synthesis essay meme

Chapter 6: 21st-century media and issues

6.4.2 Sharing a meme means sharing a message (synthesis)

Alexander Caldwell

English 102, February 2021

Memes are seen almost everywhere on social media. Memes share a variety of viewpoints, feelings, and topics all a while being humorous. In recent research, I have found that memes have a heavy relationship with communication and thus, literacy. Memes accomplish this by their unique quality of having meaning and by being able to transmit this meaning to the meme’s audience. I choose the topic of memes because, on a daily basis, they make me laugh. I also am a firm believer that memes contribute to the culture of humanity through the use of literacy and to be more specific, communication.

In James Gee’s article “What is Literacy” Gee mentions the idea of secondary discourse. The author regards secondary discourse as an expansion of the ability to communicate with people and institutions that are not intimate with the individual. These communications are learned and built upon experience (22).  Gee’s comment on secondary discourse generally covers the matter of how most memes are shared. Memes that are shared on social media fall under the category of secondary discourse because the media is not a group of people one would refer to as their intimates.

In an ironic twist, the original definition for “meme” is similar to what Gee described as secondary discourse. In Patrick Davison’s article “The Language of Internet Meme,” the word “meme” was created by Richard Dawkins in 1979 to describe the behaviors of a living being. Memes, according to this definition, are a learned idea or set of actions. These qualities of an individual can quickly and easily be shared with others (Davison 121). I think that, in a way, secondary discourse can be categorized as a meme. The reason being is that secondary discourse could be described as a behavior of communicating. I feel that the focal point of Davison’s article is on the topic of how memes are a language of their own. Memes, like any language, follow a set of formulas and branch out similar to how a language has accents and slang. The overarching meme is what is called an image macro. Variants and remakes of this meme are then called submemes (Davison 127).

To relating Dawkin’s definition of a meme back to the modern-day definition of a meme is simple. Davison writes that memes are digital items that can be altered, the alteration having something to do with the meme’s mere existence, the meme’s behavior, or the ideal behind the meme (123). This implies that modern-day memes, like secondary discourse, fall under the category of Dawkin’s definition of what is a meme. Adding to the fact that memes not only have a set of formulas, they also are ingrained into one’s culture. This accomplishes Davison’s goal of suggesting that memes are a language of their own. A way that could perhaps help Davison prove his point even further would be a study or an experiment. A well-planned experiment that aims to prove or disprove that memes can be interpreted by an audience and can be used to carry information, like how many other languages do.

Interestingly enough, there was such an experiment in Harshit Sharma’s “Memes in digital culture and their role in marketing and communication: A study in India.” Sharma first writes how memes are used in advertising. The example he points to is a commercial done by Old Spice. It involved a short, humorous scene with Isaiah Mustafa. To say the least, the advertisement became an internet sensation that boosted Old Spice’s sales (Sharma 305). This goes to show how companies can cleverly use memes to communicate to their audience and convince them to buy products. Referring back to Gee’s secondary discourse, advertising is a secondary discourse because a non-intimate institution is attempting to communicate to a non-intimate audience. Sharma then points to Limor Shifman in “An anatomy of a YouTube Meme” where Shifman writes that advertising can be assisted by memes because memes obtain one of the most valuable resources to an advisement, the audience’s attention (qtd. 306). With an increase in audience attention, memes can allow the secondary discourse of advertising to be more successful. With that said, it is time to observe the experiment. Sharma’s experiment conducted was a qualitative experiment, an interview with five experts of the marketing and communication field. The interview was an attempt to find out the opinions these experts had on using memes to communicate and advertise. The experts revealed that memes have positives and negatives. Memes can promote a product without the company having to make the meme themself, which of course, is a positive. Memes can also be found as untasteful, rejected by the internet, and decrease the popularity of an item, the negative side of using memes (Sharma 309-313). The experiment conducted ties into Davison’s conclusion that memes are a language by suggesting that experts use the language of memes to communicate the idea of their product. The language of the meme is then shared and even made by people who are outside of the company, meaning that this meme-advertising language can be learned by anyone, which fits in nicely with Dawkin’s definition of what a meme is.

