"Writing a Synthesis," pages 138-149 in From Inquiry to Academic Writing should be your guide. It explains what a synthesis is and how to write one.

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Why write a synthesis? Think of Friedman as one voice in a global conversation on a critical problem. You've just worked on understanding his ideas well enough to summarize them. The next step is to find out what the other voices in the conversation have to say. This assignment invites you to develop a sense of the larger intellectual debate around the issue. Your synthesis will present a picture of this debate by comparing Friedman's ideas with one or two other major thinkers'. You will practice research skills and finish with a stronger base of knowledge from which to develop and support your own opinions on the issues at stake.

Requirements:

• Your essay should be at least three pages long.
• The one or two other texts you choose should be closely related to the main idea(s) of your chapter. They should present some ideas that differ from Friedman's either because they disagree or because they introduce additional considerations. These texts should be from reputable, edited publications such as major magazines or newspapers (not Wikipedia or a blog). Their authors should be respected journalists, public intellectuals, professors, politicians or other people recognized as authorities in their fields. Finally, the texts you write about should total a minimum of 2,500 words or ten printed pages.
• The thesis should relate the ideas of the three authors. See the examples in Inquiry.
• The introduction should give background information on the three authors and texts.
• The essay should include at least three body paragraphs.
• Each should include a focused topic sentence that summarizes the main point of the paragraph.
• Each body paragraph should include quotations and paraphrases.
• Use appropriate signal phrases (such as those listed in section 54b in Rules for Writers) to integrate each quotation or paraphrase smoothly into your own sentence. After each quotation, explain in your own words how it proves your point. Use the MLA in-text citation format (sections 54b and 55a in Rules) and make sure to punctuate your quotations correctly.
• I would discourage you from including your opinions explicitly in the introduction or body paragraphs. Focus on describing other writers’ opinions first. Then, at the end, you may want to say where your ideas fit in. Inquiry explains, “In writing a synthesis, you are conveying to your readers how various points of view in a conversation intersect and diverge.  The larger point of this exercise is to find your own issue—your own position in the conversation—and make your argument for it.” The final paragraph would be a good place to discuss what your investigation of these different texts has led you to conclude and what further questions remain.

In-Class Essays: As you know, this will be an in-class essay. You are encouraged to bring a printed or handwritten outline with topic sentences, thesis, and supporting details already written out in full sentences. You can bring other notes as well. However, you may not bring with you any drafts of the essay. Here is a more specific rule: You may not bring anything with more than two sentences in a row that end up in your essay. You will turn in any materials you use on the test. Also, you will not have internet access or any other form of access to electronic data during the exam. All preparation materials must be printed or handwritten.

I encourage you to prepare for this exam as thoroughly as possible by revising your outline, by visiting the Writing Lab, and, if you are nervous about in-class writing, by giving yourself a practice test. I recommend practicing writing out the essay under time pressure at home. (You just can't bring that practice essay with you to the real exam.)

Grammar, word choice, and formatting do count for in-class essays. Do your best in the time you have. The more prepared you are, the more time you will have to proofread during the exam.

Good luck! See me or email me with questions.

Midterm Quiz

The midterm class session on 10/5 will start with a short closed book multiple choice quiz worth 2 homework credits on chapters 3-7 of Hot, Flat, and Crowded. My purpose is to make sure that you have read and understood.