Six Moves for Successful Synthesis Essay Writing

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Six Moves for Successful Synthesis Essay Writing

• Read
• Analyze
• Establish a position
• Converse on position
• Develop a thesis
• Argue position and cite sources

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First, read and annotate

• Underline, highlight, and write short remarks
  beside the text or graphic.

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Second, Analyze the Text

• What claim is the source making?
• What concrete details does the source offer?
• What are the assumptions or beliefs (explicit
  
• or unspoken) that warrant using this evidence
  or data to support the claim?

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Third, Find and Develop a Position

• The writer should ask, "What are two or three (or
  more) possible positions on this issue that I
  could take?
• Which of those positions do I really want to
  take? Why?"

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Avoid a Hasty Generalization!

• A stronger, more mature, more persuasive essay
  will result if the writer resists
  oversimplification.
• The best arguments are those in which the thesis
  and development show clearly that the writer
  has given some thought to the nuances and
  complexities of the assigned topic.

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Fourth, Converse on Your Position

• The writer needs to imagine presenting each of
  his or her best positions on the issue to each of
  the authors of the provided sources in a refined,
  detailed manner.
• Would the author agree with the writer's
  position? Why? Disagree? Why? Want to
  qualify it in some way? Why and how?

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Fifth, Craft a Thesis

• This proposition or thesis should appear
  relatively quickly in the composition, after a
  sentence or two that contextualizes the topic or
  issue.

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Finally, Cite Sources

• Three to five sources must be cited.
• Sources must be quoted and not generally
  paraphrased.
• Cite as follows
• According to author Jerald Diamond,
  Easter Island is Earth writ small.
• Easter Island is Earth writ small
  (Diamond).

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Works Cited

• David Jolliffe, professor of English at the
  University of Arkansas in Fayetteville
• Jolliffe, David. Six Moves Towards Success. AP
  Central. 2007. Feb. 18 2008. http//apcentral.coll
  egeboard.com