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How to Write a Perfect Synthesis Essay for the AP Language Exam

Advanced Placement (AP)

If you're planning to take the AP Language (or AP Lang) exam , you might already know that 55% of your overall exam score will be based on three essays. The first of the three essays you'll have to write on the AP Language exam is called the "synthesis essay." If you want to earn full points on this portion of the AP Lang Exam, you need to know what a synthesis essay is and what skills are assessed by the AP Lang synthesis essay.

In this article, we'll explain the different aspects of the AP Lang synthesis essay, including what skills you need to demonstrate in your synthesis essay response in order to achieve a good score. We'll also give you a full breakdown of a real AP Lang Synthesis Essay prompt, provide an analysis of an AP Lang synthesis essay example, and give you four tips for how to write a synthesis essay.

Let's get started by taking a closer look at how the AP Lang synthesis essay works!

Synthesis Essay AP Lang: What It Is and How It Works

The AP Lang synthesis essay is the first of three essays included in the Free Response section of the AP Lang exam.

The AP Lang synthesis essay portion of the Free Response section lasts for one hour total . This hour consists of a recommended 15 minute reading period and a 40 minute writing period. Keep in mind that these time allotments are merely recommendations, and that exam takers can parse out the allotted 60 minutes to complete the synthesis essay however they choose.

Now, here's what the structure of the AP Lang synthesis essay looks like. The exam presents six to seven sources that are organized around a specific topic (like alternative energy or eminent domain, which are both past synthesis exam topics).

Of these six to seven sources, at least two are visual , including at least one quantitative source (like a graph or pie chart, for example). The remaining four to five sources are print text-based, and each one contains approximately 500 words.

In addition to six to seven sources, the AP Lang exam provides a written prompt that consists of three paragraphs. The prompt will briefly explain the essay topic, then present a claim that students will respond to in an essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources provided.

Here's an example prompt provided by the College Board:

Directions : The following prompt is based on the accompanying six sources.

This question requires you to integrate a variety of sources into a coherent, well-written essay. Refer to the sources to support your position; avoid mere paraphrase or summary. Your argument should be central; the sources should support this argument .

Remember to attribute both direct and indirect citations.

Introduction

Television has been influential in United States presidential elections since the 1960's. But just what is this influence, and how has it affected who is elected? Has it made elections fairer and more accessible, or has it moved candidates from pursuing issues to pursuing image?

Read the following sources (including any introductory information) carefully. Then, in an essay that synthesizes at least three of the sources for support, take a position that defends, challenges, or qualifies the claim that television has had a positive impact on presidential elections.

Refer to the sources as Source A, Source B, etc.; titles are included for your convenience.

Source A (Campbell) Source B (Hart and Triece) Source C (Menand) Source D (Chart) Source E (Ranney) Source F (Koppel)

Like we mentioned earlier, this prompt gives you a topic — which it briefly explains — then asks you to take a position. In this case, you'll have to choose a stance on whether television has positively or negatively affected U.S. elections. You're also given six sources to evaluate and use in your response. Now that you have everything you need, now your job is to write an amazing synthesis essay.

But what does "synthesize" mean, exactly? According to the CollegeBoard, when an essay prompt asks you to synthesize, it means that you should "combine different perspectives from sources to form a support of a coherent position" in writing. In other words, a synthesis essay asks you to state your claim on a topic, then highlight the relationships between several sources that support your claim on that topic. Additionally, you'll need to cite specific evidence from your sources to prove your point.

The synthesis essay counts for six of the total points on the AP Lang exam . Students can receive 0-1 points for writing a thesis statement in the essay, 0-4 based on incorporation of evidence and commentary, and 0-1 points based on sophistication of thought and demonstrated complex understanding of the topic.

You'll be evaluated based on how effectively you do the following in your AP Lang synthesis essay:

Write a thesis that responds to the exam prompt with a defensible position

Provide specific evidence that to support all claims in your line of reasoning from at least three of the sources provided, and clearly and consistently explain how the evidence you include supports your line of reasoning

Demonstrate sophistication of thought by either crafting a thoughtful argument, situating the argument in a broader context, explaining the limitations of an argument

Make rhetorical choices that strengthen your argument and/or employ a vivid and persuasive style throughout your essay.

If your synthesis essay meets the criteria above, then there's a good chance you'll score well on this portion of the AP Lang exam!

If you're looking for even more information on scoring, the College Board has posted the AP Lang Free Response grading rubric on its website. ( You can find it here. ) We recommend taking a close look at it since it includes additional details about the synthesis essay scoring.

Don't be intimidated...we're going to teach you how to break down even the hardest AP synthesis essay prompt.

Full Breakdown of a Real AP Lang Synthesis Essay Prompt

In this section, we'll teach you how to analyze and respond to a synthesis essay prompt in five easy steps, including suggested time frames for each step of the process.

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

The very first thing to do when the clock starts running is read and analyze the prompt. To demonstrate how to do this, we'll look at the sample AP Lang synthesis essay prompt below. This prompt comes straight from the 2018 AP Lang exam:

Eminent domain is the power governments have to acquire property from private owners for public use. The rationale behind eminent domain is that governments have greater legal authority over lands within their dominion than do private owners. Eminent domain has been instituted in one way or another throughout the world for hundreds of years.

Carefully read the following six sources, including the introductory information for each source. Then synthesize material from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies the notion that eminent domain is productive and beneficial.

Your argument should be the focus of your essay. Use the sources to develop your argument and explain the reasoning for it. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. You may cite the sources as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the descriptions in parentheses.

On first read, you might be nervous about how to answer this prompt...especially if you don't know what eminent domain is! But if you break the prompt down into chunks, you'll be able to figure out what the prompt is asking you to do in no time flat.

To get a full understanding of what this prompt wants you to do, you need to identify the most important details in this prompt, paragraph by paragraph. Here's what each paragraph is asking you to do:

• Paragraph 1: The prompt presents and briefly explains the topic that you'll be writing your synthesis essay about. That topic is the concept of eminent domain.
• Paragraph 2: The prompt presents a specific claim about the concept of eminent domain in this paragraph: Eminent domain is productive and beneficial. This paragraph instructs you to decide whether you want to defend, challenge, or qualify that claim in your synthesis essay , and use material from at least three of the sources provided in order to do so.
• Paragraph 3: In the last paragraph of the prompt, the exam gives you clear instructions about how to approach writing your synthesis essay . First, make your argument the focus of the essay. Second, use material from at least three of the sources to develop and explain your argument. Third, provide commentary on the material you include, and provide proper citations when you incorporate quotations, paraphrases, or summaries from the sources provided.

So basically, you'll have to agree with, disagree with, or qualify the claim stated in the prompt, then use at least three sources substantiate your answer. Since you probably don't know much about eminent domain, you'll probably decide on your position after you read the provided sources.

To make good use of your time on the exam, you should spend around 2 minutes reading the prompt and making note of what it's asking you to do. That will leave you plenty of time to read the sources provided, which is the next step to writing a synthesis essay.

Step 2: Read the Sources Carefully

After you closely read the prompt and make note of the most important details, you need to read all of the sources provided. It's tempting to skip one or two sources to save time--but we recommend you don't do this. That's because you'll need a thorough understanding of the topic before you can accurately address the prompt!

For the sample exam prompt included above, there are six sources provided. We're not going to include all of the sources in this article, but you can view the six sources from this question on the 2018 AP Lang exam here . The sources include five print-text sources and one visual source, which is a cartoon.

As you read the sources, it's important to read quickly and carefully. Don't rush! Keep your pencil in hand to quickly mark important passages that you might want to use as evidence in your synthesis. While you're reading the sources and marking passages, you want to think about how the information you're reading influences your stance on the issue (in this case, eminent domain).

When you finish reading, take a few seconds to summarize, in a phrase or sentence, whether the source defends, challenges, or qualifies whether eminent domain is beneficial (which is the claim in the prompt) . Though it might not feel like you have time for this, it's important to give yourself these notes about each source so you know how you can use each one as evidence in your essay.

Here's what we mean: say you want to challenge the idea that eminent domain is useful. If you've jotted down notes about each source and what it's saying, it will be easier for you to pull the relevant information into your outline and your essay.

So how much time should you spend reading the provided sources? The AP Lang exam recommends taking 15 minutes to read the sources . If you spend around two of those minutes reading and breaking down the essay prompt, it makes sense to spend the remaining 13 minutes reading and annotating the sources.

If you finish reading and annotating early, you can always move on to drafting your synthesis essay. But make sure you're taking your time and reading carefully! It's better to use a little extra time reading and understanding the sources now so that you don't have to go back and re-read the sources later.

A strong thesis will do a lot of heavy lifting in your essay. (See what we did there?)

Step 3: Write a Strong Thesis Statement

After you've analyzed the prompt and thoroughly read the sources, the next thing you need to do in order to write a good synthesis essay is write a strong thesis statement .

The great news about writing a thesis statement for this synthesis essay is that you have all the tools you need to do it at your fingertips. All you have to do in order to write your thesis statement is decide what your stance is in relationship to the topic provided.

In the example prompt provided earlier, you're essentially given three choices for how to frame your thesis statement: you can either defend, challenge, or qualify a claim that's been provided by the prompt, that eminent domain is productive and beneficial . Here's what that means for each option:

If you choose to defend the claim, your job will be to prove that the claim is correct . In this case, you'll have to show that eminent domain is a good thing.

If you choose to challenge the claim, you'll argue that the claim is incorrect. In other words, you'll argue that eminent domain isn't productive or beneficial.

If you choose to qualify, that means you'll agree with part of the claim, but disagree with another part of the claim. For instance, you may argue that eminent domain can be a productive tool for governments, but it's not beneficial for property owners. Or maybe you argue that eminent domain is useful in certain circumstances, but not in others.

When you decide whether you want your synthesis essay to defend, challenge, or qualify that claim, you need to convey that stance clearly in your thesis statement. You want to avoid simply restating the claim provided in the prompt, summarizing the issue without making a coherent claim, or writing a thesis that doesn't respond to the prompt.

Here's an example of a thesis statement that received full points on the eminent domain synthesis essay:

Although eminent domain can be misused to benefit private interests at the expense of citizens, it is a vital tool of any government that intends to have any influence on the land it governs beyond that of written law.

This thesis statement received full points because it states a defensible position and establishes a line of reasoning on the issue of eminent domain. It states the author's position (that some parts of eminent domain are good, but others are bad), then goes on to explain why the author thinks that (it's good because it allows the government to do its job, but it's bad because the government can misuse its power.)

Because this example thesis statement states a defensible position and establishes a line of reasoning, it can be elaborated upon in the body of the essay through sub-claims, supporting evidence, and commentary. And a solid argument is key to getting a six on your synthesis essay for AP Lang!

Step 4: Create a Bare-Bones Essay Outline

Once you've got your thesis statement drafted, you have the foundation you need to develop a bare bones outline for your synthesis essay. Developing an outline might seem like it's a waste of your precious time, but if you develop your outline well, it will actually save you time when you start writing your essay.

With that in mind, we recommend spending 5 to 10 minutes outlining your synthesis essay . If you use a bare-bones outline like the one below, labeling each piece of content that you need to include in your essay draft, you should be able to develop out the most important pieces of the synthesis before you even draft the actual essay.

To help you see how this can work on test day, we've created a sample outline for you. You can even memorize this outline to help you out on test day! In the outline below, you'll find places to fill in a thesis statement, body paragraph topic sentences, evidence from the sources provided, and commentary :

• Present the context surrounding the essay topic in a couple of sentences (this is a good place to use what you learned about the major opinions or controversies about the topic from reading your sources).
• Write a straightforward, clear, and concise thesis statement that presents your stance on the topic
• Topic sentence presenting first supporting point or claim
• Evidence #1
• Commentary on Evidence #1
• Evidence #2 (if needed)
• Commentary on Evidence #2 (if needed)
• Topic sentence presenting second supporting point or claim
• Topic sentence presenting three supporting point or claim
• Sums up the main line of reasoning that you developed and defended throughout the essay
• Reiterates the thesis statement

Taking the time to develop these crucial pieces of the synthesis in a bare-bones outline will give you a map for your final essay. Once you have a map, writing the essay will be much easier.

Step 5: Draft Your Essay Response

The great thing about taking a few minutes to develop an outline is that you can develop it out into your essay draft. After you take about 5 to 10 minutes to outline your synthesis essay, you can use the remaining 30 to 35 minutes to draft your essay and review it.

Since you'll outline your essay before you start drafting, writing the essay should be pretty straightforward. You'll already know how many paragraphs you're going to write, what the topic of each paragraph will be, and what quotations, paraphrases, or summaries you're going to include in each paragraph from the sources provided. You'll just have to fill in one of the most important parts of your synthesis—your commentary.

Commentaries are your explanation of why your evidence supports the argument you've outlined in your thesis. Your commentary is where you actually make your argument, which is why it's such a critical part of your synthesis essay.

When thinking about what to say in your commentary, remember one thing the AP Lang synthesis essay prompt specifies: don't just summarize the sources. Instead, as you provide commentary on the evidence you incorporate, you need to explain how that evidence supports or undermines your thesis statement . You should include commentary that offers a thoughtful or novel perspective on the evidence from your sources to develop your argument.

One very important thing to remember as you draft out your essay is to cite your sources. The AP Lang exam synthesis essay prompt indicates that you can use generic labels for the sources provided (e.g. "Source 1," "Source 2," "Source 3," etc.). The exam prompt will indicate which label corresponds with which source, so you'll need to make sure you pay attention and cite sources accurately. You can cite your sources in the sentence where you introduce a quote, summary, or paraphrase, or you can use a parenthetical citation. Citing your sources affects your score on the synthesis essay, so remembering to do this is important.

Keep reading for a real-life example of a great AP synthesis essay response!

Real-Life AP Synthesis Essay Example and Analysis

If you're still wondering how to write a synthesis essay, examples of real essays from past AP Lang exams can make things clearer. These real-life student AP synthesis essay responses can be great for helping you understand how to write a synthesis essay that will knock the graders' socks off .

While there are multiple essay examples online, we've chosen one to take a closer look at. We're going to give you a brief analysis of one of these example student synthesis essays from the 2019 AP Lang Exam below!

Example Synthesis Essay AP Lang Response

To get started, let's look at the official prompt for the 2019 synthesis essay:

In response to our society's increasing demand for energy, large-scale wind power has drawn attention from governments and consumers as a potential alternative to traditional materials that fuel our power grids, such as coal, oil, natural gas, water, or even newer sources such as nuclear or solar power. Yet the establishment of large-scale, commercial-grade wind farms is often the subject of controversy for a variety of reasons.

Carefully read the six sources, found on the AP English Language and Composition 2019 Exam (Question 1), including the introductory information for each source. Write an essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources and develops your position on the most important factors that an individual or agency should consider when deciding whether to establish a wind farm.

Source A (photo) Source B (Layton) Source C (Seltenrich) Source D (Brown) Source E (Rule) Source F (Molla)

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis presents a defensible position.
• Select and use evidence from at least 3 of the provided sources to support your line of reasoning. Indicate clearly the sources used through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Sources may be cited as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the description in parentheses.
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

Now that you know exactly what the prompt asked students to do on the 2019 AP Lang synthesis essay, here's an AP Lang synthesis essay example, written by a real student on the AP Lang exam in 2019:

[1] The situation has been known for years, and still very little is being done: alternative power is the only way to reliably power the changing world. The draw of power coming from industry and private life is overwhelming current sources of non-renewable power, and with dwindling supplies of fossil fuels, it is merely a matter of time before coal and gas fuel plants are no longer in operation. So one viable alternative is wind power. But as with all things, there are pros and cons. The main factors for power companies to consider when building wind farms are environmental boon, aesthetic, and economic factors.

