“What They Say, What I Say” – Planning for a Synthesis Essay

INTRODUCTION:

Can you think of a quotation, an anecdote (either from your own life or from someone you know), or something else, even a question, that hints at the central idea you have chosen to write about -- humor? professors? teaching methods? classes? why people choose or decide to go to college?  What is something you can do in the first 1-2 sentences of the introduction to grab your reader’s interest?  (See LBB pages 66-68 and the course website.)

Thesis Statement:

BODY PARAGRAPH #1:

What is your main idea?

Which writer or writers that we read had something to say about this idea?  What did they say?

What do you think of what this writer or these writers have to say?  Do you agree or disagree?  Do you like or dislike this idea?  Does anything apply to your life or not?  Do you see others having a different experience?  Do you see this differently than they did?

BODY PARAGRAPH #2:

What is your main idea?

Which writer or writers that we read had something to say about this idea?  What did they say?

What do you think of what this writer or these writers have to say?  Do you agree or disagree?  Do you like or dislike this idea?  Does anything apply to your life or not?  Do you see others having a different experience?  Do you see this differently than they did?

BODY PARAGRAPH #3:

What is your main idea?

Which writer or writers that we read had something to say about this idea?  What did they say?

What do you think of what this writer or these writers have to say?  Do you agree or disagree?  Do you like or dislike this idea?  Does anything apply to your life or not?  Do you see others having a different experience?  Do you see this differently than they did?

BODY PARAGRAPH #4:

What is your main idea?

Which writer or writers that we read had something to say about this idea?  What did they say?

What do you think of what this writer or these writers have to say?  Do you agree or disagree?  Do you like or dislike this idea?  Does anything apply to your life or not?  Do you see others having a different experience?  Do you see this differently than they did?

BODY PARAGRAPH #5:

What is your main idea?

Which writer or writers that we read had something to say about this idea?  What did they say?

What do you think of what this writer or these writers have to say?  Do you agree or disagree?  Do you like or dislike this idea?  Does anything apply to your life or not?  Do you see others having a different experience?  Do you see this differently than they did?

BODY PARAGRAPH #6:

What is your main idea?

Which writer or writers that we read had something to say about this idea?  What did they say?

What do you think of what this writer or these writers have to say?  Do you agree or disagree?  Do you like or dislike this idea?  Does anything apply to your life or not?  Do you see others having a different experience?  Do you see this differently than they did?

CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH:

Restate Thesis Statement:

Can you think of a way to end your paper that will be memorable and will stick in the minds of your readers?  Can you do something that will get your readers to “think beyond” your paper?  (See LBB pages 68-69 and the course website.)