Getting Started
The synthesis essay asks you to enter a conversation with a group of sources and then use them to support an argument of your own. Before you can write, you must first become an expert reader and listener. This topic teaches you how to systematically read a collection of documents, identify the different perspectives they offer, and map their relationships to one another, solving the common problem of feeling overwhelmed by the sources and unsure of where to begin.
What You Should Be Able to Do
After working through this topic, you will be able to:
Identify the central topic or question that unites a set of sources.
Analyze each source to determine its main position, primary claim(s), and supporting evidence.
Recognize and interpret information from non-textual sources like charts, graphs, and political cartoons.
Compare and contrast the arguments presented across multiple sources to find areas of agreement and disagreement.
Create an organizational map that visually represents the conversation happening within the source set.
Key Moves for Synthesis
Understanding the Task: Entering a Conversation
Your first goal when encountering a source set—a collection of documents, including texts and visuals, centered on a single topic or question—is to understand the conversation already in progress. Think of yourself as walking into a room where a debate is happening. You must first listen carefully to what everyone is saying before you can form your own opinion and contribute meaningfully. The act of synthesis is this final step: combining ideas from multiple sources to create a new, coherent whole that supports your own argument. This section focuses on the crucial "listening" phase.
Identifying the Overarching Topic and Individual Positions
Every source set revolves around a central issue. Your first task is to define that issue, often framed as a question (e.g., "What should be the role of advertising in schools?"). Once you understand the main topic, you can analyze each source individually. For each one, ask:
What is this author's main position? A position is the overall stance or viewpoint an author takes on the topic. It’s their general take on the issue.
What specific claims does the author make to support that position? A claim is a specific, debatable assertion that requires evidence.
What evidence does the author use to back up those claims?
Be aware that a source may not have a single, perfectly clear perspective. An author might present a complex or conflicted view, acknowledging multiple sides of an issue. This complexity is called nuance, and identifying it is a sign of a sophisticated reader.
Mapping Relationships: Finding Agreement and Disagreement
Once you have a handle on each source, you can begin to map the relationships between them. The goal is to see who is "talking" to whom. Look for two key types of relationships:
Corroboration: This is when different sources agree or provide evidence that supports the same idea. Finding corroboration strengthens a point and suggests it's a significant part of the conversation.
Contradiction: This is when sources disagree or present opposing claims or evidence. Identifying contradictions reveals the central tensions and debates within the topic, which are often the most interesting areas to explore in your own essay.
Interpreting Non-Textual Sources
A source set will often include at least one visual text, such as a photograph, chart, graph, or political cartoon. Do not treat these as simple illustrations. Visual sources present arguments and make claims just as text-based sources do.
For charts and graphs: Analyze the title, axes, and data points. What story is the data telling? What trends or significant outliers do you see?
For cartoons and photographs: Examine the imagery, symbols, and any text (like captions or labels). What is the creator's perspective on the issue? What emotion or reaction are they trying to evoke?
A visual source can be used to support, challenge, or add a new dimension to the arguments found in the written texts.
Data and Organization Tools
To manage the information from multiple sources, use a mapping tool. A simple matrix can help you organize your thoughts and see connections you might otherwise miss. This prevents you from simply summarizing sources and pushes you toward true synthesis.
Source Mapping Matrix
Topic Question: What is the value of a liberal arts education?
| Source | Main Position/Claim | Key Evidence Provided | Connections to Other Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source A (Op-Ed) | A liberal arts education is essential for developing critical thinking skills needed in a modern economy. | Quotes from tech CEOs praising liberal arts graduates; survey data on employer satisfaction. | Corroborates Source C's argument about adaptability. |
| Source B (Data Table) | Students with technical degrees earn higher starting salaries than liberal arts majors. | Table showing average starting salaries by college major for the class of 2023. | Contradicts the economic premise of Source A; challenges the long-term view of Source C. |
| Source C (Blog Post) | Liberal arts majors are more adaptable to career changes over a lifetime, leading to long-term success. | Anecdotal story of an English major who became a successful project manager. | Offers a counter-narrative to the short-term data in Source B. |
| Source D (Cartoon) | Depicts a liberal arts graduate with a diploma working as a barista, asking "Want some philosophy with that latte?" | The imagery suggests a stereotype of underemployment for liberal arts graduates. | Visually represents the fear underlying the data in Source B. |
Key Concepts for Source Analysis
Overarching Topic: The central subject or question that all sources in the set address.
Perspective: The unique viewpoint or lens through which an author or creator examines the topic.
Claim: A debatable assertion an author makes. A strong argument is built on a series of related claims.
Evidence: The facts, data, anecdotes, or expert opinions used to support a claim.
Nuance: The acknowledgment of complexity, exceptions, or multiple viewpoints within a single argument.
Corroboration: Agreement or confirmation between two or more sources.
Contradiction: Disagreement or opposition between two or more sources.
Visual Data: Information presented in a non-textual format, such as a graph or chart, which still makes an argument.
Bias: A tendency or inclination that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question. Identifying potential bias in a source is part of a critical reading.
Skill Snapshots
Here is a step-by-step process for mapping a source set.
1. Identify the Big Question:
Initial thought: "This is about public parks."
Refined understanding: "The sources are debating the central question: Should the primary purpose of urban public parks be for recreation, conservation, or community-building?"
2. Summarize a Single Source's Position:
- Source A (City Planner's Report): "Source A argues that parks should prioritize structured recreation. It uses evidence like the high demand for sports fields and the positive health outcomes associated with organized activities to support its claim that recreation serves the greatest number of residents."
3. Map the Relationship Between Two Sources:
- Connecting Source A and Source B (Environmental Group's Website): "While Source A advocates for developing parks for human recreation, Source B presents a conflicting view. Source B claims that parks' most vital role is conservation of native species, using data on declining local bird populations as evidence. These sources establish the core conflict in the debate: human use vs. natural preservation."
Common Misconceptions and Clarifications
Misconception: Every source will present a single, easy-to-find argument.
- Clarification: Many sources are nuanced. An author might explore pros and cons, express uncertainty, or qualify their claims. Your job is to represent this complexity accurately, not to force the source into a simple "for" or "against" box.
Misconception: My job is to find the "right" sources and ignore the "wrong" ones.
- Clarification: Your task is to understand the entire conversation. A source you disagree with is just as valuable as one you agree with, as it can provide a counterargument for you to address in your own essay.
Misconception: Visual sources are just background information or simple facts.
- Clarification: A chart, graph, or cartoon is an argument. It has a perspective and makes a claim. You must actively interpret visual sources and analyze them with the same care you give to written texts.
Misconception: The goal is to write a report summarizing what each source says.
- Clarification: Summary is only the first step. The ultimate goal is synthesis—using the sources to develop, support, and add complexity to your own argument about the topic. Mapping positions is the pre-writing work that makes synthesis possible.
Summary
Reading a source set is a foundational skill for writing a successful synthesis essay. It requires you to move beyond passive reading and become an active analyst of an ongoing conversation. By first identifying the overarching topic, you can then dissect each source to understand its unique position, claims, and evidence—including those presented in visual formats. The crucial final step is to map the relationships between sources, noting where they corroborate or contradict one another. This systematic process of reading and mapping allows you to see the full landscape of the debate, empowering you to enter the conversation with a clear, well-supported argument of your own.