Background and history of your topic
english
Description
A synthesis is something
that is created from disparate elements to create something new. A
research paper is a type of synthesis in that a research paper combines
different sources to create a new paper.
For this
assignment, you are to write a short explanatory synthesis on your
research topic, using two or three of your sources. An explanatory
synthesis does not make an argument; for this assignment, you are to focus on
explaining your topic in some way. This can take the form of:
- Background and history of your topic
- Description of differing viewpoints on your topic
- A detailed discussion of one of your primary subtopics
As you are not writing
an argumentative essay, there should be little if any opinion in your
paper. The focus here should be on an objective report based on your
source material.
Because you will be
using source material in this paper, you will need to cite those
sources--both in-text and in a Works Cited list.
As you will be using
three to four sources, your paper should be two pages long not counting
the Works Cited page.
A synthesis should not
be a series of summaries from your sources, with one summary following
another. Your sources should be blended together with your own thoughts
to create one seamless whole. Your sources should complement and overlap
one another, so that you don't have a different viewpoint in every source you
use. Whenever possible, you want to use more than one source to support a
point. Using multiple sources as support for your claims gives the
impression that you have done good research and have a strong basis for what
you are saying.
