Posted: January 1st, 2023

How to write a synthesis essay simple guide

Submitting top-notch essays is one step to having a successful career.  Writing a synthesis essay is one of the most engaging tasks you will encounter throughout your academic life.  Use this guide to have a grasp on how to write a synthesis essay that will impress your professor.

If you are wondering how you will begin your synthesis essay, this blog will guide you on how to write a thesis statement and synthesis essay introduction. It is understandable when you become disoriented before writing a synthesis essay as you might have the challenge to identify the peculiarities of this task. Before choosing your synthesis essay topic, you must first understand what a synthesis essay entails.

What Is a synthesis essay?

A synthesis essay is derived from the term “synthesize,” which refers to putting pieces together. A synthesis essay expounds on connecting your ideas, concepts, and research from different sources to form a solid argument. Students’ main challenge when writing a synthesis essay is explaining how their views connect with their research sources.

Synthesis essays can take different forms depending on the writer’s main objective and the given topic.

 Types of Synthesis

1.      Explanatory synthesis essay

An explanatory essay presents your reader with a clear meaning of your topic. The main objective of this essay is to bring your audience to light what your paper entails and not argue a point.

Expound your essay in the body section of your paper using accurate sources. Support your explanation with two or more scholars.

2.      Argument synthesis essay

When writing this essay, you should support the given topic using relevant evidence. You will begin by stating your point of view, develop supporting points, and then back them using credible evidence, just like in an argumentative paper.

3.      Background synthesis essay

Most professors assign their students this type of synthesis essay at the beginning of a research project to evaluate their elitism on a specific topic. It is an essay that requires extensive research from different online sources. This type of synthesis essay is usually completed by exploring the published articles, organizing the facts of your topic, and then separating them based on the similarity of their concepts.

Having a thesis statement is not necessary for a background synthesis paper as it focuses on evaluating your understanding of the topic from various points of view. The best technique for writing a complex essay is first developing a background synthesis essay. It helps you create an engaging thesis introduction for your argumentative paper and other different research projects.

4.      Literature Review

Literature reviews are essential for different degree realms. Students from various courses have to conduct literature reviews for their main research projects. Like any other synthesis essay, a literature review requires you to conduct thorough research and analyze any published article related to your topic. After gathering all common themes, you must separate between the researched points and those under-researched.

You do not need to have a thesis statement when writing this essay, but you should conduct extensive research to present your main points on the topic when writing your paper. The main objective of this type of essay is to justify the intended study.

5.      AP language synthesis essay

When taking your APA Lang, you must complete a synthesis essay to achieve at least 55% in your final exam. If you are looking forward to securing a top grade, you must first understand how to write a synthesis essay AP Lang. This guide provides you with the steps to consider when writing your AP Lang synthesis essay.

a.      Analyze the prompt

In this step, you have to understand the essential information of this prompt by briefly explaining your topic. It helps you understand your viewpoints on the topic, whether you support or challenge your synthesis essay.

b.      Carefully review your sources.

After identifying the most important points, you need to read all the sources. This stage helps you clearly understand your topic to address the prompt accurately.

c.       Develop a solid thesis statement

Create an engaging thesis statement to ensure you have a logical flow. All that is required of you in this step is to decide how your arguments relate to the given topic.

d.      Write a concise essay outline.

Your thesis statement helps you introduce a bare-bones outline for your synthesis essay. A quality essay outline helps you grasp how you will begin writing your essay.

How to choose an intriguing synthesis essay topic?

Before you begin writing an essay, you must have a title. To achieve an A+ grade in your synthesis essay, you must use a contentious topic. Review various online articles related to your topic and find the one with well-detailed opposing viewpoints.

Step 1: Leaf through different topics and theories online. Go through the published books and take a look at the topics used to find the most interesting ones.

Step 2: Select a topic you are comfortable with, then conduct well-detailed research from reliable sources to support your points.

Step 3: Develop your synthesis essay outline by combining your ideas and theories. This enables you to have a coherent flow when writing your essay and saves you time.

A good synthesis essay topic should provide your audience with a platform where they can ask questions and present their opinions. A debatable topic helps you provide the opposing and proposing evidence when writing. It also ensures that you have detailed points to support both parts of your essay.

Examples of the most engaging topics:

• Income inequality
• Progressive taxation policy
• Immigration policy
• Drug legalization
• Gun control
• Drug abuse

Avoid using topics with outdated evidence that have been scientifically proven. Topics with a yes or no answer will be a challenge to research due to the lack of adequate data. Here is a list of topics you should avoid:

• The Flat-Earth theory
• The safety and effectiveness of vaccines
• Racial supremacy
• Does gravity exist?
• Should we trust doctors?

Synthesis Essay Organization Tips

The structure of your synthesis essay depends on the type of essay you are writing. For example, projects written at the early stages of your research only require a brief thesis statement. When writing any synthesis essay, there is a particular format that we recommend students use for them to develop an astounding document.

Here is an eye-opening guide:

ü  Develop an introduction

Make sure your synthesis paper has a catchy introduction that explains the topic and purpose of writing. Argumentative essay topics often require you to understand how to write a thesis statement for a synthesis essay to present particular positions.