[2] The environmental benefits of using wind power are well-known and proven. Wind power is, as qualified by Source B, undeniably clean and renewable. From their production requiring very little in the way of dangerous materials to their lack of fuel, besides that which occurs naturally, wind power is by far one of the least environmentally impactful sources of power available. In addition, wind power by way of gearbox and advanced blade materials, has the highest percentage of energy retention. According to Source F, wind power retains 1,164% of the energy put into the system – meaning that it increases the energy converted from fuel (wind) to electricity 10 times! No other method of electricity production is even half that efficient. The efficiency and clean nature of wind power are important to consider, especially because they contribute back to power companies economically.

[3] Economically, wind power is both a boon and a bone to electric companies and other users. For consumers, wind power is very cheap, leading to lower bills than from any other source. Consumers also get an indirect reimbursement by way of taxes (Source D). In one Texan town, McCamey, tax revenue increased 30% from a wind farm being erected in the town. This helps to finance improvements to the town. But, there is no doubt that wind power is also hurting the power companies. Although, as renewable power goes, wind is incredibly cheap, it is still significantly more expensive than fossil fuels. So, while it is helping to cut down on emissions, it costs electric companies more than traditional fossil fuel plants. While the general economic trend is positive, there are some setbacks which must be overcome before wind power can take over as truly more effective than fossil fuels.

[4] Aesthetics may be the greatest setback for power companies. Although there may be significant economic and environmental benefit to wind power, people will always fight to preserve pure, unspoiled land. Unfortunately, not much can be done to improve the visual aesthetics of the turbines. White paint is the most common choice because it "[is] associated with cleanliness." (Source E). But, this can make it stand out like a sore thumb, and make the gargantuan machines seem more out of place. The site can also not be altered because it affects generating capacity. Sound is almost worse of a concern because it interrupts personal productivity by interrupting people's sleep patterns. One thing for power companies to consider is working with turbine manufacturing to make the machines less aesthetically impactful, so as to garner greater public support.

[5] As with most things, wind power has no easy answer. It is the responsibility of the companies building them to weigh the benefits and the consequences. But, by balancing economics, efficiency, and aesthetics, power companies can create a solution which balances human impact with environmental preservation.

And that's an entire AP Lang synthesis essay example, written in response to a real AP Lang exam prompt! It's important to remember AP Lang exam synthesis essay prompts are always similarly structured and worded, and students often respond in around the same number of paragraphs as what you see in the example essay response above.

Next, let's analyze this example essay and talk about what it does effectively, where it could be improved upon, and what score past exam scorers awarded it.

To get started on an analysis of the sample synthesis essay, let's look at the scoring commentary provided by the College Board:

• For development of thesis, the essay received 1 out of 1 possible points
• For evidence and commentary, the essay received 4 out of 4 possible points
• For sophistication of thought, the essay received 0 out of 1 possible points.

This means that the final score for this example essay was a 5 out of 6 possible points . Let's look more closely at the content of the example essay to figure out why it received this score breakdown.

Thesis Development

The thesis statement is one of the three main categories that is taken into consideration when you're awarded points on this portion of the exam. This sample essay received 1 out of 1 total points.

Now, here's why: the thesis statement clearly and concisely conveys a position on the topic presented in the prompt--alternative energy and wind power--and defines the most important factors that power companies should consider when deciding whether to establish a wind farm.

Evidence and Commentary

The second key category taken into consideration when synthesis exams are evaluated is incorporation of evidence and commentary. This sample received 4 out of 4 possible points for this portion of the synthesis essay. At bare minimum, this sample essay meets the requirement mentioned in the prompt that the writer incorporate evidence from at least three of the sources provided.

On top of that, the writer does a good job of connecting the incorporated evidence back to the claim made in the thesis statement through effective commentary. The commentary in this sample essay is effective because it goes beyond just summarizing what the provided sources say. Instead, it explains and analyzes the evidence presented in the selected sources and connects them back to supporting points the writer makes in each body paragraph.

Finally, the writer of the essay also received points for evidence and commentary because the writer developed and supported a consistent line of reasoning throughout the essay . This line of reasoning is summed up in the fourth paragraph in the following sentence: "One thing for power companies to consider is working with turbine manufacturing to make the machines less aesthetically impactful, so as to garner greater public support."

Because the writer did a good job consistently developing their argument and incorporating evidence, they received full marks in this category. So far, so good!

Sophistication of Thought

Now, we know that this essay received a score of 5 out of 6 total points, and the place where the writer lost a point was on the basis of sophistication of thought, for which the writer received 0 out of 1 points. That's because this sample essay makes several generalizations and vague claims where it could have instead made specific claims that support a more balanced argument.

For example, in the following sentence from the 5th paragraph of the sample essay, the writer misses the opportunity to state specific possibilities that power companies should consider for wind energy . Instead, the writer is ambiguous and non-committal, saying, "As with most things, wind power has no easy answer. It is the responsibility of the companies building them to weigh the benefits and consequences."

If the writer of this essay was interested in trying to get that 6th point on the synthesis essay response, they could consider making more specific claims. For instance, they could state the specific benefits and consequences power companies should consider when deciding whether to establish a wind farm. These could include things like environmental impacts, economic impacts, or even population density!

Despite losing one point in the last category, this example synthesis essay is a strong one. It's well-developed, thoughtfully written, and advances an argument on the exam topic using evidence and support throughout.

4 Tips for How to Write a Synthesis Essay

AP Lang is a timed exam, so you have to pick and choose what you want to focus on in the limited time you're given to write the synthesis essay. Keep reading to get our expert advice on what you should focus on during your exam.

Tip 1: Read the Prompt First

It may sound obvious, but when you're pressed for time, it's easy to get flustered. Just remember: when it comes time to write the synthesis essay, read the prompt first !

Why is it so important to read the prompt before you read the sources? Because when you're aware of what kind of question you're trying to answer, you'll be able to read the sources more strategically. The prompt will help give you a sense of what claims, points, facts, or opinions to be looking for as you read the sources.

Reading the sources without having read the prompt first is kind of like trying to drive while wearing a blindfold: you can probably do it, but it's likely not going to end well!

Tip 2: Make Notes While You Read

During the 15-minute reading period at the beginning of the synthesis essay, you'll be reading through the sources as quickly as you can. After all, you're probably anxious to start writing!

While it's definitely important to make good use of your time, it's also important to read closely enough that you understand your sources. Careful reading will allow you to identify parts of the sources that will help you support your thesis statement in your essay, too.

As you read the sources, consider marking helpful passages with a star or check mark in the margins of the exam so you know which parts of the text to quickly re-read as you form your synthesis essay. You might also consider summing up the key points or position of each source in a sentence or a few words when you finish reading each source during the reading period. Doing so will help you know where each source stands on the topic given and help you pick the three (or more!) that will bolster your synthesis argument.

Tip 3: Start With the Thesis Statement

If you don't start your synthesis essay with a strong thesis statement, it's going to be tough to write an effective synthesis essay. As soon as you finish reading and annotating the provided sources, the thing you want to do next is write a strong thesis statement.

According to the CollegeBoard grading guidelines for the AP Lang synthesis essay, a strong thesis statement will respond to the prompt— not restate or rephrase the prompt. A good thesis will take a clear, defensible position on the topic presented in the prompt and the sources.

In other words, to write a solid thesis statement to guide the rest of your synthesis essay, you need to think about your position on the topic at hand and then make a claim about the topic based on your position. This position will either be defending, challenging, or qualifying the claim made in the essay's prompt.

The defensible position that you establish in your thesis statement will guide your argument in the rest of the essay, so it's important to do this first. Once you have a strong thesis statement, you can begin outlining your essay.

Tip 4: Focus on Your Commentary

Writing thoughtful, original commentary that explains your argument and your sources is important. In fact, doing this well will earn you four points (out of a total of six)!

AP Lang provides six to seven sources for you on the exam, and you'll be expected to incorporate quotations, paraphrases, or summaries from at least three of those sources into your synthesis essay and interpret that evidence for the reader.

While incorporating evidence is very important, in order to get the extra point for "sophistication of thought" on the synthesis essay, it's important to spend more time thinking about your commentary on the evidence you choose to incorporate. The commentary is your chance to show original thinking, strong rhetorical skills, and clearly explain how the evidence you've included supports the stance you laid out in your thesis statement.

To earn the 6th possible point on the synthesis essay, make sure your commentary demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the source material, explains this nuanced understanding, and places the evidence incorporated from the sources in conversation with each other. To do this, make sure you're avoiding vague language. Be specific when you can, and always tie your commentary back to your thesis!

What's Next?

There's a lot more to the AP Language exam than just the synthesis essay. Be sure to check out our expert guide to the entire exam , then learn more about the tricky multiple choice section .

Is the AP Lang exam hard...or is it easy? See how it stacks up to other AP tests on our list of the hardest AP exams .

Did you know there are technically two English AP exams? You can learn more about the second English AP test, the AP Literature exam, in this article . And if you're confused about whether you should take the AP Lang or AP Lit test , we can help you make that decision, too.

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Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Examples, Topics, & Outline

A synthesis essay requires you to work with multiple sources. You combine the information gathered from them to present a well-rounded argument on a topic. Are you looking for the ultimate guide on synthesis essay writing? You’ve come to the right place!

In this guide by our custom writing team, you will find:

• a step-by-step writing guide;
• a list of 34 synthesis essay topics;
• a full essay sample in MLA format.
• 📚 Synthesis Essay Definition
• 📝 Essay Types
• ✅ Step-by-Step Guide
• ✍️ Topics & Prompts
• 📑 Example & Formatting Tips

📚 What Is a Synthesis Essay?

A synthesis essay is an assignment that requires a unique interpretation of a particular topic using several reliable sources. To write it, you need to understand, analyze, and synthesize information. That is why this type of essay is used in the AP Lang exam to assess students’ reasoning skills.

The key features of the synthesis essay are:

• Debatable topic . If your goal is to write a good synthesis essay, it’s necessary to choose an arguable topic. It’s best to choose something that people have different opinions about. This will allow you to use many sources with various viewpoints for your synthesis.
• Clear thesis statement. It’s a sentence that briefly describes the main idea of your essay.
• Reliable sources to prove your thesis . For a synthesis essay, your opinion is not enough. You also need to find the evidence. Keep in mind that simply reading an online encyclopedia won’t do; make sure to choose only reliable sources.

What Does It Mean to Synthesize Information?

Synthesis is a process that has huge importance in nature, science, and our everyday life. The word stems from Ancient Greek “synthesis,” which means “putting together.” In general, synthesis is the combination of components to form a connected whole.

In everyday life, we usually resort to it to synthesize information . This means taking the data from different sources and bringing it together. This process is the opposite of analyzing:

• For an analysis , you break problems into pieces,
• For a synthesis , you combine separate elements into a whole.

We use synthesis for analysis papers, research papers, argument papers, and business reports.

What Does Synthesis Mean in Writing?

Synthesis in writing means summarizing and connecting different sources considering a particular topic. Although synthesis and analysis are two opposite things, they usually go together in synthesis essays. The process consists of 2 stages:

• Conduct the analysis. For that, you break down a problem into parts and analyze the sources. It’s helpful to highlight everything regarding your topic while reading.
• Carry out the synthesis. The next step is to formulate an opinion and combine the highlighted information from the sources.

Synthesis is not only used in writing but also in reading comprehension . It’s useful to do this kind of reading while studying your sources. There are three reading comprehension stages:

• Your previous knowledge about the topic.
• Expansion of your knowledge while you are reading.
• Understanding of the problem when you have finished reading.

So, synthesized reading comprehension means combining three stages in one and formulating one statement.

Synthesis vs Summary: What Is the Difference?

A summary is a paraphrasing of the written source in your own words. For a good summary, it’s necessary to include all of the text’s key elements. Meanwhile, synthesis means combining different ideas from different sources. You don’t have to include all the key points; just choose everything related to your topic.

Both of these techniques are used for the synthesis essay:

• The summary goes in the conclusion. You briefly sum up your paper’s main ideas.
• Synthesis goes in the body paragraphs. Here, you combine multiple sources to prove a point.

📝 Synthesis Essay Types

There are two main types of a synthesis essay: argument and explanatory synthesis.

Both of them require working with multiple reliable sources and analyzing information. The only difference is that an argument synthesis essay requires your own opinion, while an explanatory synthesis essay does not.

Argument Synthesis Essay: Outline and Definition

As you already know, an argument synthesis essay requires you to state your own opinion about the given topic and back it up with several reliable sources. The purpose of such an essay is to persuade the reader that your point is correct.

Here’s what an argument synthesis essay consists of:

Explanatory Synthesis Essay: Definition and How to Write

An explanatory informative synthesis essay requires you to stay neutral towards the problem you are discussing. This means you cannot express your own opinion considering the given question or a problem. Your task is just to inform the reader. That’s why this essay type is also called informative synthesis.

Check out this explanatory essay outline:

✅ How to Write a Synthesis Essay Step by Step

When it comes to the synthesis essay outline, it’s not too different from other assignments. Have a look at this template:

How to Synthesize: Working with Sources

After you’ve decided on your topic, it’s time to figure out how to synthesize articles into one text. This is how you do it:

• Choose reliable sources: the ones printed in journals or published on academic websites.
• Become familiar with them and see if they fit into your essay.
• Try to find a few sources for each point. It will increase your essay’s reliability.
• Relate each source to your arguments and see similarities between them.
• Don’t forget to list every source in the references.

When you are done with a comprehensive analysis of related literature, try to step back and imagine a person who has a different opinion on this topic. Think of some arguments that they can provide to prove their opinion. After you have the list of arguments, find the written evidence of why they are wrong and put them in your essay.

Analyzing and organizing sources is the first and very important step for the synthesis essay. So make sure you do understand what the text means before using it as a reference.

Synthesis Essay Outline: How to Write

For structuring your essay, it’s useful to try mapping . This technique means combining the information from different sources and rearranging it to create a new direction. To do it, you need to analyze the authors’ ideas and come up with your own conclusions.

The best way to do that is called synthesis matrix or graphic organizer. It’s a chart that you can make when you start working on your essay. Here you have a horizontal column that states the main ideas and a few vertical columns that present sources. Your task is to take sources you have chosen and write down the main ideas from them.

Here’s an example of a matrix chart:

While doing that, you will see how many sources contain the same ideas. When you analyze them, you will be able to formulate your thesis backed up with evidence. The synthesis matrix also helps to see new arguments you can cover in your synthesis paper.

How to Write an Introduction for a Synthesis Essay

Now it’s time to start writing the paper. In the introductory part of the essay, you can include:

• A short yet catchy sentence or a quotation that would present the topic. The start of your essay should make people interested. It’s best to make the first sentence not only informative but also easy to understand.
• The texts that are used for the essay. Provide the titles and the authors’ names (use the appropriate guidelines depending on the writing style.)
• The background information which is needed to understand your essay. Definitions of terms or unknown words considering the topic can be included in this part. Otherwise, people may find it hard to understand what they are reading about.

