Synthesis Paper

Show that You UNDERSTOOD the Readings 

Well-Enough to Write About Them

[A Synthesis Paper is extremely common in college-level writing.]  This kind of paper is frequently assigned... It often replaces an exam.

Usually, you are expected to use your writing to show that you have understood all the readings included in the assignment, and you are expected to synthesize the readings, to bring them together, in some interesting way around a central question.

One key to successful synthesis papers is to bring your own voice and ideas into the paper sufficiently to actually direct the flow of the paper. If you find yourself just pasting together summaries of the readings in some kind of order, stop! You should find yourself, instead, identifying some interesting question that has grown out of your reading (your instructor may actually specify the question) and answering it.

Your answer will usually become the thesis statement that directs the paper. You will use your reading, then, to develop your thesis—showing your reader what you mean by it and why you believe it is true.

[See the ESSAY content for how to develop your own voice, surrounding it with support from the text and outside sources.  See the THESIS STATEMENT EXERCISE to help you construct a thesis that works with your assignment prompt.]

Tip: Knowledgeable students often include more than the required readings in the bibliographies (Works Cited or References pages) of their papers.

Content available at:

ESC Online Writing Center. “Synthesis Paper.” Essay, SUNY Empire State

College, Web <www.esc.edu/online-writing-center/resources/

academic-writing/types/synthesis />.