How To Write A Great Synthesis Essay From Scratch
A synthesis essay is one which combines various external sources of information (books/journals) on a specific topic with your own ideas. Here is a recommended plan to follow to write an excellent synthesis essay from scratch:
- Step 1: Collecting Sources and Formulating a thesis
- Step 2: Planning
- Step 3: Writing
- Start with a topic sentence (stating the main point that you will begin to discuss)
- Add the evidence - the short description of your source will come in handy here. Be sure to add the name of the writer, either by quotation, a short summary or paraphrasing.
- Close the paragraph by emphasising your point (this could be by adding your own ideas/thoughts)
- Step 4: Review your work
After making sure you fully understand the topic, research various sources online as well as library books and journals to collect important information from other writers making sure to note down their names. It can be helpful to write a short summary of each source making sure you have taken a note of where it has come from. Explore the arguments of other writers on the issue and reflect on these to create your own opinion.
As with any essay, a good plan is the recipe for a clear and well-structured result. Begin by managing each of your sources to create an outline by structuring each piece of evidence to support your thesis.
Begin with a thesis sentence- this should explain the main focus, followed by an introduction which presents each of your sources.
For each of the paragraphs, follow these three steps
Complete with a final paragraph which highlights your thesis sentence in different words, and brings all your information together in relevant themes which support your argument.
Include a page at the end for ‘Works Cited’, which would be a list of your sources.
Ensure that the essay flows well with a logical progression. Make sure you have included a thesis sentence in both your introduction and conclusion as well as topic sentences at the beginning of the paragraph for each supporting point. It may be necessary here to remove any information which is not relevant or add it to a paragraph where it would make more sense. Finally check for spelling and grammar and correct the formatting.
Just follow the steps above and you will be on your way to writing a great synthesis essay.