Synthesizing Sources in a Body Paragraph

Introduction

If you are breathing, you are synthesizing. It's simply a matter of making connections or putting

things together. We synthesize information naturally to help others see the connections between things.

Although at its most basic level where a synthesis involves combining two or more pieces of evidence, synthesis writing is more difficult than it might at first appear because this combining must be done in a meaningful way. Think of quotes from different sources as pieces to a jigsaw puzzle, where once they are put together, the picture becomes clear. That "picture" is the body paragraph in which you are utilizing multiple sources.

In composition courses, synthesis commonly refers to writing about texts, drawing together particular themes or traits that you observe in those texts, and organizing the material from each text according to those themes or traits. Sometimes you may be asked to synthesize your own ideas, theory, or research with those of the texts you have been assigned.

In your other college classes, you’ll probably find yourself synthesizing information from graphs and tables, pieces of music, art works, etc. The key to any kind of synthesis is the same: combining different information to support a point.

The Basics

You’re in a college composition course, and you’re asked to "synthesize." What does this even mean?

Synthesis, in its dictionary definition is: learning how to actively engage in various texts, think critically about authors’ different perspectives, and develop our own meanings.

At the very basic level, synthesis refers to combining multiple sources and ideas. When you look for areas where your sources agree or disagree and try to draw broader conclusions about your topic based on what your sources say, you are engaging in synthesis. As a writer, you will use information from several sources to create new ideas based-on your analysis of what you have read.

Therefore, in a nutshell, synthesizing finds and explicates links between materials for the purpose of constructing a a new idea.

Synthesizing vs. Summarizing

When asked to synthesize sources and research, many writers start to summarize individual sources. However, this is not the same as synthesis.

In a summary, you share the key points from an individual source and then move on and summarize another source. A summary restates the information in one or more sources without providing new insight or reaching new conclusions.

A synthesis draws on multiple sources to reach a broader conclusion. In synthesis, you need to combine the information from those multiple sources and add your own analysis of the texts. This means that each of your paragraphs will include multiple sources and citations, as well as your own ideas and voice.

Why Include a Synthesis

When you get to the upper-division and graduate levels of your academic career, you will enter the scholarly conversation on advanced topics in your field of study. Because of this, you need to show that you understand and can integrate research on these topics in a unique way that adds to the conversation.

Therefore, by synthesizing research, you are showing that you can combine current information in your field of study and add a new interpretation or analysis of those sources. You are now entering the conversation of the "experts"/sources. Your voice and ideas are being added as a legitimate contribution to your field. Cool!

Different Types of Synthesis

There are two types of syntheses: explanatory syntheses and argumentative syntheses.

• Explanatory syntheses seek to bring sources together to explain a perspective and the reasoning behind it.

• Argumentative syntheses seek to bring sources together to make an argument.

Both types of synthesis involve looking for relationships between sources and drawing conclusions.

Notice the "experts tell us" phrase that tells us that the author is combining the ideas of experts about "opposition to immigration" and then gives us examples.

Notice how the italicized portions trace the coherence in the sources expressed by the repeated key words that relate to economic objections or questions.

This is important when there are two different sources; they are made to work together to form a coherent discussion of the idea expressed in the topic sentence through the efforts of a third independent writer (YOU). And yes, it is your job to be that third "synthesizing" writer.

What to Do vs. What Not to Do (Tips)

There are several things you should keep in mind while beginning to attempt writing body paragraphs that use synthesis. Below lists things to avoid and things and things you should try to do:

What to Avoid

Here are a few things it is usually best to avoid:

1. AVOID constructing the body of your paper out of a series of summaries.

   • This is the most common error that writers fall into when first attempting this kind of essay. Since you already know how to write summaries (Remember the Critique?), it is easy to think that a synthesis is just a summary of different sources. It's not; writing a true synthesis is a different, more demanding, and more sophisticated task. Why? Because a mere collection of summaries, while much easier to produce, has one very serious shortcoming. Keep in mind that written sources dealing with the same topic typically include many of the same facts and arguments (usually just phrased differently). So, if you just summarize each source in turn, you usually end up just presenting the same ideas over and over—whether you realize it or not. It's up to you to digest and rearrange material from your sources. Simply summarizing them puts the emphasis on your sources and not where it belongs—on your thesis. Remember, your sources should provide evidence for YOUR thesis. Use your sources; don't be dominated by them.

2. AVOID bombarding your reader with undifferentiated masses of facts, examples, and
   quotations.

   • Most writers do this in an effort to be "objective." But overwhelming your readers with
     information usually does not convince, but rather confuses them. If you find your paragraphs going on for pages and 'pages, it's usually a good sign that you have NOT arranged your material for the convenience of your reader. You should organize your data to make it accessible; you should interpret the data to help the reader understand how the sources relate to each other and your thesis.