Another author that makes mention of Dawkin’s work is L. Grundlingh in the article “Memes as speech acts.” Grundlingh explains Dawkin’s work on memes a bit further and notes that Dawkin got the word meme from the Greek word mīmēma, translated as “something imitated” (147). Grundlingh also talks about secondary discourse but gives it a different name. In the article, Grundlingh mentions “speech acts” which is referenced to being the communication and understanding between two people (148). Already having closely related topics, Grundlingh takes a step in a new direction to tie memes and communication together by mentioning semiotics. Semiotics is defined in Grundlingh’s article by T. A. Sebeok “Signs: An Introduction to Semiotics” as being an apparent link between nonverbal and verbal communication (qtd. 148). The importance of semiotics lays heavily in the fact that memes can be tied into semiotics. Memes share verbal and nonverbal pieces of the semiotic definition. This leads Grundlingh to suggest that even memes without a set text to describe a scenario can be considered a form of communication as well (150). Referring back to Sharma’s article, the Old Spice commercial that became popular was a video advertisement and did not include a text-styled meme, rather it was a recording. The recording itself used semiotics by creating a humorous scenario with Isaiah Mustafa and it was tied together by the vocal side of the commercial, Isaiah Mustafa speaking to the audience. Grundlingh continues by writing about pragmatics. Pragmatics is a writing term that describes the audience’s ability to understand the author’s piece of writing or created content, while also understanding the author’s purpose behind the content (Grundlingh 151). As one may have already guessed by now, pragmatics relates to memes and secondary discourse. Understanding a meme, with or without text, is key to knowing what makes the meme funny. Pragmatics, by this definition, relates to Gee’s secondary discourse because everyone that uses secondary discourse must be successful at basic pragmatics, or understanding what other non-intimates have to say. With that said, the four previously mentioned articles seem to have a lot in common.

From the gathering for the four articles, I have found a plethora of overarching themes at play. The three articles that relate to the most are the three articles directly related to memes or articles written by Davison, Sharma, Grundlingh. The first noticeable concept was that all of them seemed to refer to Dawkin’s term for a meme. Another similarity I noticed was that all of the articles seemed to want to classify memes by a certain category to which relates to writing or communication. While they all used different words and terms to categorize memes, Gee’s secondary discourse ties all of their ideas into one shortened bundle of information. The bottom line is that memes are categorized by a different variety of different terms. They all seem to point to the fact that memes relate to the sharing of a message from the creator of the meme, to the audience of the meme. This sharing implies that there is a meaning to be understood. To summarize the findings, memes are a form of communication that is between the meme creator and the general online public.

To conclude the topic of meme communication, I will share my insights and feelings towards this research. I think that a large majority of meme enjoyers do not know of the perplexities of the content they are consuming. With that in mind, I noticed that in the articles, some of the terms overlapped. Ironic as it may seem, I even noticed that Grundlingh made a reference to Davison’s article. With all the terms flying around, I’m surprised that one of the authors did not try to condense all the terms into one final paper. The research before suggests that memes are another advancement or perhaps another alternative to traditional communication. Therefore, I must end by saying that sending a meme is like that of sending a message.

Works Cited

Davison, Patrick. “The Language of Internet Memes.”  The Social Media Reader , edited by Michael Mandiberg, New York University Press, 2012.   ProQuest   Ebook   Central , https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/lib/clevelandstate-ebooks/detail.action?docID=865738.

Gee, James Paul. “What is Literacy” The Journal of Education, vol. 171, no. 1, 1989, pp. 18–25.

Grundlingh, L. “Memes as Speech Acts.”  Social Semiotics , vol. 28, no. 2, Apr. 2018, pp. 147–168.  EBSCOhost , doi:10.1080/10350330.2017.1303020.