How to Write a Thesis for a Synthesis Essay

A thesis statement is a point of view on a certain problem that you will defend in your essay. It should contain the key points that you want to include in your paper. Here’s how to create a perfect thesis statement:

• Find several central ideas in the chart.
• Choose the ones that are repeated the most often and the ones that you feel need to be in your essay.
• Combine them, and you have a thesis statement with all the key points.
• Make a draft of the thesis statement. Try to formulate the main idea you want to present in your essay.
• Elaborate on this idea. Add some details and expand it a bit further.

If the whole picture is coherent, and it conveys exactly what you wanted, then this is your perfect thesis statement. See the example below:

Gender inequality still exists at the workplace: women are less likely to get the most responsible positions, easily lose careers due to maternity leave, and often receive less pay for the same amount of work.

How to Write Synthesis Paragraphs for the Main Body

Your essay’s main body consists of a few paragraphs. Each of them presents a different argument considering the topic. When you start a paragraph, make sure to begin with a topic sentence, which informs the reader about the paragraph’s main idea. Then, include the synthesized sources and elaborate on them.

Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do when writing the main body:

You can use the following words to present the ideas from your sources. They will help you reflect the authors’ tone:

How to Conclude a Synthesis Essay

There are quite a few ways to conclude the synthesis paper. Have a look at some of the options:

• Paraphrase the thesis. As you remember, the thesis is the main idea of your essay. The conclusion is a good place to remind your readers about it. When they are done with the reading, they remember the most important thing from your essay.
• Synthesize the arguments. There is no need to repeat everything you wrote in your essay. Just briefly summarize the most crucial points.
• Answer the “So what” question. Tell the readers why this topic matters, why you’ve chosen it, and why it’s valuable for the reader.
• Provide a closure. It’s an effective strategy when you want to make the reader think. Leave them with a strong statement at the end of your essay.

Synthesis Paper Proofreading Tips

When you have finally written your paper, there is still one important thing left to do. You need to check your paper for any grammatical and contextual mistakes. You certainly can do it yourself, but it would be perfect if you could ask somebody else to read it.

The first thing you need to check grammar-wise is the tense you are using. There is no single tense you need to use for the synthesis essay. It depends on the format:

• If you’re writing in MLA format, use the present tense;
• For APA essays, you use the past tense.

The next step is to check whether your synthesis essay has everything that’s required. For that, we have prepared the checklist of questions you can ask yourself to proofread your essays.

• Is there a clear thesis statement?
• Did you include all of the key points from the synthesis?
• Are there clear transitions between paragraphs?
• Did you organize a paragraph around a single idea?
• Did you use reliable and up-to-date sources?
• Did you analyze sources rather than just summarize them?
• Did you mention every source you’ve used?

If you’ve answered “yes” to all the questions—congratulations, you are done with the essay! Otherwise, you need to come back and fix everything that you’ve answered “no” to.

✍️ Synthesis Essay Topics and Prompts

Sometimes, when you don’t have a topic , it is tough to come up with a suitable idea. That is why we have prepared two lists of topics that you can use for any synthesis essay type.

Explanatory Synthesis Essay Topics

The topics below are suitable for an explanatory synthesis essay:

• The beginning of Hollywood cinema. Cinema is a huge industry in the USA. Tell the readers about its history. Describe what it was like in the beginning, which movie was the first one, and who started this industry.
• Tactics on dealing with noisy children. Sometimes kids can be very loud, especially in public places. Write about different tactics that can help with this issue.
• The effects of climate change on the water cycle.  Climate change has affected the water cycle significantly. Your task is to explain how.
• The best American cities to live in. Provide the list of the best cities and explain why you’ve included them.
• The importance of a healthy diet . Keeping a healthy diet is beneficial in many ways. Write about all the advantages it brings.
• Who can become an entrepreneur? Entrepreneurship is not for everybody. In this essay, you can describe the qualities needed for having your own business.
• The correlation between overpopulation and poverty . Describe how overpopulation leads to poverty and vice versa.
• The advantages of taking an active vacation.
• Cultural shock as a part of moving to a different country.
• The consequences of the first wave of feminism.
• Synthesis of Tan and Rodriguez’ essays ideas. 
• Difficulties you may encounter during the job interview.
• How does reading prevent Alzheimer’s disease?
• The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses.
• The connection between religion and politics in ruling the country.
• What can non-verbal signals tell you about a person?
• The psychology of leadership .
• The origins of the most common  stereotypes  about Americans.
• Role of social media in business communication.
• The synthesis of personal nursing philosophy concept. 
• Behavioral components of schizophrenia and psychosis.
• Main components of successful entrepreneurship.
• Critical components of scientific research.
• Change in religion and human beliefs throughout history.
• The effect of global warming on modern life.

Argument Synthesis Paper Topics

The list of topics for the Argument Synthesis Essay:

• Vaping is better than smoking. People are starting to exchange cigarettes for vapes and e-cigarettes. In what ways are they less harmful?
• Rich people should pay higher taxes. The same percentage of money doesn’t equal for rich and poor people. Explain why the ones who can afford more should share with others.
• Depression is a disease. Prove that psychological problems must be recognized as real health issues that should be cured and not ignored.
• Social media affects young people’s lives. Social media has a massive influence on people. In this essay, you can discuss which life spheres are the most affected.
• Beauty pageants should be banned. Provide the reasons why they should be banned and tell the reader about psychological problems they can cause.
• People should cut meat from their diet to stop global warming. Describe how the meat industry influences climate change.
• The voting age should be 25+. Your task is to show the reasons why the votes of people under 25 should not be taken into account during elections.
• A healthy lifestyle requires a lot of money.
• Each healthy man should serve in the military.
• School bullying should be punished by immediate exclusion.
• Does friendship exist between men and women?
• Drinking coffee is a bad habit.
• Working hard is more important than being talented.
• Everybody should visit a therapist at least once.
• Should universities be free?
• Artificial intelligence will cause huge unemployment rates.
• Gaming should not be allowed to children under 18.
• Components and strategies of social responsibility
• Integration of relevant ethical theory and conceptual principles in health care 
• Children under 10 should be banned from gadgets.  
• Social media platforms facilitate cyberbullying.
• Issues of distance education.
• Social media addiction is a serious disease.
• Deforestation critically contributes to global warming.
• Healthcare should be free for everyone.

📑 Synthesis Essay Example & Synthesis Essay Format Tips

Now let’s talk about formatting. There are two writing styles you can use for a synthesis essay: APA or MLA. You need to choose the one that is required for your assignment.

We will start with the paper in APA format. It is usually used in science and education.

And these are MLA formatting rules:

Finally, we’ve prepared a synthesis essay sample for you to check out. Feel free to download the PDF file below:

First introduced in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, affirmative action policies aim to mitigate the discrepancy in opportunities available for underrepresented social groups by taking into account one’s minority background. The policies have become a pressing public issue that obstructs previously marginalized individuals, particularly in the educational environment.

Thank you for reading the ultimate guide on synthesis essay writing. We hope you found it helpful. Don’t forget to share it with your friends. Good luck with your assignments!

🔍 References

• Writing a Synthesis Essay: Bowling Green State University
• What Is Synthesis: University of Manitoba
• Synthesis: Biology Online
• Reading Strategies: Difference Summarizing and Synthesizing: WordPress
• Summary, Analysis, Synthesis Definitions: University of Utah
• Argumentative Synthesis: University of Arkansas
• How to Synthesize Written Information: Simply Psychology
• Mapping of Synthesis Essay: University of Nevada, Reno
• Writing a Literature Review and Using a Synthesis Matrix: Florida International University
• Synthesis Essay: Cleveland State University
• Literature Review: Synthesizing Multiple Sources: Louisiana State University
• Writing a Conclusion: Texas Women’s University
• General APA Guidelines: Purdue University
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How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay + Example

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AP English Language and Composition, commonly known as AP Lang, is one of the most engaging and popular AP classes offered at most high schools, with over 535,000 students taking the class . AP Lang tests your ability to analyze written pieces, synthesize information, write rhetorical essays, and create cohesive and concrete arguments. However, the class is rather challenging as only 62% of students were able to score a three or higher on the exam. 

The AP Lang exam has two sections. The first consists of 45 multiple choice questions which need to be completed in an hour. This portion counts for around 45% of your total score. These questions ask students to analyze written pieces and answer questions related to each respective passage.  All possible answer choices can be found within the text, and no prior knowledge of literature is needed to understand the passages.

The second section contains three free-response questions to be finished in under two hours and 15 minutes. This section counts for 55% of your score and includes the synthesis essay, the rhetorical essay, and the argumentative essay.

• The synthesis essay requires you to read 6-7 sources and create an argument using at least three sources.
• The rhetorical analysis essay requires you to describe how a piece of writing evokes specific meanings and symbolism.
• The argumentative essay requires you to pick a perspective of a debate and create an argument based on the evidence provided.

In this post, we will take a look at the AP Lang synthesis essay and discuss tips and tricks to master this part of the exam. We will also provide an example of a well-written essay for review.  

The AP Lang synthesis essay is the first of three essays included in the Free Response section of the AP Lang exam. The exam presents 6-7 sources that are organized around a specific topic, with two of those sources purely visual, including a single quantitative source (like a graph or pie chart). The remaining 4-5 sources are text-based, containing around 500 words each. It’s recommended that students spend an hour on this essay—15 minute reading period, 40 minutes writing, and 5 minutes of spare time to check over work.

Each synthesis essay has a topic that all the sources will relate to. A prompt will explaining the topic and provide some background, although the topics are usually broad so you will probably know something related to the issue. It will also present a claim that students will respond to in an essay format using information from at least three of the provided sources. You will need to take a stance, either agreeing or disagreeing with the position provided in the claim. 

According to the CollegeBoard, they are looking for essays that “combine different perspectives from sources to form a support of a coherent position.” This means that you must state your claim on the topic and highlight relationships between several sources that support your specific position on the topic. Additionally, you’ll need to cite clear evidence from your sources to prove your point.

The synthesis essay counts for six points on the AP Lang exam. Students can receive 0-1 points for writing a thesis statement, 0-4 based on the incorporation of evidence and commentary, and 0-1 points based on the sophistication of thought and demonstration of complex understanding.

While this essay seems extremely overwhelming, considering there are a total of three free-response essays to complete, with proper time management and practiced skills, this essay is manageable and straightforward. In order to enhance the time management aspect of the test to the best of your ability, it is essential to divide the essay up into five key steps.

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

As soon as the clock starts, carefully read and analyze what the prompt asks from you. It might be helpful to markup the text to identify the most critical details. You should only spend around 2 minutes reading the prompt so you have enough time to read all the sources and figure out your argument. Don’t feel like you need to immediately pick your stance on the claim right after reading the prompt. You should read the sources before you commit to your argument.

Step 2: Read the Sources Carefully

Although you are only required to use 3 of the 6-7 sources provides, make sure you read ALL of the sources. This will allow you to better understand the topic and make the most educated decision of which sources to use in your essay. Since there are a lot of sources to get through, you will need to read quickly and carefully.

Annotating will be your best friend during the reading period. Highlight and mark important concepts or lines from each passage that would be helpful in your essay. Your argument will probably begin forming in your head as you go through the passages, so you will save yourself a lot of time later on if you take a few seconds to write down notes in the margins. After you’ve finished reading a source, reflect on whether the source defends, challenges, or qualifies your argument.

You will have around 13 minutes to read through all the sources, but it’s very possible you will finish earlier if you are a fast reader. Take the leftover time to start developing your thesis and organizing your thoughts into an outline so you have more time to write. 

Step 3: Write a Strong Thesis Statement 

In order to write a good thesis statement, all you have to do is decide your stance on the claim provided in the prompt and give an overview of your evidence. You essentially have three choices on how to frame your thesis statement: You can defend, challenge or qualify a claim that’s been provided by the prompt. 

• If you are defending the claim, your job will be to prove that the claim is correct .
• If you are challenging the claim, your job will be to prove that the claim is incorrect .
• If you choose to qualify the claim, your job will be to agree to a part of the claim and disagree with another part of the claim. 

A strong thesis statement will clearly state your stance without summarizing the issue or regurgitating the claim. The CollegeBoard is looking for a thesis statement that “states a defensible position and establishes a line of reasoning on the issue provided in the prompt.”

Step 4: Create a Minimal Essay Outline

Developing an outline might seem like a waste of time when you are up against the clock, but believe us, taking 5-10 minutes to outline your essay will be much more useful in the long run than jumping right into the essay.

Your outline should include your thesis statement and three main pieces of evidence that will constitute each body paragraph. Under each piece of evidence should be 2-3 details from the sources that you will use to back up your claim and some commentary on how that evidence proves your thesis.

Step 5: Write your Essay

Use the remaining 30-35 minutes to write your essay. This should be relatively easy if you took the time to mark up the sources and have a detailed outline.  Remember to add special consideration and emphasis to the commentary sections of the supporting arguments outlined in your thesis. These sentences are critical to the overall flow of the essay and where you will be explaining how the evidence supports or undermines the claim in the prompt.

Also, when referencing your sources, write the in-text citations as follows: “Source 1,” “Source 2,” “Source 3,” etc. Make sure to pay attention to which source is which in order to not incorrectly cite your sources. In-text citations will impact your score on the essay and are an integral part of the process.

After you finish writing, read through your essay for any grammatical errors or mistakes before you move onto the next essay.

Here are six must-have tips and tricks to get a good score on the synthesis essay:

• Cite at least four sources , even though the minimum requirement is three. Remember not to plagiarize and cite everything you use in your arguments.
• Make sure to develop a solid and clear thesis . Develop a stable stance for the claim and stick with it throughout the entire paper.
• Don’t summarize the sources. The summary of the sources does not count as an argument. 
• You don’t necessarily have to agree with the sources in order to cite them. Using a source to support a counterargument is still a good use of a source.
• Cite the sources that you understand entirely . If you don’t, it could come back to bite you in the end. 
• Use small quotes , do not quote entire paragraphs. Make sure the quote does not disrupt the flow or grammar of the sentence you write. 

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Here is an example prompt and essay from 2019 that received 5 of the 6 total points available:

In response to our society’s increasing demand for energy, large-scale wind power has drawn attention from governments and consumers as a potential alternative to traditional materials that fuel our power grids, such as coal, oil, natural gas, water, or even newer sources such as nuclear or solar power. Yet the establishment of large-scale, commercial-grade wind farms is often the subject of controversy for a variety of reasons.

Carefully read the six sources, found on the AP English Language and Composition 2019 Exam (Question 1), including the introductory information for each source. Write an essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources and develops your position on the most important factors that an individual or agency should consider when deciding whether to establish a wind farm.

Source A (photo)

Source B (Layton)

Source C (Seltenrich)

Source D (Brown)

Source E (Rule)

Source F (Molla)

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis presents a defensible position.
• Select and use evidence from at least 3 of the provided sources to support your line of reasoning. Indicate clearly the sources used through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Sources may be cited as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the description in parentheses.
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

[1] The situation has been known for years, and still very little is being done: alternative power is the only way to reliably power the changing world. The draw of power coming from industry and private life is overwhelming current sources of non-renewable power, and with dwindling supplies of fossil fuels, it is merely a matter of time before coal and gas fuel plants are no longer in operation. So one viable alternative is wind power. But as with all things, there are pros and cons. The main factors for power companies to consider when building wind farms are environmental boon, aesthetic, and economic factors.

