Text 2010 English:Synthesis

Goal

The learning objectives for this module are:

Identify main ideas, arguments, and concepts in an article
Identify relationships between several articles
Pull together main ideas of a topic

Be sure to go through all six tabs in the tutorial before submitting your completed matrix.

Introduction to Synthesis

An effective research essay synthesizes the related information surrounding a topic and then goes one step further to say something new or unique. Watch this short video to learn more about what it means to synthesize sources for your paper:

Finding & Entering Conversations in your Research

Engaging with your Sources

Now that you understand synthesis, you'll want to start analyzing source material in order to identify important facts, concepts, and questions for further research.

Strategies for Synthesis:

1. Read the articles! You'll have a much easier time in the end if you take the time to carefully read articles at the beginning.
Tip: if an article seems too confusing right now, come back to it later.

2. Mark-up the main concepts, facts, ideas, and arguments. Look for:

a. what seems important or meaningful to you (don't just underline something because it sounds important!)

b. points you could explain or share

c. points that you want clarified

3. Look for relationships between different works. Begin to identify emerging themes and topics between sources.

Mark-up the Text

Remember, write in the margins! Writing main ideas and subtopics in the margins can help you quickly identify which sources are talking about the same thing.

Below is an example of excerpts from two different articles discussing hipster culture. The notes in the margin of each article make it quickly apparent that the articles have something in common; they each address the conflict of authenticity and the hipster culture. In the middle of the image below is the beginning of a matrix that is being filled out for our topic. This matrix has the articles listed by the author's last name across the top and the main ideas found in the article listed on the side.

References:

Schiermer, Bjørn. "Late-Modern Hipsters: New Tendencies in Popular Culture." Acta Sociologica (Sage Publications, Ltd.) 57.2 (2014):167-181. Academic Search Premier. Web.

Michael, Janna. "It's Really Not Hip To Be A Hipster: Negotiating Trends And Authenticity In The Cultural Field." Journal Of Consumer Culture 15.2 (2015): 163-182. Academic Search Premier. Web.

Synthesis Activity

Want an easy way to organize all the important information from your sources as you are getting ready to synthesize and evaluate the information in a literature review?

Be sure you watch the video earlier on the Introduction to Synthesis tab FIRST. This activity will make a lot more sense after watching the video.

To use the matrix, first label each "source column" with the author's name or abbreviated title. Then along the left side of the chart, record the main points/ideas/concepts of your topic. As you examine your first source, you will work vertically in the column belonging to that source, recording as much information as possible about each significant idea (referring back to the sentences you highlighted). Be sure to review your completed chart at the end to identify common themes, areas of disagreement, or gaps in the literature.

Additional Resources

1. View an example of a completed Matrix (taken from NC State University).

2. Blank Matrix: download your own copy Synthesis_Matrix_Final.doc

My research question: ______________________________

	Source 1	Source 2	Source 3	Source 4	Source 5	My Thoughts
Main Idea 1
Main Idea 2
Main Idea 3
Main Idea 4
Main Idea 5

Completed Matrix

Once you completed the assignment turn it in here: Completed Matrix