Sharma, Harshit. “Memes in Digital Culture and Their Role in Marketing and Communication: A Study in India.”  Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture , vol. 9, no. 3, Nov. 2018, pp. 303–318.  EBSCOhost , doi:10.1386/iscc.9.3.303_1.

Understanding Literacy in Our Lives by Alexander Caldwell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Synthesizing

Introduction to synthesis.

Synthesis – An Introduction With Memes

You’re in a college composition course, and the first thing you’re asked to do is learn how to synthesize.  What does this even meme????  (Sorry, not sorry.  Puns are essential to learning.)

No, unfortunately, Frodo has nothing to do with synthesis, unless you’re researching the goings-on of Middle Earth.

Synthesis, in its dictionary definition, is learning how to actively engage in various texts, think critically about authors’ different perspectives, and develop our own meanings.

So let’s break this down.

Key Takeaways

(1) The first step in synthesis is to have at least two texts (also known as sources).  Sometimes, your instructor will provide these texts for you. Other times, you will find them on your own through something we like to call research.

(2) The second step in synthesis is reading, annotating, and analyzing the two texts.  This involves close reading, or what some like to call reading with a pen.  When you read with a pen, you are able to mark passages of significance and make notes (also called annotations) that will help you synthesize the reading later.

(3) The third step in synthesis is to recognize themes or traits that these texts have in common.  How do they compare with each other based on these traits you’ve recognized?  What would one author say about these themes or traits? What would the other say?  In what ways would one author disagree with the other?

So, synthesizing is just summarizing your two texts?  Um, no.

Synthesizing begins with analyzing. Once you’ve recognized shared traits or themes in your sources through analysis, then it is time to create your own truth from these sources. The final part of synthesizing multiple texts (and all of this must be done before you ever sit down to actually write a response or essay) is the act of creating something new through the integration of these texts or sources.

For example, if one text calls for allowing more Syrian refugees into U.S. borders and another calls for stricter restrictions on immigration from Syria, you would find your own truth about the issue, based on reading the two sources.  This “truth” is essentially your thesis statement for a synthesis essay.

Okay, sounds doable.  How do I practice this?  What pre-writing can I do to help lead up to a longer synthesis essay?

Good question…   See the notes on the Kernel Essay !

• Authored by : Sandra Jamieson. Provided by : Drew University. Located at : http://www.users.drew.edu/sjamieso/Synthesis.htm#drafting . Project : Online Resources for Writers. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Authored by : Amber Nichols-Buckley. Provided by : Department of Writing & Rhetoric. Located at : https://rhetoric.olemiss.edu/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
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Synthesis Essay Writing

Synthesis Essay Examples

15 Synthesis Essay Examples: Tips & Expert Guidance

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Learn How to Write a Synthesis Essay Step by Step

Best Synthesis Essay Topics and Prompt Ideas

Synthesis Essay Outline - Template and Examples

Are you struggling to make sense of synthesis essays, unsure where to begin, or how to enhance your writing?

Many students face the challenge of feeling overwhelmed when trying to blend diverse ideas and sources seamlessly. It can be challenging to create a cohesive piece that draws from various perspectives.

But fear not! 

In this blog, we will provide you with winning synthesis essay examples and valuable insights to enhance your essay writing skills.

So, let’s get started. 

• 1. Understanding What A Synthesis Essay Is
• 2. Synthesis Essay Examples
• 3. Synthesis Essay Example Prompts 
• 4. Synthesis Essay Topics - Examples
• 5. Tips for Writing an Effective Synthesis Essay

Understanding What A Synthesis Essay Is

A synthesis essay is a special kind of academic writing where writers blend ideas and information from multiple sources to create a clear and organized argument.

Unlike other types of essays , a synthesis essay demands the integration of various perspectives to form a new understanding or insight. 

It involves critically examining different sources, and synthesizing them to develop a comprehensive viewpoint on a particular topic. 

