Synthesis essays are frequent assignments in each highschool and college, however that doesn’t imply they’re straightforward or that everybody is aware of easy methods to write them. On this information, we talk about all the things you want to know as a way to write one your self. We speak about synthesis essay construction and supply some basic suggestions, plus we make clear any confusion between a synthesis essay versus an argumentative essay.

What’s a synthesis essay?

A synthesis essay is a kind of essay that mixes factors, knowledge, and proof from a number of sources and turns them into one concept that the writing revolves round. In different phrases, the author synthesizes their very own thought utilizing different sources’ analysis and factors. Normally, synthesis essays are a kind of analytical essay, however they’ve crossover with different varieties of essays as effectively, similar to argumentative essays.

The central thought in a synthesis essay is represented by the thesis assertion, a sentence that succinctly explains the principle level of the essay. In a synthesis essay, this “new” thought normally consolidates the details and/or findings of different sources.

Synthesis essay construction

Making a stable synthesis essay construction is without doubt one of the hardest elements of writing a synthesis essay. Not like most different essay outlines, a top level view for a synthesis essay has to incorporate factors from a number of sources, and such mixtures don’t all the time have a logical or chronological sequence. That will help you out, listed here are three methods for making a synthesis essay construction and pattern outlines that you should utilize as templates.

Synthesis essay construction 1: By matter

The primary type of synthesis essay construction includes discussing every matter individually, mentioning every supply’s perspective on it, after which transferring on to the following matter. This strategy permits you to evaluate or be part of collectively factors made by totally different sources about the identical particular matter.

Structuring your synthesis essay by matter works finest for extra difficult concepts with totally different elements that needs to be explored individually.

Instance define:

I. Introduction
A. Thesis assertion

II. Matter 1
A. Supply A discussing Matter 1
1. Some extent or piece of proof/knowledge from Supply A about Matter 1
2. One other level or piece of proof/knowledge from Supply A about Matter 1
3. [Etc.]

B. Supply B discussing Matter 1
1. Some extent or piece of proof/knowledge from Supply B about Matter 1
2. [Etc.] 

III. Matter 2
A. Supply A discussing Matter 2
B. [Etc.] 

IV. Matter 3
A. [Etc.]

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

V. Conclusion
A. Revisit thesis assertion

Synthesis essay construction 2: By supply

Alternatively, you may set up your synthesis essay construction by supply: You talk about the details of 1 supply collectively after which transfer on to a different supply. This strategy permits you to compartmentalize the details in keeping with the place they arrive from however finally deliver collectively the details from totally different sources.

Structuring your synthesis essay by supply works finest once you need to emphasize the sources themselves over the factors they make. For instance, when you had been utilizing the sort of construction for an argumentative essay, you would possibly need to totally talk about the supply you’re refuting earlier than making your counterargument.

Instance define:

I. Introduction
A. Thesis assertion

II. Supply 1
A. Supply 1 discussing Matter A
1. Some extent or piece of proof/knowledge from Supply 1 about Matter A
2. One other level or piece of proof/knowledge from Supply 1 about Matter A
3. [Etc.]

B. Supply 1 discussing Matter B
1. Some extent or piece of proof/knowledge from Supply 1 about Matter B
2. [Etc.]

III. Supply 2
A. Supply 2 discussing Matter A
B. Supply 2 discussing Matter B
C. [Etc.]

IV. Supply 3
A. [Etc.]

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

V. Conclusion
1. Revisit thesis assertion

Synthesis essay construction 3: Mix

The synthesis essay constructions above are in no way set in stone. You’re free to adapt or modify them nonetheless you want and might even mix them.

For instance, what if there’s a particular supply that stands out from the others? You would start your synthesis essay by discussing every matter individually in order that your reader understands the problem. Then you can swap it up and embrace a bit only for that one particular supply, explaining that supply’s stance on the beforehand mentioned matters.

3 suggestions for writing a synthesis essay

1
Give you a powerful thesis assertion

As talked about above, a thesis assertion is a single sentence that briefly explains the principle level of your essay. In a synthesis essay, the thesis assertion ought to successfully deliver collectively the concepts and factors from a number of different sources.

A part of writing a powerful thesis assertion comes from selecting your essay matter. Choose a subject that’s broad sufficient to have adequate analysis and sufficient different sources discussing it however particular sufficient that you may cowl all the things.

As for writing the precise thesis assertion, a useful methodology is to phrase your matter as a query after which reply it. The reply might be a superb begin to your thesis assertion sentence. For instance, let’s say your matter is how Denmark got here to be first in clear vitality. You would phrase the query and reply as:

Q: “Why is Denmark the main nation in renewable vitality?”

A: “Denmark is first in clear vitality thanks partly to vitality conservation from district heating, mixed heat-and-power stations, and its use of small, regionally primarily based energy vegetation as a substitute of bigger ones.”

That reply might double as your thesis assertion and mentions a few of the different varieties of sources you employ in your essay.

2
Learn all of the sources fastidiously

A synthesis essay is just pretty much as good as its sources. The character of a synthesis essay is to construct on its sources, so you want to select the perfect ones and perceive every of them completely.

Be sure to comb via your sources so that you don’t miss a superb level or piece of proof you can use in your essay. It helps to give you your thesis assertion early on so you may search for factors associated to it once you’re studying.

3
Write a gripping introduction

One of many keys to any good essay, synthesis or not, is a powerful opening. That is partially decided by your thesis assertion, however the different sentences in your introduction additionally make a huge impact.

For starters, you may study easy methods to write a hook. In writing, a hook is one thing that grabs the reader’s consideration and makes them need to maintain studying. Hooks can primarily be something attention-grabbing. Some frequent methods for writing hooks embrace utilizing private anecdotes to create an emotional connection or offering thrilling details/statistics that the reader may not know.

Moreover, the introduction must also clarify the scope of your matter and set the scene for individuals who aren’t acquainted with it. The objective of the introduction is to organize the reader for what follows in order that afterward you may transition straight into making your factors.

Synthesis essay vs. argumentative essay

Synthesis essays are sometimes in comparison with argumentative essays, which try to refute, debunk, or criticize present concepts or different analysis. The reality is that the 2 will not be mutually unique. Though synthesis essays are typically analytical or expository, they can be argumentative.

A synthesis essay is any essay that mixes concepts from a number of sources to create a brand new unified thought. If that new thought is a rebuttal to a preexisting thought and all the essay is written as a critique, then the essay could be each synthesis and argumentative.

Synthesis essay FAQs

What’s a synthesis essay?

A synthesis essay is a kind of essay that mixes factors, knowledge, and proof from a number of sources and turns them into one unified thought. In different phrases, the author synthesizes their very own thought utilizing different sources’ analysis and concepts.

What is an efficient synthesis essay construction?

Historically, the frequent approaches to making a synthesis essay construction are organizing by matter or organizing by supply. The former means you talk about every supply’s perspective on a subject earlier than transferring to the following matter; the latter means you talk about one supply’s stance on every matter after which transfer to a different supply. You can too create a hybrid construction of the 2 for explicit topics.

What’s the distinction between a synthesis essay and an argumentative essay?

Synthesis essays are sometimes contrasted with argumentative essays, however the fact is that the 2 will not be mutually unique. For instance, an argumentative essay can use the format of a synthesis essay—combining factors from a number of sources to kind a brand new unified thought—as a way to refute a preexisting thought.