3. AVOID beginning your paragraphs by presenting quotations or facts from your sources.

   • That's an example of the cart pulling the horse. It's much easier to start by telling your reader what point YOU want to make. Remember, when writing in general it’s usually more effective to start from a general point and move to specifics. One tried and true method is to begin your paragraphs with topic sentences that spell out one of the supporting arguments for your thesis. Then use material borrowed from your sources as evidence to illustrate or elaborate the point made in your topic sentences.

What You Should Try to Do

When synthesizing, try to do the following:

1. Once you've done your research, try to start by carefully formulating your thesis. Know what point you are trying to prove and then make sure the rest of your essay sticks to that point and supports it. This is probably good advice for any kind of essay, but especially important for this kind. Synthesized essays, like the Multiple Source and Researched essays, require that you draw on more source material than you might be used to. Having a well formulated thesis will keep you and your readers from getting bogged down in competing facts and opinions.

2. Try to write complete sentences stating each of the supporting points you want to use to support your main point—or thesis. Then use these sentences as topic sentences for your paragraphs. This way each paragraph can proceed from the general supporting point of the topic sentence to specific facts, quotes, and paraphrases from your sources (material that gives authority to your own points). You can draw on points from your sources in order to expand, develop, support, and/ or illustrate your main ideas.

3. For specific facts, quotations, and paraphrases, always identify your sources. Introduce quotations by putting the name of the writer you drew the material from into your text whenever possible, preferably before the quoted material. If you are quoting someone, it's always a good idea to tell your reader why he or she should listen to that person. Tell your reader something about the quoted writer to establish him or her as an expert or an authority. Remember, for any borrowed material you use, you will need to be sure to provide citations in the text that will direct your audience to more complete information about your sources on the Works Cited page.

What to Do vs. What Not to Do (Example Paragraphs)

Below are two examples of synthesis: one where synthesis is NOT utilized well, and one where it is.

Example 1:

Parents are always trying to find ways to encourage healthy eating in their children. Elena Pearl Ben-Joseph, a doctor and writer for Kids' Health, encourages parents to be role models for their children by not dieting or vocalizing concerns about their body image. The first popular diet began in 1863. William Banting named it the “Banting” diet after himself, and it consisted of eating fruits, vegetables, meat, and dry wine. Despite the fact that dieting has been around for over a hundred and fifty years, parents should not diet because it hinders children’s understanding of healthy eating.

In this sample paragraph, the paragraph begins with one idea then drastically shifts to another. Rather than comparing the sources, the author simply describes their content. This leads the paragraph to veer in an different direction at the end, and it prevents the paragraph from expressing any strong arguments or conclusions.

An example of a stronger synthesis can be found below:

Example 2:

Parents are always trying to find ways to encourage healthy eating in their children. Different scientists and educators have different strategies for promoting a well-rounded diet while still encouraging body positivity in children. David R. Just and Joseph Price suggest in their article “Using Incentives to Encourage Healthy Eating in Children” that children are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables if they are given a reward (855-856). Similarly, Elena Pearl Ben-Joseph, a doctor and writer for Kids Health, encourages parents to be role models for their children. She states that “parents who are always dieting or complaining about their bodies may foster these same negative feelings in their kids. Try to keep a positive approach about food” (Ben-Joseph). Martha J. Nepper and Weiwen Chai support Ben-Joseph’s suggestions in their article “Parents’ Barriers and Strategies to Promote Healthy Eating among School-age Children.” Nepper and Chai note, “Parents felt that patience, consistency, educating themselves on proper nutrition, and having more healthy foods available in the home were important strategies when developing healthy eating habits for their children.” By following some of these ideas, parents can help their children develop healthy eating habits while still maintaining body positivity.

In this example, the author puts different sources in conversation with one another. Rather than simply describing the content of the sources in order, the author uses transitions (like "similarly") and makes the relationship between the sources evident.

Helpful Tools

Now that you have an idea of how to synthesize sources within a body paragraph, utilize these tools to help you with your own papers:

• This tutorial does a nice job at teaching what synthesis is and how to do it.

• This synthesis matrix provides a table to help you organize your sources in a way that helps you synthesize them.

Wrap-Up

Feeling blown away? Relax. Remember, put to use your skills of summarizing and analyzing that you have been using all semester to use. You've got this!

Synthesis, just like everything else you've learned, is a process, one that with practice, will eventually become second nature to you. :)