Looking at synthesis essay examples can really help you write a great essay. Here's a good synthesis essay example to inspire your writing:

Here’s another sample essay:

Marc And Carly Synthesis Essay Example

Synthesis Essay Outline Example

An outline is just like a table of content sections on a page. It consists of categories and subcategories of a given topic that the writer plans to cover in the essay.

Below is a synthesis essay outline template that explains the outline structure in detail. Have a look at it.

Synthesis Essay Example Outline

Synthesis Essay Example Thesis

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How to Write a Synthesis Essay - Example

In order to write a good synthesis paper, you need to follow the format and proper procedure. The synthesis essay has an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs with supportive evidence to back up the topic, and a thesis statement .

And a conclusion paragraph where you answer all the questions while referring back to the main thesis.

Check out this sample template; it will help you learn the basics of synthesis essay structure. 

AP English Language and Composition Synthesis Essay Example

The AP Lang synthesis essay requires students to analyze information from various sources to discuss the topic of their essays. Refer to the sample AP language synthesis essay to learn how you can write a perfect synthesis essay.

Synthesis Essay Example Ap Lang

2022 Ap Lang Synthesis Essay Example

Synthesis Essay Examples for Different Formats

Knowing how to write synthesis essays in different styles is important. Given below are some examples of synthesis essays in different formats.

• APA Format Synthesis Essay Example

APA (American Psychological Association) is a citation style that provides formatting conventions for student and professional papers. Below is a sample example of an APA-style synthesis essay.

Synthesis Essay Example APA

• MLA Format Synthesis Essay Example

MLA (Modern Language Association) is another referencing style that allows us to cite the sources using a proper citation format. Here is an MLA-style synthesis essay example to help you learn the basics of this style.

Synthesis Essay Example MLA

Examples of Different Synthesis Essay Types

Synthesis essays come in various types, each requiring a unique approach. Explore the following synthesis essay examples tailored to different types, offering a comprehensive overview of how to tackle diverse writing tasks:

• College Synthesis Essay Example

This sample PDF is to help college students learn the outline, format, and structure of the synthesis essay. You can easily download it and save it with you for further use.

Synthesis Essay Example College Board

Explanatory Synthesis Essay Example

The explanatory synthesis is intended to explain a particular subject in detail to make it easy to understand for people. Refer to the sample essay given below and see what makes it different from a simple synthesis essay.

Argumentative Synthesis Essay Example

Argumentative synthesis is another type of synthesis essay that is intended to present an argument. The writer presents his claim and supports it with facts and evidence to prove it right. Check out the sample essay given below to understand how it is different from a general argumentative essay .

Eminent Domain Synthesis Essay Example

An eminent domain synthesis essay explores the concept of eminent domain, which is the government's authority to take private property for public use. This type of synthesis essay inquires into various aspects of eminent domain, considering legal, ethical, and social perspectives. 

Here’s an example:

• Synthesis Essay Example About Social Media

This type of synthesis essay explores the impact of social media on individuals and society. It aims to analyze and synthesize information to construct a well-rounded understanding of the role of social media in our lives. Here’s an example of it:

Social Media Synthesis Essay Example

Synthesis Essay Example Prompts 

Here are five prompts to kickstart your synthesis essay:

• Compare the effects of renewable energy on the environment versus its economic impact on traditional energy sectors
• Evaluate how social media platforms enhance global communication while contributing to rising mental health concerns
• Assess the advantages and drawbacks of integrating technology in classrooms from both student and educator viewpoints
• Investigate the environmental and ethical repercussions of fast fashion and suggest sustainable alternatives
• Analyze the role of online learning in bridging or widening educational gaps among students from different socio-economic backgrounds

Synthesis Essay Topics - Examples

Choosing a compelling topic is very important when writing a synthesis essay. Here are some thought-provoking synthesis essay topics that can inspire your writing:

• The Impact of Technology on Human Interaction
• Climate Change and Global Sustainability
• The Role of Social Media in Modern Society
• The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Ethics
• Education Reform: Challenges and Opportunities
• Impact of Social Movements on Policy Change
• Healthcare Access: A Global Perspective
• Cultural Diversity in the Workplace
• The Influence of Literature on Society
• The Future of Work: Remote vs. Traditional

Looking for more topics? Check out this blog on synthesis essay topics for inspiration.

