Synthesizing sources refers to the process of combining information from multiple sources in order to gain a deeper understanding of a topic or to create a new piece of work. This process involves carefully evaluating and comparing the various sources, identifying any similarities and differences, and using this information to draw conclusions or create a new argument. Synthesizing sources is an important skill in both academic and professional settings, as it allows individuals to build upon the knowledge of others in order to contribute to the existing body of research or to develop new ideas.
There are several key steps involved in synthesizing sources. The first step is to gather a diverse range of sources on the topic of interest. This can include books, journal articles, websites, and other types of media. It is important to select sources that are reputable and reliable, as well as those that represent a range of perspectives on the topic.
The next step is to carefully read and evaluate each source, taking notes and highlighting important information. It may be helpful to create a summary or outline of each source, in order to better understand the main points and arguments being made. As you read and evaluate the sources, it is also important to consider any biases or limitations that may affect the accuracy or reliability of the information being presented.
Once you have thoroughly reviewed the sources, it is time to begin synthesizing the information. This can involve identifying common themes or ideas that are present across multiple sources, as well as looking for any areas of disagreement or debate. You may also want to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each source, and how they compare to one another.
Finally, you can use the information you have gathered and synthesized to create a new argument or conclusion. This may involve drawing on the ideas and evidence presented in the sources, as well as adding your own insights and ideas. It is important to clearly and accurately cite the sources you have used, in order to give credit to the original authors and to provide evidence for your own claims.
In conclusion, synthesizing sources is a crucial skill that allows individuals to build upon the knowledge of others in order to develop new insights and arguments. By carefully evaluating and comparing multiple sources, and using this information to create a new understanding of a topic, individuals can make valuable contributions to the field of study and advance our collective understanding of the world around us.
What Does It Mean to Synthesize for Writing Assignments?
Their research seemed to confirm that young learners acquire a second language more easily than older learners. Synthesis is where you take multiple pieces of evidence or multiple sources and their ideas and you talk about the connections between those ideas or those sources. Do the sources focus on the same points, or do they look at the issue from different angles? So it's adding to it, it's kind of commenting on this evidence. According to Bohmbach in her book Eco-Lutheranism, ecology and environment together with human interaction form a complex system that creates competition for all stakeholders; the organisms, the human beings and the environment that man creates for the organisms 2013. It is critical to be able to objectively paraphrase and summarize. One of those defense mechanisms is called denial. An explanatory synthesis essay would normally investigate similarities and differences between different ideas.
But it goes beyond that—it helps you stay skeptical, evaluate multiple points of view, build stronger arguments, and be more well-informed. Quoting Quotations are best used when used sparingly. Conti 2008 continues to say that researchers of biology have proved that ecology and evolution are progressions that intermingle with each other bringing out results that mean and say that indeed our understanding of the same has to change and we must begin to acknowledge the fact that the two have a relationship that is interdependent on either of them and none can be wished away. This can be seen in her views on the worth of life: Security is mostly a superstition. As it is known, forests are a great contributor to water and the absence of the same means less water and the result is death of the sea animals.
The two major types of synthesis essays are argumentative and explanatory. That means that you condense the all-encompassing point in the paragraph into one sentence. Star Wars, on the other hand, is all about survival. The method you choose depends on which is the best way to make the point you are trying to make in using that particular information from the source. So all of these are examples, all of these sentences in bold, are examples of analysis. There are three ways to incorporate information from other sources into your paper: quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing. Apply denial to a hypothetical situation.
A literature review is not an annotated bibliography, organized by title, author, or date of publication. I looked at raw data to analyze trends. You can also include columns for your own evaluation and analysis. To do so, he cites numerous sources that are both in favor of raising the minimum wage and against it. Excited, everyone starts talking about where comets come from and if they present a risk to earth. Does it confirm or challenge the findings of past research? The major types of synthesis essay Synthesis essays are mainly of two types, but both generally follow the same structure and formatting.
. And then the second sentence, because there's no citation, that's where the the reader knows that the author is adding their own analysis. Once you have a clear idea of how each source positions itself, put them in conversation with each other. Whatever your answer might be, you will be synthesizing. The writer then uses objective essays and data to argue and justify their point of view. The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History.
This will help you to synthesize, much like the campfire examples mentioned earlier. Quotations should only be used in paraphrases when there are special words or wording that cannot be paraphrased. Believe it or not, they are made from a combination of sap from the mallow plant — plus egg whites and a little sugar. He looked at 17 females and 18 males and found that none of them liked APA. You may also wish to introduce a quote if you plan on disagreeing with the source since using the exact words helps the reader understand the differences between your position and the position in the source and helps to show that you are fairly representing the source. This time, however, not all the details are included.
Have you been asked to synthesize material for a writing assignment? Get inspiration from over. And you're putting together those pieces for the reader and saying, look, this is the overall picture, right? A reader would not know how many, if any at all, of the preceding sentences had information from that source. Audio: All right, another example. Any such substitutions, additions or omissions should not result in quoting out of context where the meaning of the quote is changed. Synthesis Writing — What It Means and How to Do it! Others call this evolution. Research is not about finding sources which support your position. Weaving It All Together As you can see, the synthesis skills you learn in school can help you in virtually any aspect of life.
Synthesis is a ten-dollar word to describe the combination of two or more ideas or concepts into your writing using your own words. Synthesis essays go beyond summarizing scholarly articles and research papers; they need to be synthesized to see how they fit. Writing a research paper usually requires synthesizing the available sources in order to provide new insight or a different perspective into your particular topic as opposed tosimply restating what each individual source says about your research topic. Notice how I wrote the response. Hopefully, the answer to that question is the later.
Analyzing & Synthesizing Sources: Analysis: Definition and Examples
When you are asked to summarize, your instructor is requesting that you break down the major highlights of a theory, case study, concept or news story. What do you want the reader to walk away from that paragraph knowing, understanding, or believing? Audio: Analysis is really, you're interpreting, you're commenting on, you're explaining, your discussion of, or making connections between ideas for your reader. For example, you might include columns for things like aims, methods, variables, population, sample size, and conclusion. Their findings suggest that young learners acquire a second language more easily than older learners. The category of people who write synthesis essays the most are college and high school students. For each study, you briefly summarize each of these aspects.
Explanatory syntheses seek to bring sources together to explain a perspective and the reasoning behind it. This is a tool that you can use when researching and writing your paper, not a part of the final text. I kind of like to think of synthesis as taking two pieces of a puzzle. The Selfish Cell: Evolutionary Defeat. Step 3: Write paragraphs with topic sentences What sets a synthesis apart from a summary is that it combines various sources. If you are quoting for more than four lines not sentences , you need to set the quote off from the text. Two different sources, two different ideas.