[2] The environmental benefits of using wind power are well-known and proven. Wind power is, as qualified by Source B, undeniably clean and renewable. From their production requiring very little in the way of dangerous materials to their lack of fuel, besides that which occurs naturally, wind power is by far one of the least environmentally impactful sources of power available. In addition, wind power by way of gearbox and advanced blade materials, has the highest percentage of energy retention. According to Source F, wind power retains 1,164% of the energy put into the system – meaning that it increases the energy converted from fuel (wind) to electricity 10 times! No other method of electricity production is even half that efficient. The efficiency and clean nature of wind power are important to consider, especially because they contribute back to power companies economically.

[3] Economically, wind power is both a boon and a bone to electric companies and other users. For consumers, wind power is very cheap, leading to lower bills than from any other source. Consumers also get an indirect reimbursement by way of taxes (Source D). In one Texan town, McCamey, tax revenue increased 30% from a wind farm being erected in the town. This helps to finance improvements to the town. But, there is no doubt that wind power is also hurting the power companies. Although, as renewable power goes, wind is incredibly cheap, it is still significantly more expensive than fossil fuels. So, while it is helping to cut down on emissions, it costs electric companies more than traditional fossil fuel plants. While the general economic trend is positive, there are some setbacks which must be overcome before wind power can take over as truly more effective than fossil fuels.

[4] Aesthetics may be the greatest setback for power companies. Although there may be significant economic and environmental benefit to wind power, people will always fight to preserve pure, unspoiled land. Unfortunately, not much can be done to improve the visual aesthetics of the turbines. White paint is the most common choice because it “[is] associated with cleanliness.” (Source E). But, this can make it stand out like a sore thumb, and make the gargantuan machines seem more out of place. The site can also not be altered because it affects generating capacity. Sound is almost worse of a concern because it interrupts personal productivity by interrupting people’s sleep patterns. One thing for power companies to consider is working with turbine manufacturing to make the machines less aesthetically impactful, so as to garner greater public support.

[5] As with most things, wind power has no easy answer. It is the responsibility of the companies building them to weigh the benefits and the consequences. But, by balancing economics, efficiency, and aesthetics, power companies can create a solution which balances human impact with environmental preservation.

More examples can be found here at College Board.

While AP Scores help to boost your weighted GPA, or give you the option to get college credit, AP Scores don’t have a strong effect on your admissions chances . However, colleges can still see your self-reported scores, so you might not want to automatically send scores to colleges if they are lower than a 3. That being said, admissions officers care far more about your grade in an AP class than your score on the exam.

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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?

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• Writing Tips

How to Write a Synthesis Essay

4-minute read

• 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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Synthesis Essay Guide

Synthesis Essay Writing

Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023

Synthesis Essay: Step by Step Guide With Easy Tips

By: Nathan D.

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Apr 6, 2021

Writing a synthesis essay is one skill that has been seen to translate easily from academia into all aspects of business and advertising. One way this plays out is through the ability to take on massive amounts of information quickly. So you can provide concise summaries or syntheses.

Scroll down below if you want some tips on how to write a perfect synthesis essay.

On this Page

What is A Synthesis Essay?

For the synthesis essay, you need to combine different ideas from various sources and present them in an argument that reflects your point of view.

Synthesis essays are easier to write than argumentative ones because there is an abundance of ideas and arguments in your write-up for a strong impact. So don’t simply present a plain summary but use strong evidence from researchable sources to support them.

While drafting ideas and adding various arguments, you’ll need to gather information from multiple sources. Identify the relationships between the concepts and integrate them into a persuasive stance. Start by taking up an impactful stance, and build your arguments and topic sentences around it.

How to Start a Synthesis Essay?

When writing an essay, it is important to know your purpose and develop a well-organized perspective. To do this, you should follow some steps that will help in your writing phase. These are:

1. Choose a Topic

Before you start writing the synthesis essay, it is important to choose a good topic. When brainstorming for an essay topic, avoid topics that are too broad or narrow in scope.

2. Gather Information

Once you have chosen your essay topic, start collecting the data for it. Use several sources and gather relevant information that will help develop your thesis statement.

3. Synthesis Essay Thesis Statement

The thesis statement should summarize the main idea of your essay. It's a short but important sentence that will make it easier for readers to follow along and access all points in further reading material about this topic.

The structure for your essay will largely depend on the topic you choose and what side of the argument you support. You’ll express this in a thesis statement that will form a pivotal part of your write-up. It has to be clear and believable enough to impact mindsets.

Start by composing research ideas into a strong thesis statement that is a lucid description of your stance or paradigm. It has to be strong enough to convince your reader to read on clearly defining your stance. And how you’ll approach the topic with different perspectives and valid supporting material.

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How to Write a Synthesis Essay?

Here are the steps you need to follow for writing a great synthesis essay.

1. Create an Outline

Expand on your argument or thesis statement by creating a synthesis essay outline. It is a logical structuring of your collated information and concepts. Essentially your outline must indicate a multitude of sub-arguments extracted from your main argument and evidence to support your thesis.

2. Focus on Creating a Catchy Introduction

The purpose of writing an introduction is to offer a clear insight into the essence of your topic, argument basics, and the primary purpose of your write-up. The intro is essentially a reflection of your thesis statement. So the more eloquent your description, the higher your chances of impressing the readers with gripping content.

3. Organize Your Thoughts

Use the body paragraphs to organize your thoughts into a logical flow that clearly explains each perspective for your position. Ideally, the body of your essay should be divided into short paragraphs, each highlighting a specific point of view.

Make sure you provide ample supporting evidence to present your ideas convincingly. The good idea is to categorize or group concepts after you read your sources. Then present them as one unique theme or feature.

Focus on synthesizing ideas based on paradigms that highlight core features from your thesis statement. And use apposite words to create the right kind of impact.

4. Highlight Vital Concepts

Usually, synthesis essays are more descriptive and informative. So, the presented facts and ideas must explain the relationship between different sources and how they address the topic.

Look for similarities and differences in how various sources explain your position, analyze it, and examine it from different angles.

Similar to an argumentative essay, point out both sides of your chosen paradigm. Also, the favorable position and the opposing argument before reaching the final conclusion.

5. Include Influential Conclusive Remarks

Your conclusive paragraph must be a resounding culmination of your position for the synthesis. Include a summarized version of all the sub-arguments from your thesis statement and connect these with your concluding words.

Also, mention your specific thoughts and perspective on these highlighted sub-arguments that link back to your stance. In short, your essay should have a clear sense of direction, a coherent structure, and a compelling narrative.

6. Proofread and Edit

Lastly, the most important step for writing any type of essay is to proofread it.

This gives you a chance to perfect your paper by getting rid of grammar and spelling errors. Unfortunately, your first draft will have several irrelevant details and errors that need editing at this stage.

Synthesis Essay Outline

Before starting the actual writing process, it will be good to make an outline for the essay. A good outline will serve as the backbone for your essay, and it will help you keep track of all the information in the paper.

The basic structure of an outline is given below:

Synthesis Essay Examples

Completing a synthesis essay can sometimes become a tough task even for experienced students. If you want to make sure that your essay is perfect.

SYNTHESIS ESSAY EXAMPLE

SYNTHESIS ESSAY FORMAT

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Synthesis Essay Topics

Look for a sample synthesis essay or interesting synthesis essay topics that will attract the reader’s interest and attention.

There are a variety of topics that you can examine for your synthesis essay.

When it comes to synthesis essays, the main objective is to test the writer’s ability to conduct research and relating different information.

Here is a list of interesting synthesis essay ideas that you can have a look at.

• Zero tolerance policies: pros and cons
• Essay on global warming
• How to encourage a reluctant reader?
• Factors influencing fashion
• Should high school athletes be drug tested?
• Is war good or bad?
• Should young people be allowed to use cell phones and tablets?
• What’s more productive for children: homeschooling or public school?
• Are video games an educational experience for kids?
• Should cellphone use be banned while driving?

Tips for Writing a Good Synthesis Essay

Here are some expert synthesis essay writing tips that you can follow for writing a great essay on your own.

• For a successful synthesis essay, you need to use sources with valuable information.
• Coming up with a synthesis essay outline is an integral part of creating your argument. It will help you know if you have enough points to make the argument or whether it needs more material for people to understand what's going on.
• The first thing you need to do is to study the topic carefully to understand its purpose. Go a little deeper to understand the idea and concept behind the topic.
• Do read your sources carefully, then summarize and document them.
• Do add examples and evidence from the source to support your ideas and claims. Do cite your sources as you go.
• Do elaborate on main ideas and organize them logically.
• Do aim to attract the reader’s attention by opening with an interesting thought. Set the right tone to make them want to read further.
• Do make use of logical transitions to move from one idea to another smoothly. Logically connect your ideas.
• Don’t present someone else’s work as your own. Do not copy! Plagiarism is a crime that you don’t want to get caught committing.
• Don’t take help from a single source. Having more than one source provides you with more options. In addition, it helps you to compare and contrast different facts and evidence to support your argument.
• Don’t expect to finish in an hour or even a day. Give yourself a flexible timeline to finish.
• Don’t be rigid when it comes to making changes to an idea. There’s always room for improvement.
• Don’t write using a passive voice and use simple English language words.

We hope that these steps and guidelines help you in crafting your essay. However, if you are faced with any confusion or difficulty in writing, you can contact us at  5StarEssays.com  .

We have the best team of qualified and experienced writers. We can write any type of academic assignment, whether an argumentative essay or synthesis paper, with the quality writing that will score you well on your assignments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you use quotes in a synthesis essay.

A synthesis essay requires you to construct an argument by using sources and providing citations. If you use information from the sources, make sure to put it in quotes or cite them properly.

What is a topic sentence in a synthesis essay?

A topic sentence is a statement that expresses your main idea and helps you to keep track of the points in your paragraph. This type of sentence should introduce one reason supporting what you are saying without going into too much detail or repetition.

What should you not do in a synthesis essay?

You should not build your synthesis essay around the opinions of others, it would defeat the whole purpose of writing a synthesis paper where you are supposed to defend your stand by using evidence from both sides and formulating an opinion on what's right or wrong.

Education, Research

Nathan completed his Ph.D. in journalism and has been writing articles for well-respected publications for many years now. His work is carefully researched and insightful, showing a true passion for the written word. Nathan's clients appreciate his expertise, deep understanding of the process, and ability to communicate difficult concepts clearly.

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• Top Synthesis Essay Topics & Ideas for Students

• How to Write a Synthesis Essay Outline - Template & Examples

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How to Write a Synthesis Essay

Last Updated: April 7, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,127,157 times.

Writing a synthesis essay requires the ability to digest information and present it in an organized fashion. While this skill is developed in high school and college classes, it translates to the business and advertising world as well. Scroll down to Step 1 to begin learning how to write a synthesis essay.

Examining Your Topic

• Argument synthesis: This type of essay has a strong thesis statement that presents the writer's point of view. It organizes relevant information gathered from research in a logical manner to support the thesis' point of view. Business white papers known as position papers often take this form. This is the type of synthesis essay that students will write during the AP test.
• Review: Often written as a preliminary essay to an argument synthesis, a review essay is a discussion of what has been written previously on a topic, with a critical analysis of the sources covered. Its unstated thesis is usually that more research needs to be done in that area or that the topic problem has not been adequately addressed. This type of paper is common in social science classes and in medicine.
• Explanatory/background synthesis: This type of essay helps readers understand a topic by categorizing facts and presenting them to further the reader's understanding. It does not advocate a particular point of view, and if it has a thesis statement, the thesis is a weak one. Some business white papers take this form, although they are more likely to have a point of view, if understated.

• Example of a broad topic narrowed down into a reasonable synthesis essay topic: Instead of the broad topic of Social Media, you could discuss your view on the effects texting has had on the English language.
• If you've been assigned a topic as part of a class, make sure you read the prompt carefully and fully understand it.

• Keep in mind that it's better to do three sources well than to do five sources incompletely.
• Annotate each source by writing notes in the margins. This allows you to keep track of your train of thought, developing ideas, etc.

• Example: Texting has had a positive impact on the English language as it has helped the millennial generation create their own form of the language.

• If you wish to take on a claim by an opponent of your idea, and to poke holes in it, you should also find some ideas or quotes that go against your thesis statement, and plan ways to disprove them. This is called a concession, refutation, or rebuttal, which can strengthen your argument if you do it well.
• Example : For the thesis statement listed above, excellent sources would include quotes from linguists discussing the new words that have developed through 'text-speak', statistics that show the English language has evolved with almost every generation, and facts that show students still have the ability to write with the use of grammar and spelling (which your opponents would bring up as the main reason texting has had a negative effect on the English language).

Outlining Your Essay

• The introductory paragraph: 1. An introductory sentence that acts as a hook, capturing the reader's interest. 2. Identification of the issue you will be discussing. 3. Your thesis statement.
• The body paragraphs: 1. Topic sentence that gives one reason to support your thesis. 2. Your explanation and opinion of the topic sentence. 3. Support from your sources that backs up the claim you just made. 4. Explanation of the significance of the source(s).
• The conclusion paragraph: 1. State further significance of your topic from the evidence and reasons you discussed in the essay. 2. A profound thought or thoughtful ending for your paper.

• Example/illustration. This may be a detailed recount, summary, or direct quote from your source material that provides major support for your point of view. You may use more than one example or illustration, if your paper calls for it. You should not, however, make your paper a series of examples at the expense of supporting your thesis.
• Straw man. With this technique, you present an argument opposed to the argument stated in your thesis, then show the weaknesses and flaws of the counter-argument. This format shows your awareness of the opposition and your readiness to answer it. You present the counter-argument right after your thesis, followed by the evidence to refute it, and end with a positive argument that supports your thesis. [5] X Research source
• Concession. Essays with concessions are structured similar to those using the straw man technique, but they acknowledge the validity of the counter-argument while showing that the original argument is stronger. This structure is good for presenting papers to readers who hold the opposing viewpoint.
• Comparison and contrast. This structure compares similarities and contrasts differences between two subjects or sources to show the facets of both. Writing an essay with this structure requires a careful reading of your source material to find both subtle and major points of similarity and difference. This kind of essay can present its arguments source-by-source or by points of similarity or difference.

• Summary. This structure presents summaries of each of your relevant sources, making a progressively stronger argument for your thesis. It provides specific evidence to support your point of view, but usually omits presenting your own opinions. It's most commonly used for background and review essays.
• List of reasons. This is a series of sub-points that flow from the main point of your paper as stated in its thesis. Each reason is supported with evidence. As with the summary method, reasons should become progressively more important, with the most important reason last.

Writing Your Essay

• Your essay should have an introductory paragraph that includes your thesis , a body to present evidence that supports your thesis, and a conclusion that summarizes your point of view.

• Lengthy quotes of three lines or more should generally be set off as block quotes to better call attention to them. [7] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source

Finalizing Your Essay

• Ask someone else to proofread your paper. The saying “two heads are better than one” still holds true. Ask a friend or colleague what would they add or remove from the paper. Most importantly, does your argument make sense, and is it clearly supported by your sources?

• Read the paper aloud to guarantee that you don't accidentally add in or take out words when reading in your head.
• If you can, get a friend or classmate to proofread your essay as well.

• Example of citing in an AP synthesis essay: McPherson claims “texting has changed the English language in a positive way--it has given a new generation their own unique way to communicate” (Source E).
• For college essays, you'll most likely use MLA format. Whichever format you use, be consistent in its use. You may also be asked to use APA or Chicago style.