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Tips for Writing an Effective Synthesis Essay

A strong synthesis essay goes beyond the writing process; it requires strategic planning and meticulous execution. Here are key points to make sure your synthesis essay stands out:

• Select Credible Sources

Begin by choosing reliable and credible sources. Make sure that the information you gather is from reputable authors, organizations, or publications to strengthen the foundation of your essay.

• Background Information is Key

Provide sufficient background information on your chosen topic. Help your readers understand the context and significance of the subject matter before jumping to your argument.

• Develop a Coherent Argument

Focus on building a clear and coherent argument throughout your essay. Each paragraph should focus on contributing to the overall flow and support your thesis.

• Support Your with Evidence

A strong synthesis essay requires a well-supported argument. Back up your claims with evidence from your chosen sources, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the topic.

• Utilize Sources to Support Each Other

Instead of treating sources in isolation, highlight their relationships. Demonstrate how each source complements or contrasts with others, emphasizing the interconnectedness of your information.

• Synthesis Essay Requires Critical Analysis

Go beyond summarizing your sources; engage in critical analysis. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each source and consider their implications for your argument.

• Backup Your Argument:

Throughout your essay, consistently reinforce your central argument. Every piece of information should contribute to and reinforce the main thesis, creating a cohesive and persuasive narrative.

In conclusion , tackling synthesis essays is easier than it seems when armed with the right knowledge. Use the tips and examples provided to boost your skills and approach these essays with confidence.

However, if all of the instructions seem overwhelming, you might want to get expert help. “ Can I pay someone to do my essay ?” Yes, you can.

At MyPerfectWords.com , our team of experienced writers is here to provide custom essays that meet your expectations. For top-notch essay writing help online, our experts are just a click away.

Whether you are looking for an essay for college or university, our team guarantees your work not only meets standards but stands out for its clarity and depth.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are some examples of synthesis in writing.

Synthesis in writing is when you combine information from different sources to form a clear, unified idea. For example:

• In a research paper , you might summarize several studies to highlight a common theme.
• In an argumentative essay , you pull together evidence from different places to support your point.
• In a compare and contrast essay , you blend details from multiple sources to show how two things are alike or different.

It's all about bringing various pieces together to create a new, complete picture.

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Synthesis Essays: A Step-by-Step How-To Guide

A synthesis essay is generally a short essay which brings two or more sources (or perspectives) into conversation with each other.

The word “synthesis” confuses every student a little bit. Fortunately, this step-by-step how-to guide will see you through to success!

Here’s a step-by-step how-to guide, with examples, that will help you write yours.

Before drafting your essay:

After reading the sources and before writing your essay, ask yourself these questions:

• What is the debate or issue that concerns all of the writers? In other words, what is the question they are trying to answer?
• On what points do they agree?
• On what points do they disagree?
• If they were having a verbal discussion, how would writer number one respond to the arguments of writer number two?

In a way, writing a synthesis essay is similar to composing a summary. But a synthesis essay requires you to read more than one source and to identify the way the writers’ ideas and points of view are related.

Sometimes several sources will reach the same conclusion even though each source approaches the subject from a different point of view.

Other times, sources will discuss the same aspects of the problem/issue/debate but will reach different conclusions.

And sometimes, sources will simply repeat ideas you have read in other sources; however, this is unlikely in a high school or AP situation.

To better organize your thoughts about what you’ve read, do this:

• Identify each writer’s thesis/claim/main idea
• List the writers supporting ideas (think topic sentences or substantiating ideas)
• List the types of support used by the writers that seem important. For example, if the writer uses a lot of statistics to support a claim, note this. If a writer uses historical facts, note this.

