Synthesis Essay

Synthesis

refers to combining sources and your own position to form a cohesive, supported argument.

To do so, you will develop a thesis, and then you will use two sources to reinforce your ideas.

For this unit, you will be writing about an issue that is shown in the two of your chosen articles. Over the next several weeks, you will learn to identify and then construct a well-reasoned argument using rhetorical appeals. In your essay, you will also incorporate material from a THIRD source that you find online or through the library that correlates with the chosen subject.

IMPORTANT!

Each paragraph must explore an aspect of your main argument (thesis) and use evidence from two sources. But be careful about overly long paragraphs! This is essentially a rehearsal for your research paper, in which you will integrate many sources into an essay. The point is to show how the sources work together to support your argument, NOT to simply compare and contrast the sources.

Purpose:

To learn to synthesize multiple texts into an argument, while maintaining a position (thesis)

unique to the writer. You will also demonstrate the ability to find and use credible sources.

Message:

You will be adding to already ongoing academic conversation about your subject.

Audience:

The synthesis essay must be addressed to educated readers who have already read the articles

. This is not a book report; DO NOT SIMPLY SUMMARIZE WHAT THE TEXTS SAY. Keep in mind that the audience will not necessarily agree with your argument, so you need to be objective and impartial.

Format:

Your synthesis essay must be 1200-1500 words (about 4-5 pages),using proper APA format and citation

. You will include an Abstract and a References page, but they do not count towards your word minimum.

Choose two articles from the following list

. Be sure to annotate your text or take notes on your computer. Pay attention to how the texts intersect. Do they agree with each other? Disagree? Do they

examine different aspects of the same topic? Next, look online for an outside article that correlates with the subject and once again, examine how it correlates to both of these articles.

1.Jennifer Wehunt, The Food Desert

2.Patricia Allen, The Disappearance of Hunger in America

3.Julie Guthman, Cant Stomach It: How Michael Pollan et al. Made Me Want to Eat Cheetos

4.Michael Pollan, Our National Eating Disorder

5.Hank Shaw, On Killing

6.David Foster Wallace, Consider the Lobster