• Example title: : English and the iPhone: Exploring the Benefits of 'Text-Speak'

Outline Template

Community Q&A

• Just as your title should fit your essay instead of writing your essay to fit the title, your thesis, once chosen, should direct your subsequent research instead of subsequent research altering your thesis � unless you find you've adopted an unsupportable thesis. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 8

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://success.uark.edu/get-help/student-resources/synthesis-paper.php
• ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/mapping-a-synthesis-essay
• ↑ https://www.bgsu.edu/content/dam/BGSU/learning-commons/documents/writing/synthesis/planning-synthesis-essay.pdf
• ↑ https://writingcenterofprinceton.com/synthesis-essays-a-step-by-step-how-to-guide/
• ↑ https://owl.excelsior.edu/argument-and-critical-thinking/logical-fallacies/logical-fallacies-straw-man/
• ↑ https://writingcommons.org/section/rhetoric/rhetorical-stance/point-of-view/third-person-point-of-view/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_quotations.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/steps_for_revising.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/proofreading_suggestions.html
• ↑ https://www.edhs.org/ourpages/auto/2010/5/17/41759867/Synthesis%20Essay%20Introduction.pdf
• ↑ https://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/titles.pdf

About This Article

To write a synthesis essay, start by coming up with a thesis statement that you can support using all of the sources you've read for your essay. For example, your thesis statement could be "Texting has had a positive impact on the English language." Once you've got your thesis, go through your sources to find specific quotes, facts, and statistics that back up your claim. Structure your essay so it has an introduction that includes your thesis statement, a body that includes your arguments and evidence, and a conclusion that wraps everything up. For more tips on structuring your synthesis essay, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay with Example

September 5, 2023

If you’re highly interested in learning more about writing analysis, then chances are you enrolled in AP Lang. Essentially, AP Lang is an advanced course for high schoolers that combines interest and knowledge in English with critical thinking. In the class, students learn how to analyze and synthesize a variety of texts to construct well-reasoned arguments. If you take AP Lang, then you can opt to take the AP test at the conclusion of the school year. On the exam, students write the AP Lang synthesis essay to demonstrate their learned abilities. In this article, we’ll look at what the AP Lang synthesis essay requires and show an example to provide better understanding of what to expect on the exam.

AP Lang Exam Basics

The AP Lang exam is separated into two sections. In the first section, students have one hour to answer a series of 45 multiple-choice questions. Here, about half of the questions are based on passages students read. The other half are focused on the best revision techniques. Essentially, the answers for the latter 20-22 questions are geared toward revising mock essays.

In this article, however, we’ll focus mainly on the second part of the exam: the AP Lang synthesis essay.

In this second section, students have two hours and 15 minutes to write three essays of their own design. The three open-ended questions in this section are intended to be free-response and allow for a variety of approaches. Each question is intended to allow up to 40 minutes to complete.

For the AP Lang synthesis essay, students are presented with a scenario of the College Board’s design. The scenario will provide its own thesis statement. Usually, scenarios relate to real-world problems like environmental concerns, media, or government policies.

For each scenario, students are provided with 6-7 outside sources. These sources could be in the form of an image, visual graph, or written paragraph. For written paragraphs, the sources are usually no more than 500 words.

Students are then expected to incorporate at least 3-4 of these outside sources into their essay response. The outside sources are intended to be used as supporting evidence for the student’s chosen stance or argument. Students are able to either agree with or disagree with the thesis presented in the original scenario.

AP Lang Exam – Scoring

In the second part of the AP Lang exam, students can earn a possible 6 points on each essay. 1 point is earned for the development of a thesis. Up to 4 points can be earned for evidence and commentary. The final 1 point is earned for sophistication of thought.

AP Lang Exam – Takeaways

Ultimately, the goal of the AP Lang synthesis essay is not whether the student is “right” or “wrong” in their argument. The key is that students are able to reasonably and clearly support their argument using the provided sources as evidence .

The College Board looks for your ability to identify relationships between texts , form a coherent argument , and interpret external sources .

Synthesis Essay AP Lang Examples

If you’re not sure how the questions will look on the AP Lang synthesis essay section, we’ll provide an example. After the example, we’ll break down the strengths and weaknesses of the response. That way, you’ll have a better idea of what the College Board is looking for.

Additionally, the College Board has released previous AP Lang synthesis essay examples you can review. They even have essay questions as recent as 2022 . For further support, a scoring commentary and comments from the Chief Reader are also available to view. Additionally, there are other examples you can view from earlier years .

Note: A good strategy to study for the synthesis essay AP Lang exam is to review your rhetorical devices and literary devices . Understanding how these devices function can be essential in constructing a cohesive essay.

Synthesis Essay AP Lang Examples – Sample Question

Below is a sample question from the AP Lang synthesis essay and a response to the prompt. This question was taken directly from a 2022 exam . However, the response to the question will be originally crafted for the purpose of this newsletter. As well, all supporting evidence will be originally created and does not correspond to any previous test.

The Question

Since the early 2000s, the United States government and a number of corporations have sponsored initiatives to improve education in the STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The emphasis on STEM subjects in elementary, secondary, and higher education reflects concerns that United States students are less proficient in these areas than are students in other countries. Additionally, there is a belief that mastery in STEM fields is now essential in order to join a highly technical and specialized workforce. However, not everyone is convinced that a STEM-focused curriculum is necessary and/or effective.

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible
• Select and use evidence from at least three of the provided sources to support your line of Indicate clearly the sources used through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Sources may be cited as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the description in parentheses.
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your

How to Approach the Question

Maybe your first thought upon seeing this block of text is to feel overwhelmed. But don’t panic. There are effective ways to approach the question so you will be more prepared in your response.

It’s a good strategy to first isolate the thesis . What is the main idea of the text, and what is its argument?

Try it out. Reread the prompt and see if you can identify what the statement is asking you to develop an opinion on.

Think you’ve got it? In this example, we will be focusing on whether or not a STEM-focused curriculum in K-12 education is necessary and/or effective. In short, we will be arguing either for (highlighting the benefits) or against (highlighting the pitfalls) a STEM-focused curriculum.

How do we know what this statement is asking us?

Well, the statement provides a lot of background information. For example, we receive a definition of what STEM stands for. As well, we know that since 2000, there has been a greater initiative for STEM-focused classes.

When you read the prompt for the first time, it’s a great strategy to learn how to differentiate between background and contextual information from the heart of the argument .

A good way to learn how to isolate the argument is to look for transition words. Usually, these appear near the end of the question. Words like “however” and “yet” are signals that the statement is offering a differing opinion. Typically, the statement will tell you which two positions it’s offering for argument. These opinions are usually signaled by contrasting transition words.

So, now that we know what the question is asking us, what is the best way to respond?

Synthesis Essay AP Lang Examples – Sample Answer

The following is an essay response I crafted to the above question. After reading the sample, I will break down what it does well and what areas can be improved.

A STEM-focused curriculum is not as essential to providing a meaningful K-12 education. Because the majority of high school students are not proficient in STEM-focused classes, prioritizing these classes causes harm to student’s mental health and academic performance.

As seen in Source A, 60% of high school seniors in the Midwest only scored a C average in math and science-based classes (Langston). This statistic suggests that the majority of students do not resonate with STEM classes and therefore perform poorly. Earning a low score in any class does not bode well for students’ mental health.

When looking at the primary argument in Source C, it’s clear that most high schoolers prefer creative outlets to fact-based research (Kohler). Allowing students the opportunity to be more creative and initiate conversations about coursework lets students be more active in their learning. When students can discuss the nuance in their opinions, more personal growth happens. These conversations are not always easy to have in STEM-focused classes.

As well, when looking back to Source A, it’s clear that high school students in the Midwest earned higher grades, on average, in their English and art classes (Langston). This figure suggests that students perform better in these classes because they relate more to the source material. When relating to what they learn, they perform better in class.

In conclusion, STEM-focused curriculum is not as essential in K-12 education because most high school students do not relate to their STEM classes. When students do not earn satisfactory grades in these classes, it negatively affects their future college applications and job prospects.

Synthesis Essay AP Lang Examples – Answer Breakdown

So, what does this essay response get right, and where can it be improved? Let’s start with what the response does well.

First, the response establishes its thesis right away. Usually, it’s a good idea to clearly state your argument within the first paragraph. Not only is this a good practice because a reader can easily identify your stance, but also you can refer to your thesis as you write to make you stay on track.

With your thesis, it’s also a good idea to include one to two supporting sentences with the reasons why the thesis is concluded . Like in this example, I wrote that STEM-focused classes should not be prioritized because they can negatively affect both mental health and academic performance.

Another positive aspect of this response is that it is sure to not only reference but also cites its sources . It’s important that the reader understand where your information is coming from. That way, the readers can ensure you are interpreting the sources correctly.

AP Lang Synthesis Essay (Continued)

However, when rereading the instructions, it’s clear that this response fails the basic requirement of referring to at least three sources. Always make sure to reread the instructions to ensure you meet the standard requirements for incorporating source material.

Further, this AP Lang synthesis essay does not fully support its arguments . Ideas are simply stated and are not expanded upon.

For example, I mentioned a few times that earning low grades in STEM classes leads to negative mental health for high school students. However, there is no source referenced that either confirms or denies this claim. Therefore, there is no sufficient evidence to support my argument. It relies purely on inference.

Additionally, this AP Lang synthesis essay does not arrive at a sufficient level of sophistication of thought . Basically, sophistication of thought means avoiding broad generalizations and vague claims. The more specific you can be, the better your argument will sound.

Synthesis Essay AP Lang – In Conclusion

In the end, it’s always helpful to read the prompt thoroughly before writing. As well, making notes while you read could be a good strategy to pinpoint main ideas both in the prompt and the sources. That way, you can reread the material quickly. Similarly, sketching an outline may also be helpful. In addition, you should always carefully read the instructions to ensure all guidelines are followed.

As long as you avoid broad generalizations and use enough supporting evidence for your claim, you will be on the right path!

• High School Success

Meghan Dairaghi

With a BA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing, Meghan has served as a writing tutor at the University of Missouri St. Louis and Maryville University. Additionally, Meghan has held editorial roles at River Styx and Boulevard, and was a prose reader at Farside Review . Most recently, her work has been featured in Belle Ombre , Flypaper Lit , and Mag 20/20 , among others, and she was nominated for the Mary Troy Prize in Fiction. 

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Full Guide to Synthesis Essays: How to Write a Synthesis Essay

Nick Miller

Today, people are dealing with numerous amounts of data. This means that an average person has to develop an important skill — analyzing information found online to determine its quality. Such a skill is developed naturally as a person grows. However, its importance becomes more apparent with technological progress, which comes with its own issues.

As a result, the ability to analyze and synthesize information became a crucial part of the academic curriculum. This is why students often write synthesis essays. These are some of the most common assignments that a student has to deal with, but that does not mean that everyone knows how to write them. In this blog post, I will provide you with information on what is a synthesis essay, how to write one, and tips to improve your writing skills. I hope that this information will help you out.

What is a Synthesis Essay?

A synthesis essay is a type of academic writing that focuses on combining information from several sources to create an argument or a perspective on a given topic. These essays differ from other types because they require writers to analyze different viewpoints to pick the main ideas and create a unified stance on a topic. That is why synthesis essays are challenging. Students have to demonstrate skills such as critical thinking, research, and information synthesis. A well-developed essay synthesizes information from different sources to create a piece of writing that offers readers a nuanced understanding of a topic.

Key Components of a Synthesis Essay

To understand how to write a synthesis essay, it is required to know what it consists of. Similarly to other types of academic writing, synthesis essays have their own components. I will explain the most important elements of such an essay below.

Thesis Statement

A well-developed thesis statement is the main point of a synthesis essay. It presents readers with what they are going to read about. A thesis statement is a guide that allows readers to understand the author’s main stance and how they are going to synthesize their ideas to prove it.

Sources Integration

A synthesis essay requires the writer to conduct thorough research. With access to books, journals, websites, data sets, etc., it is possible to gather all the required information. This information has to be integrated to support the thesis and provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Synthesis of Information

Gathered information has to be combined to form a cohesive thought or central idea. To do this, a writer needs to analyze and interpret information from sources. Interpretation of all the pieces gathered from sources is what makes a synthesis essay.

Counter Arguments and Refutations

Synthesis also means that the author has to acknowledge and address opposing arguments. The incorporation of counter arguments is a testament to the quality of one’s synthesis of information. Instead of presenting a one-sided argument, it is better to address counter points and refute them.

The conclusion restates the thesis statement and summarizes all the ideas explored in the essay. It also serves as a closure that underlines the importance of the information provided by the author. This section of an essay should leave a lasting impression and solidify the writer’s stance on the topic.

Tips and Tricks for Writing an Outstanding Synthesis Essay

Synthesis essays are specific and require a careful approach to them. Thankfully, there are universal tips and tricks that I actively use in my writing. They will help you to understand how to write a synthesis essay of top quality every time as well!

Choose a multi-faceted, debatable topic

It is better to choose a topic that allows you to approach it from different perspectives. A multi-angle subject gives ground for extensive research and incorporation of various materials for a future synthesis essay.

Research credible sources with diverse perspectives

The quality of sources matters in academic writing. That is why you should investigate reliable sources to gather information for your topic. Credible sources include journal articles, reputable books, data sets, etc.

Take clear, organized notes tracking differences

Remember to take notes when performing research. I use notes to structure my thoughts and not get lost. You will encounter different information and perspectives, requiring you to sort them according to common and different points of view. This way, you will be able to spot these specific points and ease your essay-writing process.

Develop an insightful, focused thesis

To create a coherent thesis statement, you want to state your main argument while reflecting on the synthesis of perspectives that you describe in the essay. A well-crafted thesis statement will guide readers when addressing the topic you are writing about.

Use rhetorical techniques

The use of rhetorical techniques such as ethos, pathos, and logos is important for increasing persuasive power of a synthesis essay. They will appeal to your audience’s emotions, logic, and credibility.

How to Write a Synthesis Essay?

Step 1: choosing a compelling topic.

The first step in writing a synthesis essay is to select a topic that you find particularly interesting. However, this topic should also provide ground for exploration. I always opt for areas that interest me the most for additional motivation. With a properly selected topic, you can go deep into research to find different points of view. A topic that creates space for discussion and analysis is the best way to engage readers. Therefore, a proper choice of a topic will allow you to present the topic in a nuanced manner that provides value for the target audience.

Step 2: Conducting thorough research

Any strong synthesis essay requires thorough research. To begin with, I suggest starting by selecting a range of sources that you will base your research on. This could include academic journals, scholarly articles, reputable books, etc. After selecting sources, take notes to track the points discussed in each piece of research. This way, you will be able to track differences and similarities between sources. Such an approach will allow you to build a base addressing potential counter points and create a well-informed synthesis essay.

Step 3: Crafting a strong thesis statement

A strong thesis statement has to capture the main idea of your synthesis essay. It should include a synthesis of information that you gathered during research. This way, you will provide readers with a one-sentence summary of what they can expect from your writing. A thesis statement should be clear, specific, and coherent. Clarity plays an important role in delivering your main idea to readers while hooking them to continue reading through the essay.

Step 4: Evaluating and selecting relevant sources

Evaluate your sources to ensure the reliability and validity of information that you put into an essay. This process is crucial as the use of high-quality and recent sources strengthens main ideas of your synthesis essay. To do so, you should consider several factors such as author’s credibility, publication date, publication source, citations and references, and potential bias. With these factors checked, you will select the most appropriate sources for your synthesis essay.