There’s one more thing to do before writing: You need to articulate for yourself the relationships and connections among these ideas.

Sometimes the relationships are easy to find. For example, after reading several articles about censorship in newspapers, you may notice that most of the writers refer to or in some way use the First Amendment to help support their arguments and help persuade readers. In this case, you would want to describe the different ways the writers use the First Amendment in their arguments. To do this, ask yourself, “How does this writer exploit the value of the First Amendment/use the First Amendment to help persuade or manipulate the readers into thinking that she is right?

Sometimes articulating the relationships between ideas is not as easy. If you have trouble articulating clear relationships among the shared ideas you have noted, ask yourself these questions:

• Do the ideas of one writer support the ideas of another? If so, how?
• Do the writers who reach the same conclusion use the same ideas in their writing? If not, is there a different persuasive value to the ideas used by one writer than by the other?
• Do the writers who disagree discuss similar points or did they approach the subject from a completely different angle and therefore use different points and different kinds of evidence to support their arguments?
• Review your list of ideas. Are any of the ideas you have listed actually the same idea, just written in different words?

If there is information that goes against your main point/idea, don’t ignore it, but find a way to acknowledge it.

How to write an introductory paragraph for a synthesis essay:.

1.Identify a strong position vis a vis the topic written about. When writing your essay for the AP exam, it doesn’t matter if you agree with your position; think instead: What position of those written about offers me most to write about easily and quickly?

2.Test your position by writing a draft thesis statement. Sound good? Stick with it for a moment, but remember you may have to tweak it after writing the rest of the paragraph so that it most effectively represents the concerns you will write about in the essay.

3.Write at least one but better two more sentences expanding on (elaborating about/writing in more detail about) your position.

Our country, the United States of America, employs a peculiar sort of governing system: democracy. Simply by definition, democracy’s goal as a system of rule for the people by the people implies that the greatest number of people possible should be involved. Although the media’s mission of supplying pertinent information to the masses follows democratic ideals in definition, the media’s impact upon American society, especially in the area of presidential elections, has done little to increase participation in the political process and by doing so, has created a new sort of identity for the president himself.

4.Write one or more sentences identifying the sources you are using that does so in a way that shows that you are comparing and contrasting ideas and points of view from different sources. You might think of starting your sentence in this way, “While she argues/claims…, he predicts/strongly suggests that…” Remember to include title of the text, author’s name, genre (if possible), and if relevant pertinent background information about the writer, the text (perhaps its historical moment).

When governments legislate freedom acts, are they actually for the freedom of citizens or giving freedom to the governments to spy on people? This hidden agenda is demonstrated in the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the essay “Why read 1984” by Roy Ogren, and the article “Americans are Now Living in a Society that Rivals Orwell’s 1984 ” by Paul Joseph Watson and Alex Jones. The authors demonstrate the propaganda and technology are government tools to influence the citizens thoughts.

5.Write a sentence identifying a relationship between the sources you are using and connect to your thesis.

Many aspects of Orwell’s dystopian visions in 1984 are occurring today, but on a grand scale. Both essay and article illustrate elements of Orwell’s dark vision in present day America by describing its hidden use of technology.

How to write body paragraphs for synthesis essays:

1.Pick three points to write about from your list of points about which the writers agreed or disagreed. When picking three to write about, pick the three that offer you ample evidence.

2.Decide the order of the three points to be written about in your body paragraphs.

3.Write a topic sentence that identifies the point to be discussed in the first body paragraph.

Tip:  The persuasive value of your topic sentence will be enhanced if you include a concession/counter argument in your topic sentence. This might take the form of a subordinate clause (“While some such as these people and those people are skeptical, Harvey dissects this argument with surgical precision…”)

Also, your essay will be easier to read (“flow”) if you start the paragraph with a transition. (See example in parenthesis.)

To begin, the basic assumption of using the media to relay news to the people is not a bad one. Television has brought widespread “penetration,” “geographic distribution,” and a “feeling of direct contact” to the people of America (source a).  