ü  Arrange your body paragraphs using themes

Every paragraph in your essay should discuss all themes separately in the body. To submit a first-class essay, avoid writing your essay source by source. All your facts should be grouped according to the specific features of your research.

More than one source should support each paragraph’s research theories and facts. If you have used a thesis statement in your essay, it should also be introduced in every section of your body.

ü  Use terms that help you express your research in different parts

A synthesis essay is characterized as informative; it is important to clearly display how your research connects with the topic in discussion. By gathering accurate data from different articles, you should discuss the similarities and differences of the theories in the discussion. When writing an argumentative synthesis essay, you are supposed to highlight ideas opposing the topic and refutation your supporting statement.

ü  Conclude your essay

Wind up your synthesis essay by briefly highlighting the main theories used in the document. Your conclusion explains how every concept connects to the topic in discussion. You can also include a recommendation in this section by presenting your thoughts and sources for further research.

If you are still stranded on how to conclude a synthesis essay, we have the right expertise to help you develop one.

How to develop a synthesis essay outline?

Before you begin writing your document, you should start by drafting a synthesis essay outline. The process of writing an outline is crucial to writing a quality synthesis essay. It helps you have a well-organized essay that flows from the introduction to the conclusion.

An outline acts as a backbone of your essay that helps you stick to your topic when writing your document. The beginning of failure in your synthesis essay starts with not having an outline in your paper. Drafting an outline can take a long time, but by following the steps below, you can ease it:

v  A brief introduction

Your thesis statement should briefly explain your topic using one to three concepts.

v  Main body

A good body outline should have three to four paragraphs introduced with a new concept in every first sentence. Use credible sources to support your theories using accurate data. If you use the exact words from the original book or journal, you should quote the words as they are. Using the required citation style, you should also include your sources in the reference list.

v  The conclusion

This section will briefly present how your synthesis outline connects to your main topic. Avoid introducing any new ideas and briefly wrap up what you discussed in your introduction and body.

Structure of a Synthesis Essay

To complete a quality synthesis essay, you must conduct a detailed evaluation of your data before you begin working on the format. Writing a well-formatted paper guarantees you high grades. Understanding the synthesis essay format helps you build a great impression before your professor.

It is mainly recommended that you use a basic five-to-six paragraph structure in your essay, each introducing a new theory. Only in rare cases, like when researching a more informative topic, can the body contain more paragraphs. All your facts and ideas should be cited according to your professor’s specifications.

Be sure that you have a logical flow between paragraphs and ideas. An essay lacking a smooth flow from one section to the other will lead to a blocky and poorly written document.

How to draft an engaging synthesis essay introduction?

The most challenging part of writing is often putting your ideas on paper. Many students spend hours brainstorming ideas on how to draft outstanding documents. The most effective technique to begin working on your synthesis essay is to answer the question: “What would be eye-catching for me if I were the reader?”

You have to consider the peculiarities of the synthesis essay when developing ideas on how to write the paper. There are different techniques to begin working on your paper. The first is to introduce some unique, intriguing facts and ideas without referring to any sources.

You can also begin your essay using a quote by a prominent author that links to your topic. The main goal here is to capture your reader’s attention quickly, as the overall success of your paper will depend on the first impression you make on the reader.

How to write a synthesis essay conclusion?

Another section that almost every student finds challenging to draft is the conclusion as, for some reason, it is always simple to write an introduction and main body than it is to write the conclusion. When writing this part of your essay, the best technique is to reaffirm your thesis statement and summarize all the main points you have used to complete your document. Ensure you compose a final sentence that convinces your audience that they have read the best article.

Tips for composing a quality synthesis essay

A simple hack to use when writing a synthesis paper is conducting proper research on the given topic. To have a relevant analysis of your topic, you must understand its purpose, rhetoric, and the argument the author supports. Simply, you will be answering the question: “So what?” Then, you must develop how it can be applied and gather ideas around the collected data.

Follow these steps when writing your synthesis essay:

1.      Select an appropriate topic

Your professor might assign you an assignment on a topic you have less knowledge about to help you think outside the box. Learning new things is essential for students but is effective during your free time, not when working on an assignment for a grade.

Writing on what you understand helps you complete your essay smoothly, and it enables you to learn several concepts on your topic of interest. The goal of writing on your topic of interest is to help you improve your writing skills and achieve a top grade. Working on a new topic does not guarantee you the likelihood to secure an A+ score.

2.      Use updated and relevant sources.

Most first-year students have a challenging time gathering accurate information since they use Facebook, blogs, and other unreliable sources. It is recommended to only stick to academic journals, books, websites, and articles when researching a given topic.

3.      Reference your work properly

Using the wrong citations or not referencing your work will lead to poor grades. Students also achieve low grades when they do not follow the specifications given by their professor. This is usually common in reference styles; most students lack knowledge on how to complete their papers in different citation styles such as MLA, APA, or Harvard. Always follow the requested referencing style or seek help online from experts if you do not understand the style required.