Step 5: Structuring the essay (Introduction, Body, Conclusion)

Synthesis essays follow a traditional essay structure that is common in academic writing. The introduction should provide readers with context of the topic and a thesis statement to highlight key points that are discussed in the essay. Each body paragraph has to address a particular point to maintain clarity and ease of flow. Conclusion should restate the thesis statement, summarize synthesis, and reinforce your thesis. Combination of these structural elements ensures readability and comprehension of the essay.

Step 6: Incorporating evidence and examples

Integration of evidence from previously selected sources supports your thesis statement and arguments. You want to show how each piece of information contributes to the central idea of your synthesis essay. Incorporation of evidence and examples is central to highlighting your original ideas and distinguishing them from the ones taken from sources. This way, you will considerably improve the credibility of your thoughts and showcase the variety of sources that you synthesize to explore a topic.

Step 7: Analyzing and synthesizing information effectively

A strong synthesis essay example effectively combines diverse perspectives into a unified narrative. This means that synthesis requires writers to focus on exploration of relationships between sources. You can differentiate patterns, ideas, and connections between sources you gathered. Such an approach will allow you to show a nuanced understanding of a topic. A deep synthesis goes beyond compilation of information from different sources. It presents readers with a sophisticated argument that brings value to them.

Synthesis Essay Example Analysis

This synthesis essay example focuses on the ethical implications of using animals for testing drugs. It examines arguments in favor of animal testing while emphasizing the role of practice in advancing medical research. In contrast, the essay assesses ethical concerns that arise from animal testing such as test subjects’ welfare, suffering, and relevance of outcomes to humans.

A synthesis of information from scientific studies and ethical frameworks creates a balanced perspective of two different perspectives. A contrast of scientific arguments and ethical considerations creates ground for finding potential alternative solutions for the problem. Each paragraph addresses separate points mentioned in the thesis statement. The conclusion restates the thesis statement and summarizes ideas explored in the body paragraphs.

I tried to cover all the information regarding synthesis writing including what is a synthesis essay, its key components, and tips to create a compelling synthesis piece. A combination of reliable sources, synthesis of points into a coherent narrative, and a balance of arguments and counter arguments results in high-quality synthesis essays. However, remember that everything has to be logical and structured. You need to ensure that your synthesis writing is easy to read and understand. Writing a synthesis essay is not an easy task. That is why you can consider using AI tools, such as Textero AI-powered essay generator , to assist you in creating a compelling essay.

What is a synthesis essay?

A synthesis essay combines information from sources to create an argument on a topic. It is characterized by critical analysis of information, integration of different points of view, and their consideration from multiple perspectives.

Why are synthesis essays useful?

Synthesis essays promote critical thinking. They require students to use their research and analytical skills to present different perspectives in a compelling manner. The ability to address arguments and counter arguments naturally develops students’ critical thinking capabilities.

How do I pick a good synthesis essay topic?

A good synthesis essay topic is relevant and multifaceted. A topic should provide ground for debates and exploration of different perspectives. This means that students should choose topics that serve as a platform for discussion, in-depth analysis, and synthesis.

What types of sources should I use?

Synthesis essays require reliable sources to create a solid foundation for research. That is why it is advisable to focus attention on academic journals, books, and reputable web pages (news outlets, etc.).

How many sources do I need?

The number of sources required for a synthesis essay is not fixed. It can vary and depend on the perspectives covered in each source. Ensure that the number of sources that you use fully covers points that you want to explore in an essay.

Should I summarize or analyze my sources?

It is better to summarize sources to convey their key points. However, analysis is also important to fully understand sources’ main ideas and connections. Combination of summaries and analyses allows you to fully explore a topic.

What should my conclusion include?

A conclusion should restate the thesis statement, summarize synthesis points, and emphasize the importance of the topic. These elements should be combined to leave a lasting impression on readers.

Written by Nick Miller

AI enthusiast, student, and just life lover

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Essay Papers Writing Online

Mastering the art of crafting a stellar synthesis essay – top tips, techniques, and examples to boost your writing skills and academic success.

Are you ready to embark on a journey of discovery, where you meld ideas, thoughts, and arguments into a seamless tapestry? The synthesis essay offers you a unique opportunity to showcase your ability to synthesize various sources and present your ideas in a coherent and convincing manner. In this article, we will explore some tried-and-true strategies to help you master the art of crafting a compelling synthesis essay that will leave a lasting impression on your readers.

First and foremost, it is essential to develop a strong grasp of the central theme or topic of your essay. This theme serves as the thread that will tie all the different sources and ideas together. By understanding the underlying essence of your essay, you can better navigate through the vast sea of information and select the most relevant and persuasive sources to support your arguments.

Once you have identified the central theme, it is crucial to critically analyze the various sources at your disposal. Remember, the key is not just to summarize these sources but to analyze them in relation to your thesis statement. Look for patterns, contradictions, and connections between the different sources. Highlight the key arguments and evidence that are relevant to your essay’s central theme, and be prepared to present counterarguments that address opposing viewpoints.

Understand the Prompt

In order to write an effective synthesis essay, it is crucial to fully understand the prompt provided. The prompt serves as a guide, outlining the specific topic or issue that needs to be addressed in the essay.

When analyzing the prompt, it is important to carefully examine the keywords and phrases used. These words may provide valuable insight into the expectations of the essay and the specific elements that should be included. It is also crucial to identify any limitations or guidelines outlined in the prompt.

Understanding the prompt also involves determining the purpose of the essay. Is it meant to inform, persuade, or argue a specific point? By grasping the purpose, you can tailor your writing style and arguments to best meet the objectives of the prompt.

Additionally, it is essential to consider the context and audience of the essay. Who will be reading your essay? What are their expectations and knowledge on the topic? By considering these factors, you can better adjust your writing style and tone to effectively communicate your ideas.

Overall, understanding the prompt is the first step towards writing an effective synthesis essay. By carefully analyzing the prompt, identifying key elements, and considering the purpose and audience, you can ensure that your essay is well-focused, coherent, and meets the requirements of the assignment.

Conduct Thorough Research

When it comes to crafting a compelling and well-supported synthesis essay, conducting thorough research is crucial. A successful essay requires a deep understanding of the topic at hand, as well as a comprehensive exploration of different perspectives and sources. Simply put, conducting thorough research means digging deep and gathering a wide range of relevant and reliable information that will enrich your synthesis essay and make it more convincing.

Research is the foundation on which your essay will be built. It allows you to gather facts, statistics, and expert opinions that support your thesis and strengthen your arguments. By conducting thorough research, you can demonstrate your knowledge and expertise on the topic, as well as present a well-rounded perspective that takes into account different viewpoints and evidence.

It is essential to use a variety of sources during your research process. This includes academic journals, books, reputable websites, and studies conducted by experts in the field. By consulting a diverse range of sources, you can ensure that your synthesis essay is well-informed and comprehensive.

When conducting research, it is important to critically evaluate the sources you come across. Not all sources are created equal, and it is your responsibility as an essay writer to determine their credibility and reliability. Look for sources that are peer-reviewed, published by reputable scholars or organizations, and have a track record of accuracy and reliability.

In addition to gathering information from various sources, you should also take notes and organize your research in a systematic and structured manner. This will make it easier to refer back to specific information when writing your essay and ensure that you include all relevant facts and data in your synthesis.

In conclusion, conducting thorough research is a critical step in writing an effective synthesis essay. It enables you to gather a wealth of relevant information, evaluate its credibility, and present a well-informed and comprehensive perspective on the topic. By investing time and effort into research, you can ensure that your essay is well-supported, convincing, and showcases your knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

Create a Strong Thesis Statement

One of the most essential elements for writing a successful synthesis essay is the creation of a strong thesis statement. A thesis statement serves as the guiding principle and main argument of your essay, offering a clear and focused direction for your synthesis. This statement should be concise and powerful, encapsulating the main idea or theme that you will explore throughout your essay.

To create a strong thesis statement, it is important to consider the main points or ideas that you want to convey in your essay. Think about the connections and relationships between these points, and how they contribute to the overall theme or argument of your synthesis. Your thesis statement should reflect these connections and provide a clear stance or perspective on the topic.

Additionally, your thesis statement should be specific and avoid vague or general language. It should clearly state your main argument or position, and highlight the unique perspective or insights that you will bring to the topic. Avoid using clichés or common phrases, as they can weaken the impact of your thesis statement.

Lastly, make sure that your thesis statement is arguable. A strong thesis statement should invite discussion and debate, rather than stating an obvious or universally agreed-upon fact. It should be a statement that can be supported or refuted through evidence and logical reasoning.

By creating a strong thesis statement, you lay the foundation for a compelling and cohesive synthesis essay. It will guide your writing process and help you maintain a clear focus throughout your essay. Take the time to craft a thesis statement that is powerful, specific, and arguable, and you will set yourself up for success in writing an effective synthesis essay.

Organize Your Ideas

When it comes to crafting a compelling synthesis essay, one of the most important steps is organizing your ideas. Effective organization ensures that your thoughts flow smoothly and cohesively, allowing your readers to easily follow your argument. By structuring your essay in a logical and coherent manner, you can effectively convey your message and make a strong impact.

A key aspect of organizing your ideas involves creating an outline. This serves as a roadmap for your essay, helping you to visualize the overall structure and flow of your argument. Start by brainstorming your main ideas and supporting evidence, then arrange them in a logical order. This can be done using a variety of methods, such as creating a mind map or a hierarchical list.

Once you have established your outline, it’s important to consider the most effective way to present your ideas. One option is to use a chronological or sequential order, where you present your arguments in a logical progression. Another option is to use a thematic approach, grouping related ideas together to create a cohesive narrative. Whichever approach you choose, make sure to clearly introduce each main point and provide sufficient evidence to support your claims.

In addition to organizing your ideas structurally, it’s also important to consider the cohesiveness of your writing. Use transitional words and phrases to guide your readers through your argument, signaling shifts in ideas or providing connections between different points. This will help your essay to flow smoothly and prevent any misunderstandings.

Lastly, don’t forget to revise and refine your organization as you go. After completing a first draft, take the time to review your essay and make any necessary adjustments. This may involve reordering paragraphs, adding or deleting sections, or rephrasing sentences for clarity. By continuously revising and refining your organization, you can ensure that your essay is well-structured and easy to follow.

By organizing your ideas effectively, you can elevate your synthesis essay and make a strong impression on your readers. Take the time to carefully plan and structure your argument, and you’ll be well on your way to writing an impactful and persuasive essay.

Use Evidence and Examples from Various Sources

One crucial aspect of writing a synthesis essay is the use of evidence and examples from different sources to support your claims and arguments. By drawing from a variety of sources, such as scholarly articles, books, interviews, and research studies, you can strengthen the validity and credibility of your essay.

When selecting evidence and examples, it’s important to consider the diversity of viewpoints and perspectives. Including evidence from multiple sources allows you to present a well-rounded argument and demonstrate that you have considered various opinions on the topic.

Moreover, using evidence and examples from different sources helps to avoid biases and ensure that your essay is objective and comprehensive. By incorporating a variety of sources, you can present a more balanced and informed analysis.

Additionally, when using evidence and examples, be sure to provide proper citations and references. This not only gives credit to the original authors but also strengthens the credibility of your essay. Make sure to follow the appropriate citation style, such as APA or MLA, and include in-text citations and a reference list or bibliography.

In conclusion, by utilizing evidence and examples from various sources, you can enhance the effectiveness of your synthesis essay. By incorporating different viewpoints and perspectives, avoiding biases, and providing proper citations, you can create a well-supported and persuasive argument.

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How to Write a Synthesis Essay

Synthesis essays are not as popular as argumentative or analytical essays. Still, you can be assigned to write this type of essay when you study at high school, college, or university. Writing a synthesis essay is also a part of an exam that you have to pass in order to complete the AP English Language and Composition course. As this essay type is uncommon, we will provide you with a detailed and simple guide on how to write a synthesis essay.

What is a synthesis essay?

A synthesis essay is a type of writing that offers a unique viewpoint on a chosen topic backed up with information from multiple sources. It is similar to research papers but has a few limitations.

Firstly, when you write an AP synthesis essay, you don’t have to look for the necessary sources by yourself, as they’re provided in the text of your assignment. The only thing you need to do is pick three or four sources in order to argue the topic. Secondly, you’ll have certain time limitations during the exam. You will have to complete three writing tasks (argument, analysis, and synthesis) in two hours. Finally, topics for synthesis essays are usually broader than ones for research papers.

The AP English Language and Composition exam is not aimed at evaluating students’ knowledge of a specific discipline. Its main purpose is to examine your writing and rhetorical skills, so all topics are debatable and understandable, as they don’t require reading specialized literature.

In general, a synthesis essay has to demonstrate your language competence, not your analytical thinking skills. Still, you should follow a particular logic to make your text readable and to get a higher score.

Main types of synthesis essays

Synthesis essay writing steps

When you compose a synthesis essay, especially for the AP exam, you don’t have much time. Therefore, you need perfect planning. Below, we offer you writing steps divided into three stages for your comfort.

Preparatory work

1. Read instructions thoroughly

Understanding the prompt is crucial for providing a brilliant synthesis essay. Make sure that you take into account all the aspects of the topic.

2. Think about the topic

Sure, you won’t have much time for a full-scale brainstorming session during the exam. Still, you have to look at the suggested theme from different perspectives in order to formulate your unique and interesting viewpoint.

3. Compose a preliminary thesis statement

Write down the first clear idea that will come to your mind after you read the prompt. It doesn’t need to be perfect, as you’ll have a chance to make changes later. The main purpose of this step is to create a base for the further writing process. A good thesis statement is a sentence that answers three questions about your essay at the same time: what, how, and why.

4. Choose sources

When taking an exam, this step is easier than when doing an academic assignment, as all the sources are specified. You have to pick three or four sources of various formats that will enforce your point of view. If you are preparing a synthesis essay for a university, you can use more than four sources, but make sure that you analyze and present properly the ideas of each author.

4. Read the chosen sources thoroughly

Remember that you don’t have much time when you take the exam, so don’t waste it for reading all the provided sources. Only after picking several texts will you begin a detailed reading. You can make short annotations and take notes in order to summarize the main ideas of the chosen sources.

5. Find connections between the sources and your claim

This is the main aspect of any synthesis essay. If you don’t succeed in finding out and explaining to your readers how the chosen sources are related to your thesis, you won’t get a high score for your essay. The sources that you choose shouldn’t necessarily prove your point of view. They can even be contradictory, but links between them have to be clear.

Drafting your essay

To simplify the writing process, we suggest you to use a standard five-paragraph structure: one paragraph for your introduction, three paragraphs for the main body, and one more for your conclusion.

Let’s take a closer look at each part of a synthesis essay.

1. Introduction

An introduction is an extremely important part of your essay, as it has three crucial functions. First of all, you introduce your topic and provide some background information that is necessary for understanding the theme. The next task is to present your sources, as they provide the base for your synthesis essay. Finally, you include your thesis statement in your introduction. Don’t forget that your claim should be relevant to your body paragraphs. As a rule, an introductory section is about 10% of the whole text and consists only of one paragraph.

2. The main body

This part covers about 80% of your synthesis essay. Each paragraph should include a focal point and several quotes that serve as arguments. You should follow the rule of one paragraph, one idea. However, don’t omit the logical connections between parts of the main body and different sources. Your main purpose is to show how you can synthesize multiple sources in order to prove your personal point of view.

