Vaccine article

WHAT IS A SYNTHESIS?
A synthesis is a written discussion that draws from several sources. It follows that the ability to
write syntheses depends on one’s ability to infer relationships among sources – journal articles,
research, essays, white papers, editorials, opinion papers, and can even include non-written
sources, such as lectures, interviews, observations. This process is not so novel since we make
infer relationships all the time – say, between something on the news and something experienced
oneself. In an academic synthesis, the writer makes explicit the relationships inferred among
separate sources.
The skills practiced in this course will be vital in writing syntheses. Clearly, before drawing
relationships between two or more sources, one must understand what those sources say and
analyze the sources for credibility and accuracy; in other words, the writer must be able to
summarize and evaluate these sources. It will frequently be helpful for the reader if the writer
provides at least partial summaries of sources in the synthesis. At the same time, it is expected
students go beyond summary to make judgments – judgments based, of course, on critical
reading and analysis of the sources – as practiced in response essays (précis and critical analysis)
– drawing conclusions about the quality and validity of these sources; and including
agreement/disagreement with the points made in the sources, and the reasons for agreement or
disagreement.
TWO TYPES OF SYNTHESES
The Exploratory Synthesis: An exploratory or thesis-driven synthesis helps readers to
understand a topic. Writers explain when they divide a subject into its component parts and
present them to the reader in a clear and orderly fashion. Explanations may entail descriptions
that re-create in words some object, place, event, sequence of events, or state of affairs. The
purpose in writing an exploratory essay is not to argue a particular point, but rather to present the
facts in a reasonably objective manner. The exploratory synthesis does not go much beyond what
is obvious from a careful reading of the sources. Exploratory syntheses are often used in a
literature review or background and synthesis section of a longer manuscript. This type of
synthesis may become a part of, or a beginning to, an argumentative synthesis. Argument essays
will include sections that are exploratory in nature.
The Argument Synthesis (Paper 4): The purpose of an argument synthesis is for students to
present a personal point of view – supported by relevant facts, drawn from sources, and presented
in a logical manner. The thesis of an argumentative essay is debatable. It makes a proposition
about which reasonable people could disagree, and any two writers working with the same
source materials could conceive of and support other, opposite theses.
For this assignment (Paper 3), students will select a set high quality literary sources from those
provided in a topic area of interest. Students must use the three sources from those provided as a
basis for the exploratory synthesis essay (no additional sources). Students should fully review
those sources using the techniques outlined previously for the critical analysis essay.
Review Kennedy & Kennedy (2012), chapter 6, pp.170-177 for the process of writing a
synthesis.
Create an outline before writing. Use the techniques of developing a “basic 5 paragraph
essay”, adding paragraphs as they support the thesis. Use topic sentences and transition
sentences.
** AFTER Draft- Review Kennedy and Kennedy (2012) pp. 187-189 for steps in revising
synthesis essays. Also note pp. 105-114 for revision pointers with special attention to style.
Paper 3 Structure/Components:
Student Title Page
Body
 Introduce the content/ identify the topic, problem or issue for the reader. Ideally this is in
YOUR OWN WORDS. Following, you can introduce what your sources say through
paraphrase and appropriate citing.
 Perform Critical Analysis on each text and par down findings: Summarize,
discuss claims, acknowledge agreement, weaknesses, bias, provide evidence.
 It may be helpful to alternate a critique of single sources with summary sources
use bold, compelling broad statements and cite several authors that take the same
point of view (multiple source citing).
 Formulate a working thesis/topic in the essay and organize the work based on one of the
methods described in the text (exploratory, literature review, or thesis-driven)
 Develop supporting paragraphs to synthesize findings from all sources.
 From analysis, examine the common threads or controversial points running through the
sources
 Classify subtopics common to the sources (Level Headers are useful guides)
o Identify relationships among the sources: a historical context, cause and effect, for
example
 Conclude with points for further discussion, relevance, gaps (“so what-who cares?”).
Reference page
Format
 Title Page: Student title page format, original title
 Introduces the work in your own words.
 Initial summary/paraphrase provides the reader context- this is cited.
 Written in clear and concise language, includes elements of paraphrase (single and
multiple source citing), critique/analysis, and synthesis.
 Follows APA format including spelling, syntax and punctuation. Correct title page,
reference page, in-text citations, and margins.
o This essay will lend itself to using Level Headers. Review APA manual for
suggestions.
 Use MS Word formatting tools, including inserting a PAGE BREAK between title page,
body, and reference pages.
 Length: 4-5 pages (excluding title page and references). Be succinct!

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