All in all, as a nation heralding itself as an example of democracy for the rest of the world, the United States must follow the definition of democracy, that is, allowing the greatest possible involvement in order to improve as a nation. Though the media has brought the opportunity of involvement to many American households, it has sent many more way and has actually created a sort of public apathy regarding the political process. At the same time that citizen straightaway, presidents have become more concerned with the now limited opinion surrounding their office. This inverse relationship of concern is far from fulfilling our forefathers hopes and even farther from granting that mediate the title of a positive influence on society.

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• 31st May 2023

Are you writing a synthesis essay? This is a paper that combines information from a variety of sources to form a new idea. Essentially, you’re synthesizing existing concepts and arguments to create something original.

As a student, you’ll probably have to write a synthesis essay at some point. Read on for our step-by-step guide on how to write one effectively.

Step 1. Define Your Idea or Argument

If you haven’t done so already, decide on a topic to write about. Read up about it using a variety of credible sources and make detailed notes while you research. Make sure you keep track of the sources you decide to pull information from so that you can cite them properly later.

Make a list of key points from your research. Once you have a good selection of material to work with, start developing your own idea or argument. This will be the focus of your essay.

Step 2. Create an Outline

Synthesis essays generally follow this format: an introduction, a handful of main body paragraphs, and a conclusion. It’s a good idea to come up with an essay plan before you start writing so that you can keep things organized while you work.

The outline is mainly helpful for deciding what to include in your body paragraphs. Decide what supporting points (and counterarguments ) from your research you want to include, and which order you want to discuss them in. You should have enough information to flesh out one paragraph for each point.

Step 3. Write Your Introduction

In your introduction, you should open with something that hooks the reader and captures their attention. Then, state your argument or idea (i.e., your thesis statement) and briefly summarize the material you’ll be including in your essay. You should also include any relevant background information here.

Step 4. Write the Body Paragraphs

Using your outline, discuss each point from your source material in more depth, devoting a body paragraph to each. Explain the information from the outside source, including appropriate citations, and discuss how it connects with your idea.

It’s a good idea to mostly focus on points that support your argument, but you should also include a paragraph with a counterargument or two. This means discussing a perspective that doesn’t necessarily align with your idea, and then explaining why your argument still works.

Step 5. Tie It All Together With a Conclusion

The conclusion should leave the reader feeling convinced of your idea. Restate your point clearly and summarize the main points you’ve discussed. You could also offer any concluding reflections on the topic.

Different Types of Synthesis Essays

While you can follow our steps for any type of synthesis essay, yours will probably fall under one of two categories: explanatory or argumentative.

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Argumentative essays are as they sound – they present an argument. With an argumentative essay, you’ll take a more definitive stance on something and use your supporting material to persuade the reader.

Explanatory essays don’t necessarily take a side one way or the other. Rather, they focus on developing and explaining a concept thoroughly. Knowing which type of essay you’re writing will help you to gather more effective source material for your purpose.

Cite Your Sources

Since synthesis essays are particularly dependent on outside material, it’s especially important that you cite your sources correctly. Familiarize yourself with your referencing system before you start researching so you know what information you need to keep track of, and include appropriate citations whenever you use someone else’s work.

At the end of the essay, you’ll need to compile your sources into a reference list following the requirements of your style guide.

Summary: Writing a Synthesis Essay

Hopefully, this post has helped you to feel more confident in writing a synthesis essay. Choose a topic first, do your research, keep track of your sources, and develop an argument or idea. From there, you can organize your thoughts into an outline and get to writing!

Once you’ve created a first draft, make sure you send it our way! We’ll check it for errors in grammar, spelling, referencing, and more. Try it out for free today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a synthesis essay.

A synthesis essay gathers ideas and viewpoints from several different sources and ties them together to form a new concept.

How long is a synthesis essay?

Synthesis essays usually follow the five-paragraph format, with an introduction, three main body paragraphs discussing different points, and a conclusion.

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