    Tips for success on the AP Language Exam's synthesis essay prompt.

  5. Synthesize Your Sources: How to Write the Research Essay

    605 36K views 3 years ago Research Topics & Questions When synthesizing material for the research essay, your sources may come from the school's library, a textbook, or the Internet. Keep in...

  6. Synthesis Essay!? Aaaaahhhh!!!

    A quick overview of the process of creating a synthesis statement, using HABIBI and EMMANUEL'S GIFT as examples.

  7. How to Write a Synthesis Essay, WIth Examples

    A synthesis essay is a type of essay that combines points, data, and evidence from multiple sources and turns them into one idea that the writing revolves around. In other words, the writer synthesizes their own idea using other sources' research and points.

  8. How to Cite Sources in a Synthesis Essay

    This video offers tips to help AP Lang students learn how to cite sources for a synthesis essay.Recommended VideosAnalyzing a visual text: https://www.youtub...

  9. Guide to Synthesis Essays: How to Write a Synthesis Essay

    Writing Guide to Synthesis Essays: How to Write a Synthesis Essay Written by MasterClass Last updated: Aug 19, 2021 • 4 min read The writing process for composing a good synthesis essay requires curiosity, research, and original thought to argue a certain point or explore an idea.

  10. How to Write a Synthesis Essay: The Ultimate Handbook

    What Is a Synthesis Essay: Understanding Its Nature and Purpose According to our ' write paper for me ' experts, the synthesis essay emerges as a dynamic catalyst in the realm of composition. Beyond the act of assembling disparate facts and opinions, it's a nuanced process of weaving coherence.

  11. How Do You Write a Synthesis Paragraph

    The body paragraphs are arguably the most important part of a synthesis essay because that is where you can earn up to 4 of the possible 6 points on the rubric. So, let's learn how to write a synthesis paragraph effectively. How to Write a Synthesis Essay | AP Lang Q1 Tips | Coach Hall Writes Planning Your Paragraph

  12. How to Write a Synthesis Essay

    Part 1 Examining Your Topic Download Article 1 Understand the concept of a synthesis essay. The purpose of a synthesis essay is to make insightful connections between parts of a work, or multiple works, with the goal of ultimately presenting and supporting a claim about a topic.

  13. How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay + Example

    Step 5: Write your Essay. Use the remaining 30-35 minutes to write your essay. This should be relatively easy if you took the time to mark up the sources and have a detailed outline. Remember to add special consideration and emphasis to the commentary sections of the supporting arguments outlined in your thesis.

  14. Writing 102

    Synthesis Kernel Essay Format: I. Introduce both texts (authors, titles, and common themes/traits) II. Based on these texts, I believe… (this is your claim) III. What author 1 says… (evidence with in-text citation needed) IV. What author 2 says… (evidence with in-text citation needed) V.

  15. How to Write a Synthesis Essay

    March 29, 2022 by Beth Hall Learning how to write a synthesis essay is a crucial skill for students, as it teaches the basics of writing a research paper. Approaching the Synthesis Essay Prompt

  16. How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Examples, Topics, & Outline

    A synthesis essay is an assignment that requires a unique interpretation of a particular topic using several reliable sources. To write it, you need to understand, analyze, and synthesize information. That is why this type of essay is used in the AP Lang exam to assess students' reasoning skills. The key features of the synthesis essay are:

  17. What Is A Synthesis Essay? Prepare For Your Exam

    Since the synthesis essay is part of the AP exam, it is important to look closely at how this is structured. If you take this exam, you will be given six to seven sources on a topic. You will then get 15 minutes to read those sources and 40 minutes to write three essays on an established subject. One of those essays will be a synthesis essay.

  18. Synthesis Essay Intro

    December 14, 2022 by Beth Hall When students are writing an essay, the introduction sets the tone for the entire paper. Readers will not want to continue if the hook does not draw them in. This is the case for class papers to the big essays on the AP® Lang exam.

  19. How to Write a Synthesis Essay Conclusion

    November 2, 2022 by Beth Hall If you're taking the AP ® Lang exam, you might be wondering if a synthesis essay conclusion is even necessary. You also might be wondering how to write a synthesis essay conclusion. The answer to the first question is it depends. Keep reading to find out why. Priorities When Writing a Synthesis Essay Conclusion

  20. How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Step-by-Step Guide

    1. What is a Synthesis Essay? 2. Synthesis Essay Types 3. How to Start a Synthesis Essay? 4. How to Write a Synthesis Essay? 5. Synthesis Essay Format 6. Synthesis Essay Rubric 7. How to Write a Synthesis Essay - Ap Lang 8. Synthesis Essay Tips What is a Synthesis Essay? Synthesis essay definition states:

  21. Synthesizing Sources

    This helps you to clearly see the commonalities or points of divergence among your sources. You can then synthesize these sources in your work by explaining their relationship. Example: Synthesis matrix. Lenneberg (1967) Johnson and Newport (1988) Schepens, van Hout, and van der Slik (2022) Approach.

  22. How to Teach Synthesis

    To prep, draw a continuum on the board or on your paper. If desired, write the prompt in the form of a question above the continuum. This is a photo of the synthesis sticky note continuum. Have students work independently, with a partner, or as a small group to write a claim in response to the prompt.

  23. How to Cite Sources in a Synthesis Essay

    On the AP ® Lang exam, the sources will be listed on the cover page. You can refer to the sources as "Source A" or by the author's last name. Both options are provided for you. Just be sure to be consistent. If you cite your first source as "Source A," then continue that method throughout your essay. While both "Source A" and the ...

  24. Michiko Kakutani: How did the former NYT book critic get so bland?

    And she could keep it up for decades! NW in 2012: "Like her disappointing second novel, The Autograph Man, NW and its paper-doll-like characters do a disservice to this hugely talented author ...