3. Conclusion

When you write the concluding part of your essay, the main thing is to show confidence. A confident tone will persuade your readers that your viewpoint is correct and your argumentation is immaculate. Restate your thesis statement and summarize connections between your initial claim and cited sources. Be concise and avoid long phrases: your conclusion should be only 10% of the whole text.

Final touches

1. Reread your essay

It is hard to do everything perfectly on the first try. In order to notice all the mistakes and inaccuracies, reread your writing thoroughly.

2. Write a final thesis statement

Make sure that your thesis statement is relevant to the main body. If not, rewrite it to create a smooth connection between your claim and argumentation.

3. Edit your text

If you’re sure that everything is fine with the content of your synthesis essay, it’s time to get rid of grammatical mistakes, poor wording, spelling mistakes, and incorrect punctuation. Remember that even the most eloquent text will look like the work of an amateur if there are dozens of mistakes.

AP lang synthesis essay

On the AP Language and Composition exam, you will need to write a synthesis essay as part of the free-response section. For this essay, you will be provided with prompts and several sources to support your argument. To prepare for this essay, it is important to read through each source carefully, take notes, and create an outline before starting to write. Remember to include at least three sources in your essay and to cite them properly. Here are some important facts to keep in mind about the AP Lang Synthesis Essay:

• Purpose . The synthesis essay is a type of exam paper that students write to show their analytical skills and ability to work with sources and write essays based on them.
• Time limit . The work time is 55 minutes.
• Organization . Composition of the synthesis essay is the following:
• Introduction with a thesis statement.
• Argument from the source No. 1.
• Argument from the source No. 2.
• Argument from the source No. 3.
• Conclusion.
• Compliance with the topic . You should stay on topic and support the chosen quote or question.
• Argumentation using several sources . The point of a synthesis essay is to confirm your statements, using as examples the sources you have given.
• Composition and logic of reasoning . The criterion implies adherence to semantic division into paragraphs, logical sequence of presentation of thoughts, as well as constructive proof of one’s opinion.
• Quality of writing style . In the synthesis essay, use diverse speech structures, but ones that are correct  grammatically, syntactically and lexically.

Synthesis essay topics

How to choose an exciting topic for a synthesis essay.

A synthesis essay is an opportunity to share your opinion on two or more texts. You will need to analyze a particular issue and support your point of view with evidence. This type of essay is common in high school and college English courses.

When choosing a topic for your synthesis essay, you need to find a way to connect the sources. Connecting different sources to support your point to make a perfect essay can be done by finding a common theme or providing a critical analysis of each source. If you are still looking for a connection, try looking for a common thread that ties the sources together.

Once you have found a connection, you must decide what direction you want your essay to take.

• Do you agree with the sources?
• Do you disagree?
• Do you see a different perspective?

Your position will be the basis for your synthesis essay.

20 creative topics for a synthesis essay

• The American Dream: Is it still achievable?
• Technology has made our world a better place
• Social media is a positive or negative force in our world
• The media is responsible for the way we see the world
• The definition of success: What does it mean to be successful?
• The role of the government: Should it be more involved
• The importance of a college education
• The challenges of being a first-generation college student
• The pros and cons of genetic engineering
• The implications of climate change
• Agree or disagree: The only way to be a successful student is to get good grades
• Reality television is harmful to our society
• The importance of failure
• The impact of social media on relationships
• Fake News: Is the spread of fake news a problem?
• Technology: What will be the next significant innovation?
• Social Media: Is social media a form of addiction?
• The pros and cons of technology in the classroom
• Family: How has the traditional family structure changed?
• Religion: How has faith changed over time?

Why do you need to explore expert samples

As you know, a synthesis essay is about drawing information from various sources and piecing it together to create a cohesive whole. The process can be tricky and one that can be made much easier with the help of expert samples.

1. It can be difficult to identify all the necessary elements independently

When looking at a blank page, it can be challenging to know where to start. It, therefore, becomes more challenging when tasked with writing a synthesis essay since you need to include so many elements that can be difficult to identify without the help of an expert. Thus, this is where expert samples come in handy. By reading through a few examples, you can better understand what’s required and what’s optional.

2. You’ll be able to see how different writers approach the same topic

One of the great things about exploring expert samples is that you’ll be able to see how other writers approach the same issue. Subsequently, this can give you valuable insights into how you might want to approach your essay.

3. You can learn from the mistakes of others

While reading through expert samples, you’ll inevitably come across some that are better than others. Consequently, this is an excellent opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others and make sure that you don’t make the same mistakes in your essay.

4. You’ll get a better sense of what the professor expects

If you need clarification on what your teacher or professor is looking for, expert samples can be a great way to give a better experience of what the professor expects. Reading through a few expert examples gives you a clearer idea of the professors’ expectations, and you can formulate your thoughts.

5. You can find inspiration for your essay

Finally, one of the best reasons to explore expert samples is that they can provide much-needed inspiration. If you’re stuck, a few well-written examples can jumpstart your creative process and help you develop great ideas for your essay.

5 helpful tips to write a synthesis essay

1. Acceptable number of sources

If you need to take the AP exam, you have to use at least three sources (you can use a maximum of four sources). If you must write a synthesis essay as an academic assignment, you may use more sources. However, we don’t recommend you to exceed the limit of six sources, as it can be very hard to present a greater number of works in a proper way. You can cite the same source several times, and it will still be considered as one source.

2. Proper citation

When you include a quote in your essay, introduce, punctuate, and cite it properly. Mention the author’s name and use quotation marks if necessary. In parentheses, write the title of your source.

3. Counter-argument

Addressing a counter-argument is a helpful argumentation strategy. In such a way, you demonstrate that your point of view on this particular topic is not unique. However, you can show that the counter-argument is weak, and this will convince your readers that your claim is more valid.

4. Language skills

This tip is mostly accurate for the AP exam. The free-response writing section, which includes a synthesis essay, is aimed at evaluating your language performance. Don’t hesitate to use fancy wording, terms, complex grammar structures, linking words, and figures of speech that will demonstrate your language skills.

5. Importance of the form

The main purpose of the synthesis essay is to show how you can use multiple sources and create connections between them and demonstrate your writing skills. Your top priority is not offering a unique point of view that will amaze your readers. Of course, a bit of novelty won’t hurt. Still, your primary task is to be eloquent and logical, not creative.

We hope that you’ve learned more about a synthesis essay thanks to our guide. Practice your writing regularly in order to achieve great results and get higher scores!

If you need help with writing, or other types of assignments, you can count on us. For example, reqest do my math homework help, or write my essay for me, and get qualified assistance.

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How to Write a Synthesis Essay With PDF Download

To write a synthesis essay, you need to have great coordination skills. You will need it to link various sources and research outcomes together while deriving and building on your thesis statement.

Fredrick Eghosa

Aug 26, 2024

Table of Contents

Key takeaways

What is a synthesis essay, components of a synthesis essay, the difference between a synthesis essay and an argumentative essay, different types of synthesis essays, how to write a synthesis essay step-by-step with examples, steps to write a synthetic essay, how to use ai to write a synthesis essay.

• A synthesis essay involves analyzing various sources and combining them to create a cohesive and well-supported argument. It is more than just summarizing; it requires blending information to reveal new insights.
• The key components of a synthesis essay are:
• Synthesis essays combine multiple viewpoints to create a new viewpoint whereas argumentative essays focus on rebuttal.
• AI tools like Cowriter.ai can assist with research, summarizing sources, drafting, paraphrasing, editing, and managing citations, making the essay-writing process more efficient.
• Use a provocative question, a jarring fact, a relevant quote, or statistics to make your readers interested in what you have to say.
• A smart writing assistant like Cowriter.ai makes writing hooks so fun and simple. All you need to do is input the topic and nudge it in the direction you desire, depending on whether you want your hook to be a provocative question or a jarring fact.
• Introduction
• The body of the essay is divided into paragraphs for each point. (Combine information from different sources within each paragraph to support the point. Note that you can improve your essay by using transition words to show how the sources connect to each other and to your thesis.)
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in a new way. Explain why this synthesis is important or what it shows about the topic.

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UMGC Effective Writing Center Write to Synthesize: The Research Essay

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In a synthesis, you bring things together. This combination, integration, or merging creates something new--your synthesis. The action of synthesis is basic to our world. Take, for example, what happens when a single oxygen molecule is combined with two hydrogen molecules. Water is created or synthesized. Hard to get more basic than that.

You also use synthesis to make personal decisions. If two instructors are teaching a class you must take, you may synthesize your past experiences with the teachers to choose the best class for you.

Research Essays:

Thesis driven.

In school, when writing a synthesis from your research, your sources may come from the school's library, a textbook, or the Internet. Here are some important points to keep in mind:

First, regardless of where your sources come from or how many you have, what you write should be driven by a thesis that you devise. After reading and studying your sources, you should form a personal point of view, a slant to connect your sources.

Here's a quick example--Let's say you've read three folktales: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and the Pied Piper--and now you must write a synthesis of them. As you study the three sources, you think about links between them and come up with this thesis: 

Folktales use fear to teach children lessons.

Then you use this thesis to synthesize your three sources as you support your point of view. You combine elements from the three sources to prove and illustrate this thesis. Your support points could focus on the lessons for children:

• Lesson 1 : Never talk to strangers.
• Lesson 2 : Don't wander from home.
• Lesson 3 : Appearances can deceive us.

This step of outlining your thesis and main points is a crucial one when writing a synthesis. If your goal in writing a research essay is to provide readers a unified perspective based on sources, the unified perspective must be clear before the writing begins.

Once the writing begins, your point of view is then carried through to the paragraph and sentence levels. Let's examine some techniques for achieving the unity that a good synthesis requires. First, here’s an example of an unsuccessful attempt at synthesizing sources:

Many sources agree that capital punishment is not a crime deterrent. [This is the idea around which the sources should be unified. Now comes the sources] According to Judy Pennington in an interview with Helen Prejean, crime rates in New Orleans rise for at least eight weeks following executions (110). Jimmy Dunne notes that crime rates often go up in the first two or three months following an execution. “Death in the Americas” argues that America’s crime rate as a whole has increased drastically since the re-instatement of the death penalty in the 1960s. The article notes that 700 crimes are committed for every 100,000 Americans (2). Helen Prejean cites Ellis in her book to note that in 1980, 500,000 people were behind bars and in 1990 that figure rose to 1.1 million (112).

Sample student paragraph adapted from "Literature Review: Synthesizing Multiple Sources." Retrieved 2011 from https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/items/7dda80e7-b0b3-477c-a972-283b48cfdf5c

This paragraph certainly uses a number of sources. However, the sources are presented in a random, grocery list fashion. Besides the main point at the beginning, there is no further attempt to synthesize. The sources seem tossed in, like ingredients in a salad. Let's examine a possible revision of that paragraph and how an adequate synthesis might be achieved:

Major studies suggest that capital punishment fails to deter crime. Helen Prejean, in "Deadman Walking," reviews decades of statistics that indicate capital punishment does little to lower crime. [Key idea from  topic sentence—"capital punishment fails to deter crime"— echoed in sentence about source–"capital punishment does little to lower crime." Repetition links source to main idea.] Based on this evidence, Prejean concludes “Executions do not deter crime . . . the U.S. murder rate is no higher in states that do not have the death penalty than those who do” (110). ["Based on this evidence" forces  reader to refer back to "statistics" in previous sentence.] Prejean’s point is reiterated from a historical perspective in Dunne's article “Death in the Americas.”  [This sentence provides a thought bridge between two sources.] Dunne first points out that, despite the social and economic upheavals from 1930 to 1960, crime rates were unchanged (2). [Linking phrase:"Dunne first points out"] However, after the reinstatement of the death penalty in the 1960s, “crime rates soared” (2). [Linking phase "However, Dunne notes."]

The result is a matrix of connective devices that unifies the sources around a key idea stated at the beginning. Although this matrix seems complex, it is actually built on a simple three-point strategy.

• Stay in charge . You the writer must control the sources, using them to serve your purpose. In good synthesis writing, sources are used to support what you, the writer, have already said in your own words.
• Stay focused . Your main point is not merely stated once and left to wilt. Your main idea is repeated and echoed throughout as a way to link the sources, to weave them together into a strong fabric of meaning.
• Stay strategic . Notice the "source sandwich" strategy at work. First, the author sets up the source with its background and relevance to the point. After the source comes a follows up in his/her own words as a way to bridge or link to the next part. In other words, the writer's own words are used like two slices of bread, with the source in the middle.

Follow these simple principles when using sources in your writing and you will achieve the most important goal of synthesis writing--to create a whole greater than its parts.

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• Synthesizing Sources | Examples & Synthesis Matrix

Synthesizing Sources | Examples & Synthesis Matrix

Published on July 4, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Synthesizing sources involves combining the work of other scholars to provide new insights. It’s a way of integrating sources that helps situate your work in relation to existing research.

Synthesizing sources involves more than just summarizing . You must emphasize how each source contributes to current debates, highlighting points of (dis)agreement and putting the sources in conversation with each other.

You might synthesize sources in your literature review to give an overview of the field or throughout your research paper when you want to position your work in relation to existing research.

Table of contents

Example of synthesizing sources, how to synthesize sources, synthesis matrix, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about synthesizing sources.

Let’s take a look at an example where sources are not properly synthesized, and then see what can be done to improve it.

This paragraph provides no context for the information and does not explain the relationships between the sources described. It also doesn’t analyze the sources or consider gaps in existing research.

Research on the barriers to second language acquisition has primarily focused on age-related difficulties. Building on Lenneberg’s (1967) theory of a critical period of language acquisition, Johnson and Newport (1988) tested Lenneberg’s idea in the context of second language acquisition. Their research seemed to confirm that young learners acquire a second language more easily than older learners. Recent research has considered other potential barriers to language acquisition. Schepens, van Hout, and van der Slik (2022) have revealed that the difficulties of learning a second language at an older age are compounded by dissimilarity between a learner’s first language and the language they aim to acquire. Further research needs to be carried out to determine whether the difficulty faced by adult monoglot speakers is also faced by adults who acquired a second language during the “critical period.”

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To synthesize sources, group them around a specific theme or point of contention.

As you read sources, ask:

• What questions or ideas recur? Do the sources focus on the same points, or do they look at the issue from different angles?
• How does each source relate to others? Does it confirm or challenge the findings of past research?
• Where do the sources agree or disagree?

Once you have a clear idea of how each source positions itself, put them in conversation with each other. Analyze and interpret their points of agreement and disagreement. This displays the relationships among sources and creates a sense of coherence.

Consider both implicit and explicit (dis)agreements. Whether one source specifically refutes another or just happens to come to different conclusions without specifically engaging with it, you can mention it in your synthesis either way.

Synthesize your sources using:

• Topic sentences to introduce the relationship between the sources
• Signal phrases to attribute ideas to their authors
• Transition words and phrases to link together different ideas

To more easily determine the similarities and dissimilarities among your sources, you can create a visual representation of their main ideas with a synthesis matrix . This is a tool that you can use when researching and writing your paper, not a part of the final text.

In a synthesis matrix, each column represents one source, and each row represents a common theme or idea among the sources. In the relevant rows, fill in a short summary of how the source treats each theme or topic.

This helps you to clearly see the commonalities or points of divergence among your sources. You can then synthesize these sources in your work by explaining their relationship.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• ChatGPT vs human editor
• ChatGPT citations
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Using ChatGPT for your studies
• What is ChatGPT?
• Chicago style
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 Plagiarism

• Types of plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Academic integrity
• Consequences of plagiarism
• Common knowledge

Synthesizing sources means comparing and contrasting the work of other scholars to provide new insights.