4.      Always proofread your work.

Proofreading your paper helps you avoid grammar and spelling mistakes to submit a flawless document. Most students submit their papers immediately after they finish working on them, which leads to poor grades. You might have written a brilliant essay, but it lowers your grade due to various errors made when writing.

Once you have completed your paper, go through it several times to ensure there are no grammatical errors and ensure your paper has a logical flow. It is also helpful to check if you have done all your citations correctly. You can also use the third eye to review your paper; it can be a friend or family member; this helps you get a new opinion on the essay.

5.      Writing Techniques

Ø  Summarizing your ideas

This is one of the most straightforward techniques for structuring your paper. It helps you review the sources that relate highly to your topic. The challenge with this method is that it doesn’t include any of your independent ideas.

Ø  Examples

This is where you paraphrase the data you gather from different sources. You will write segments of the sources using your own words. You can also quote your references by restating every example you use when implementing this method.

Ø  Different reasons

Several reasons are considered to be a tremendously effective method in writing a synthesis essay. Use at least two methods.

Ø  Strawman

It is a technique that requires you to present one idea against your thesis statement. It doesn’t have to be a strong argument. This method helps you and your audience to understand the other side of the argument.

In this method, your evidence will display an introduction and description. Use an opposing opinion and decisive factor to support your argument.

Ø  Concession

When you use this technique, you will highlight the opposing viewpoint. It indicates the advantages being more solid than the cons.

Ø  Compare and Contrast

The compare and contrast technique helps authors to examine two sources at the same time. When you compare your ideas, you will present similarities, and when contrasting, you will indicate the differences. Illustrating well-detailed research of your chosen topic is possible.

Synthesis Essay Format

Your synthesis paper format follows the requested writing style by your instructor. The commonly used writing styles are MLA, APA, and Chicago styles. These styles differ in the programs you are working on. APA style is used in topics based on Education, Science, and Psychology; MLA takes form in subjects based on Humanities, and Chicago is used in Business, History, and Arts.

A.    MLA Format

Here are the key points to consider when using this MLA format:

• Times New Roman 12 pt.
• Use double-spaced font
• Use 1” margins
• The top right corner includes the last name and page number on every page
• Titles are centered
• The header should include your name, your professor’s name, course number, and the date (dd/mm/yy)
• The last page consists of a “Works Cited” page

B.     APA Format

Use these features to understand how to write a synthesis essay APA format:

• Times New Roman 12 pt.
• Writing in a double-spacing font.
• Use 1-inch margins
• Include a page header on the top of every page
• Insert page number on the top right
• The synthesis essay structure should be grouped into four sections: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References.

C.     Chicago Style

The key points for a Chicago Style are:

• Times New Roman 12 pt.
• Use double-spacing amongst the lines of the paper.
• Use one-inch margins.
• Use ½ inch indents for paragraph beginnings.
• Write with left-justified text that has a rugged edge.
• Use full names of people or organizations.
• The references should be on a different page.

Rubric for a synthesis essay

Top range (8-9 points)

• Effectively develops solid points on the assigned topic.
• Demonstrates a complete understanding of the research material or text.
• Correctly analyzes the sources and fully supports a point. The writer presents the argument, not the research materials.
• The writer’s concepts and points are convincing.
• The writer makes no overall assumptions and cites particular proof for each point. His/her research is developed and answers the “So what?” question.
• The paper is precise, well-formatted, and coherent. It is a stand-alone document rather than an exam answer.
• The essay contains very few grammatical and spelling errors. It is also written from scratch.

Middle-Range (5-7)

• Sufficiently develops accurate points on the assigned topic.
• Demonstrates a brief understanding of the ideas gathered from the sources.
• Briefly analyzes the sources and has assumptions about a particular topic. The main points are not fully highlighted. Those rated ‘5’ are less focused than a ‘6’ or a ‘7’.
• The writer’s points are sufficient but less established.
• The writer effectively develops the sources and cites them.
• The writer answers the “So what?” question but may use universal facts, overviews, and assumptions. The writer cites their own experience and specific evidence.
• The paper is concise and well-formatted. At a rating of not less than 5
• Contains a few minor errors of grammar or syntax.

Low-Range (1-4)

• Inadequately develops support points on the assigned topic.
• The author misunderstands and simplifies the points gathered from the sources.
• Over-summarizes the sources, but the arguments are not fully presented.
• The writer has weak control of the structure and organization of the paper.
• The paper contains numerous grammatical/spelling errors.
• There is a lot of copy-pasting.
• The writer does not cite the sources as requested, the reference section is omitted, or cites fewer than the required minimum number of sources.

In summary

If you were to scale the difficulty level of writing a synthesis essay, you would probably rank the task as very difficult. You can make it simple by following this guide when writing your paper.

We hope this guide has improved your skills and knowledge to write a quality synthesis paper. If you still have trouble selecting an eye-catching synthesis essay thesis or completing your synthesis essay, you can always consult us. We have a reputation for delivering quality synthesis essay writing services to students at different academic levels.  Order your synthesis paper from us today to improve your grades.