Synthesis No-No S and Yes-Yes S

Synthesis No-No’s and Yes-Yes’s

No-no: do not take the time to introduce the specifics of the source, no “in an article titled….” Or “in an online article…” YES-Yes: less is more- if you do not have time to fully develop a body paragraph, don’t start- partially developed ideas are not always impressive. No-No: Long introductions- the meat of the essay occurs in the body paragraphs- short intros are better! Get to the meat. Yes-yes: provide context about sources to show your understanding of the author’s argument and for the reader to better understand your argument

*context can be placed after the topic sentences or integrated into the evidence. NO-NO: Source A says….

*instead, use the author’s name or just write “the author says…”

NO-NO: not referencing sources

*include source in parenthesis AFTER the paraphrased evidence or AFTER the quoted phrase. (Source D). Yes-yes: repeat language used in thesis in topic sentence and commentary or analysis within paragraphs NO-NO: This shows, proves, says…

*What the heck is this? What does it prove/show or say? Also if you’re saying “This shows…” you’re simply repeating the evidence which is NOT analysis. Analysis connects the evidence to your thesis. NO-NO: Summarizing the source. *While you do need to show the reader you understand the main arguments in the source, you should not spend most of the paragraph summarizing a source. NO-NO: You

*Need I say more.

Yes-Yes: Bring in your own experience and outside sources…just don’t replace this with the required sources. This is a great way to add voice. Yes-Yes: Synthesis of sources

*This is hard if it does not come naturally to you. Consider this: You have a paragraph full of claims. Key here is FULL of claims. You need to supplement those claims with evidence. Enter sources. Now you need to provide context and explain the connections between the evidence and your claims. This is synthesis. Synthesis can also include: juxtaposition of sources, using the same source to prove multiple points, critique of ideas in sources (not a critique of the validity of the source- this is different).

It may look like this (thanks to Raveena for the contribution): One of the largest anomalies in American culture, Christopher Columbus, remains at the top. After years of exposing Columbus’s grotesque plunder of the American continent and surrounding islands, the US still continues to perpetuate heroic tales of the explorer. Besides having a holiday dedicated in his honor, an rhyme (In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue), Columbus was practically knighted and is often considered a hero. This distorted view was further instilled when a commemorative statue was built in a Pennsylvania park. (source B). It is ludacris that the US has immortalized a symbol for greed, racial supremacy, slavery and oppression. Meanwhile, monuments for Booker T. Washington or Susan B. Anthony remain undeveloped. Sure, there are wonderful monuments, like the Vietnam Wall, where Maya Linn took care to memorialize the so many fallen men in the Vietnam War. She considered her subject; the location proved to be effective as it is a peaceful place but what is more important is that those being memorialized deserve to be celebrated by many. (Source E)

Yes-Yes: Be sure you address all aspects of the prompt- if you only address one aspect, you’re only doing ½ of the job.

Yes-Yes: Skim all sources- then decide upon which will be most useful to you. If you only read the first three- this will be evident in your essay and could hinder your argument.