It involves analyzing and interpreting the points of agreement and disagreement among sources.

You might synthesize sources in your literature review to give an overview of the field of research or throughout your paper when you want to contribute something new to existing research.

A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources (such as books, journal articles, and theses) related to a specific topic or research question .

It is often written as part of a thesis, dissertation , or research paper , in order to situate your work in relation to existing knowledge.

Topic sentences help keep your writing focused and guide the reader through your argument.

In an essay or paper , each paragraph should focus on a single idea. By stating the main idea in the topic sentence, you clarify what the paragraph is about for both yourself and your reader.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Ryan, E. (2023, May 31). Synthesizing Sources | Examples & Synthesis Matrix. Scribbr. Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/synthesizing-sources/

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Are you feeling overwhelmed by the challenge of writing a compelling synthesis essay?

As a student, it can be frustrating to craft brilliant arguments that captivate readers and secure high marks. But fret not! We have the perfect solution to alleviate your writing woes. 

In this blog, we present a collection of synthesis essay examples that will provide practical insights to overcome your writing hurdles. We will also discuss some synthesis essay topics and tips to write a good synthesis essay. 

So, say goodbye to confusion and embrace the clarity that comes from learning through real-life examples. 

Without further ado, let's start with the blog!

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What is Synthesis Essay?

A synthesis essay is defined as: 

A type of academic writing that involves combining information from multiple sources to create a coherent argument on a specific topic. 

The goal of a synthesis essay is to:

• Analyze the sources
• Draw connections between sources
• Present a unique perspective that integrates the information from the sources.

Synthesis Essay Examples

In this section, we will explore different examples of synthesis essays. Examples are a valuable tool for learning complicated concepts and understanding the format of a synthesis essay. 

By examining these examples, you can see how the information from multiple sources is effectively utilized to build a cohesive argument.

Let's take a look at the sample synthesis essays below:

Synthesis Essay Introduction Example

Synthesis Essay Thesis Statement Example

Synthesis Essay Example Outline

AP High School Synthesis Essay Example

Argumentative Synthesis Essay Example

Explanatory Synthesis Essay Example

Poetry Synthesis Essay Sample

Technology Synthesis Essay

AP English Language and Composition Synthesis Essay

Synthesis Essay Example College Board

Synthesis Essay Example Ap Lang

Synthesis Essay Example MLA

Synthesis Essay Example APA

How to Write a Synthesis Essay?

Writing a synthesis essay can be an engaging and challenging task. It requires you to bring together information from multiple sources, analyze different viewpoints, and form a cohesive argument. 

To help you navigate the writing process and create a well-structured synthesis paper, here are some essential steps:

Step#1 Understand the Assignment and Gather Relevant Sources

Before you begin writing, carefully read and understand the assignment prompt. Identify the main theme or topic and the sources you need to analyze and synthesize. 

It's crucial to gather a variety of sources, such as scholarly articles, books, and reputable websites. By doing so you can ensure a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

Step#2 Create a Synthesis Essay Outline

A well-structured essay is essential for a good synthesis essay. Create an outline that organizes your thoughts and arguments logically. 

Your synthesis essay outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each section should be clear and concise, providing a roadmap for your essay.

Step#3 Develop a Strong Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the central argument of your synthesis essay. It should be concise and clearly state your stance on the topic. A good thesis statement guides the direction of your essay and provides a framework for your synthesis.

Step#4 Evaluate and Analyze Sources

Thoroughly evaluate and analyze each source you've gathered. Identify the main ideas, key arguments, and supporting evidence presented in the sources. Look for common themes, patterns, or conflicts among the sources. This analysis will serve as the foundation for synthesizing the information in your essay.

Step#5 Synthesize Information

In the body paragraphs of your essay, synthesize the information from your sources. Do not summarize each source individually. Instead, aim to present a coherent analysis of the information by integrating different viewpoints and supporting evidence. 

Make sure to attribute the ideas to the appropriate sources through in-text citations.

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Step#6 Organize Your Synthesis

Organize your synthesis logically within each paragraph. You can structure your paragraphs based on themes, conflicting viewpoints, or supporting evidence. Ensure a smooth flow of ideas and transitions between paragraphs to maintain coherence and clarity.

Step#7 Craft a Strong Conclusion

In your conclusion, summarize the main points discussed in your essay and restate your thesis statement. Emphasize the significance of your findings and provide a thoughtful reflection on the topic. Leave your readers with a lasting impression and a sense of closure.

Check out this informative video to learn more about synthesis essays!

Synthesis Essay Format

Let’s take a look at the basic synthesis essay format:

• Introduction : Introduce the topic and provide background information. Present your thesis statement.
• Body paragraphs: Analyze and synthesize the information from your sources, supporting your thesis statement.
• Conclusion : Summarize your main points and restate your thesis. Provide a thoughtful reflection on the topic.

Synthesis Essay Topics

Here are synthesis essay example topics in different subject domains:

• The impact of technology on climate change mitigation efforts.
• Synthesis of renewable energy sources for a sustainable future.
• The ethical implications of genetic engineering and synthetic biology.
• Synthesizing scientific research to understand the effects of sleep on human health.
• Exploring the potential benefits and risks of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Social Sciences:

• Synthesizing theories of social inequality to understand its impact on marginalized communities.
• The role of media in shaping public opinion and political discourse.
• Synthesizing psychological and sociological perspectives on addiction and substance abuse.
• Analyzing the impact of globalization on cultural diversity and identity.
• Synthesizing different approaches to criminal justice reform for reducing recidivism rates.

Literature:

• The portrayal of gender roles and stereotypes in classic and contemporary literature.
• Synthesizing different literary techniques used to convey the theme of love in poetry.
• Comparing and contrasting the themes of justice and revenge in various Shakespearean plays.
• Synthesizing the works of different postcolonial authors to understand the impact of colonialism on identity.
• Exploring the use of symbolism in dystopian literature to critique societal norms.
• Synthesizing different historical perspectives on the causes of World War II.
• The impact of the Enlightenment on the American and French Revolutions.
• Synthesizing primary sources to understand the experiences of enslaved individuals during the transatlantic slave trade.
• Analyzing the effects of the Industrial Revolution on social and economic conditions in 19th-century Europe.
• Comparing and contrasting the approaches to decolonization in Africa and Asia.

Technology:

• Synthesizing different perspectives on the ethical implications of autonomous vehicles.
• The impact of social media on communication and interpersonal relationships.
• Synthesizing the benefits and risks of data mining in the era of big data.
• Analyzing the role of technology in addressing global challenges such as poverty and climate change.
• Exploring the potential applications of blockchain technology in various industries.

These topics should provide you with a starting point for your synthesis essay in different subject domains. Remember to conduct thorough research and present a balanced synthesis of different sources and perspectives.

Need more topics? Check out our synthesis essay topics blog and get plenty of ideas!

Tips for a Good Synthesis Essay

Here are some tips to write an outstanding synthesis essay: 

• Choose a topic that is broad enough to have sufficient sources but narrow enough to focus your analysis effectively.
• Take notes while reading and analyzing your sources to keep track of key points and ideas.
• Use in-text citations and include works cited page to give credit to the original authors and avoid plagiarism.
• Maintain a balanced approach by presenting different viewpoints and addressing counterarguments.
• Edit and revise your essay for clarity , coherence, and grammar mistakes.

In conclusion, writing a good synthesis essay requires careful planning, thorough research, and effective organization. By following a proper synthesis essay structure and employing proper writing techniques, you can write a strong synthesis essay.

Start writing your essay early to allow ample time for the writing process, revisions, and edits. With practice and persistence, you can develop your skills in crafting compelling synthesis essays.

Still do not know how to start with your synthesis essay? Don't worry! CollegeEssay.org is here to help.

Our dedicated synthesis essay writing service is readily available to help you with your writing tasks. We guarantee 100% plagiarism-free papers tailored to your needs.

Don't hesitate to reach out to our professional essay writing service today!

Caleb S. (Literature, Marketing)

Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.

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What a Thesis Paper is and How to Write One

From choosing a topic and conducting research to crafting a strong argument, writing a thesis paper can be a rewarding experience.

It can also be a challenging experience. If you've never written a thesis paper before, you may not know where to start. You may not even be sure exactly what a thesis paper is. But don't worry; the right support and resources can help you navigate this writing process.

What is a Thesis Paper?

A thesis paper is a type of academic essay that you might write as a graduation requirement for certain bachelor's, master's or honors programs. Thesis papers present your own original research or analysis on a specific topic related to your field.

“In some ways, a thesis paper can look a lot like a novella,” said Shana Chartier , director of information literacy at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). “It’s too short to be a full-length novel, but with the standard size of 40-60 pages (for a bachelor’s) and 60-100 pages (for a master’s), it is a robust exploration of a topic, explaining one’s understanding of a topic based on personal research.”

Chartier has worked in academia for over 13 years and at SNHU for nearly eight. In her role as an instructor and director, Chartier has helped to guide students through the writing process, like editing and providing resources.

Chartier has written and published academic papers such as "Augmented Reality Gamifies the Library: A Ride Through the Technological Frontier" and "Going Beyond the One-Shot: Spiraling Information Literacy Across Four Years." Both of these academic papers required Chartier to have hands-on experience with the subject matter. Like a thesis paper, they also involved hypothesizing and doing original research to come to a conclusion.

“When writing a thesis paper, the importance of staying organized cannot be overstated,” said Chartier. “Mapping out each step of the way, making firm and soft deadlines... and having other pairs of eyes on your work to ensure academic accuracy and clean editing are crucial to writing a successful paper.”

How Do I Choose a Topic For My Thesis Paper?

What your thesis paper is for will determine some of the specific requirements and steps you might take, but the first step is usually the same: Choosing a topic.

“Choosing a topic can be daunting," said Rochelle Attari , a peer tutor at SNHU. "But if (you) stick with a subject (you're) interested in... choosing a topic is much more manageable.”

Similar to a thesis, Attari recently finished the capstone  for her bachelor’s in psychology . Her bachelor’s concentration is in forensics, and her capstone focused on the topic of using a combined therapy model for inmates who experience substance abuse issues to reduce recidivism.

“The hardest part was deciding what I wanted to focus on,” Attari said. “But once I nailed down my topic, each milestone was more straightforward.”

In her own writing experience, Attari said brainstorming was an important step when choosing her topic. She recommends writing down different ideas on a piece of paper and doing some preliminary research on what’s already been written on your topic.

By doing this exercise, you can narrow or broaden your ideas until you’ve found a topic you’re excited about. " Brainstorming is essential when writing a paper and is not a last-minute activity,” Attari said.

How Do I Structure My Thesis Paper?

Thesis papers tend to have a standard format with common sections as the building blocks.

While the structure Attari describes below will work for many theses, it’s important to double-check with your program to see if there are any specific requirements. Writing a thesis for a Master of Fine Arts, for example, might actually look more like a fiction novel.

According to Attari, a thesis paper is often structured with the following major sections:

Introduction

• Literature review
• Methods, results

Now, let’s take a closer look at what each different section should include.

Your introduction is your opportunity to present the topic of your thesis paper. In this section, you can explain why that topic is important. The introduction is also the place to include your thesis statement, which shows your stance in the paper.

Attari said that writing an introduction can be tricky, especially when you're trying to capture your reader’s attention and state your argument.

“I have found that starting with a statement of truth about a topic that pertains to an issue I am writing about typically does the trick,” Attari said. She demonstrated this advice in an example introduction she wrote for a paper on the effects of daylight in Alaska:

In the continental United States, we can always count on the sun rising and setting around the same time each day, but in Alaska, during certain times of the year, the sun rises and does not set for weeks. Research has shown that the sun provides vitamin D and is an essential part of our health, but little is known about how daylight twenty-four hours a day affects the circadian rhythm and sleep.

In the example Attari wrote, she introduces the topic and informs the reader what the paper will cover. Somewhere in her intro, she said she would also include her thesis statement, which might be:

Twenty-four hours of daylight over an extended period does not affect sleep patterns in humans and is not the cause of daytime fatigue in northern Alaska .

Literature Review

In the literature review, you'll look at what information is already out there about your topic. “This is where scholarly articles  about your topic are essential,” said Attari. “These articles will help you find the gap in research that you have identified and will also support your thesis statement."

Telling your reader what research has already been done will help them see how your research fits into the larger conversation. Most university libraries offer databases of scholarly/peer-reviewed articles that can be helpful in your search.

In the methods section of your thesis paper, you get to explain how you learned what you learned. This might include what experiment you conducted as a part of your independent research.

“For instance,” Attari said, “if you are a psychology major and have identified a gap in research on which therapies are effective for anxiety, your methods section would consist of the number of participants, the type of experiment and any other particulars you would use for that experiment.”

In this section, you'll explain the results of your study. For example, building on the psychology example Attari outlined, you might share self-reported anxiety levels for participants trying different kinds of therapies. To help you communicate your results clearly, you might include data, charts, tables or other visualizations.

The discussion section of your thesis paper is where you will analyze and interpret the results you presented in the previous section. This is where you can discuss what your findings really mean or compare them to the research you found in your literature review.

The discussion section is your chance to show why the data you collected matters and how it fits into bigger conversations in your field.

The conclusion of your thesis paper is your opportunity to sum up your argument and leave your reader thinking about why your research matters.

Attari breaks the conclusion down into simple parts. “You restate the original issue and thesis statement, explain the experiment's results and discuss possible next steps for further research,” she said.

Find Your Program

Resources to help write your thesis paper.

While your thesis paper may be based on your independent research, writing it doesn’t have to be a solitary process. Asking for help and using the resources that are available to you can make the process easier.

If you're writing a thesis paper, some resources Chartier encourages you to use are:

• Citation Handbooks: An online citation guide or handbook can help you ensure your citations are correct. APA , MLA and Chicago styles have all published their own guides.
• Citation Generators: There are many citation generator tools that help you to create citations. Some — like RefWorks — even let you directly import citations from library databases as you research.
• Your Library's Website: Many academic and public libraries allow patrons to access resources like databases or FAQs. Some FAQs at the SNHU library that might be helpful in your thesis writing process include “ How do I read a scholarly article? ” or “ What is a research question and how do I develop one? ”

It can also be helpful to check out what coaching or tutoring options are available through your school. At SNHU, for example, the Academic Support Center offers writing and grammar workshops , and students can access 24/7 tutoring and 1:1 sessions with peer tutors, like Attari.

"Students can even submit their papers and receive written feedback... like revisions and editing suggestions," she said.

If you are writing a thesis paper, there are many resources available to you. It's a long paper, but with the right mindset and support, you can successfully navigate the process.

“Pace yourself,” said Chartier. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. Setting smaller goals to get to the big finish line can make the process seem less daunting, and remember to be proud of yourself and celebrate your accomplishment once you’re done. Writing a thesis is no small task, and it’s important work for the scholarly community.”

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Meg Palmer ’18 is a writer and scholar by trade who loves reading, riding her bike and singing in a barbershop quartet. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English, language and literature at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and her master’s degree in writing, rhetoric and discourse at DePaul University (’20). While attending SNHU, she served as the editor-in-chief of the campus student newspaper, The Penmen Press, where she deepened her passion for writing. Meg is an adjunct professor at Johnson and Wales University, where she teaches first year writing, honors composition, and public speaking. Connect with her on LinkedIn .

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