A Complete Tutorial On Synthesis Essay Writing

This is a short but comprehensive tutorial showing you how to write what is known as a synthesis essay. It also guides and reminds novice writers on the principles and techniques required to produce a functional academic paper. Firstly, an explanation of what is meant by synthesis essay writing is given.

Explaining the term

Most students, particularly those new to academia, do not know what is meant by the term. To assist you, a brief definition is given, and an explanation of what is expected of you during your project work is given. The word ‘synthesis’ refers to a collection of objects (or subjects). In the context of this tutorial, it also refers to the collection of data, information, and references from a variety of sources.

This means that during your research you will not be relying on one reference area, but on many to compile multiple points of view. It also reminds students that in order to produce a quality assignment of a high academic standard, the scope of sourced information should be as broad as possible. This ensures accurate and quality information will be added to your paper.

Collecting information

Given the above explanation, researched work is indicative of a number of practical exercises and not just restricted to conventional close reading practice. Here, a few main examples are highlighted.

• Peer reviews – The effectiveness of sourcing the right information is also dependent on how far you are prepared to go with listening and reading about what other colleagues/students have already produced.
• Interviews – Particularly where case studies/histories may be required to substantiate your dissertation notes, talking to at least three different experts, and/or subjects provide you with an accurate case study file.
• Visual presentations – Fact-finding extends to documentaries and feature productions (depending on the subject). When viewing movies, for instance, always check the additional special features that the DVD packs includes.

Academic conventions

Do not forget that in spite of your proactive approach to field work (as suggested above) you still need to verify all the information you have collected. You need to know how accurate it is and check the credibility of your sources. Long before you begin writing, you should already be familiar with the disciplined practice of note-taking throughout your project work.

This short tutorial has briefly shown you what is expected of you during the process of writing in line with the productive technique of a syntheses presentation.