ENGL 2010
What is Synthesis?

Now that you have gathered some research, we will be discussing and practicing synthesizing your research. This pre-work module will prepare you for your class session with your librarian by teaching you what synthesis is, how to create a Research Matrix, and get you thinking about the perspectives represented in your research.

During your library class session, we will use the Research Matrix to help you visualize gaps in your research and provide you with strategies for filling those gaps in order to wrap up the research process! In addition, this matrix will help you synthesize, or combine sources in a meaningful way, while discovering your own voice, too. The Research Matrix can be a valuable research tool, but it can also be a tremendous help in the writing process.

After your library class session, your instructor will show you how you can transfer your research matrix content into a well-thought-out and supported essay!

WHAT IS SYNTHESIS?

Synthesis requires you to make sense of all the relevant ideas in your sources and blend them together with your own thoughts and ideas. Watch this video to learn how to engage in synthesis in order to take research from multiple sources along with your own arguments and turn it into a research paper.

HOW TO FILL OUT YOUR RESEARCH MATRIX

The research matrix is a helpful tool you can use to synthesize your research along with your own voice. The matrix can help you organize your paper by main idea, identify connections between your sources, and add your own analysis.

1. DOWNLOAD A BLANK MATRIX

The blank matrix allows you to input your own research and is provided below in Excel and Word formats.

blank research matrix

Blank Matrix in Excel

Blank Synthesis Matrix in Word

2. WRITE YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION ABOVE THE MATRIX

Your research question is the question you are trying to answer with your research. Having the question at the top helps focus your matrix.

3. WRITE YOUR MAIN IDEAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MATRIX

Writing down your main ideas on the left side of the matrix will help you organize your paper main idea by main idea instead of source by source.

Helpful Tip: Choose your main ideas AFTER you have read your sources!

4. WRITE THE TITLE AND AUTHOR OF EACH SOURCE AT THE TOP OF THE MATRIX

It can be difficult to keep track of all your sources while you are doing research. Writing down the title and author of each source will help you keep your sources organized.

5. ADD A DIRECT QUOTE OR PARAPHRASE THAT REPRESENTS HOW THE SOURCE DISCUSSED THE MAIN IDEA

While you are reading your sources, you will find information that will help you answer your research question. However, remembering which source had what information can be difficult. Putting direct quotes or paraphrases into the matrix can help you keep track of how the sources discuss the main ideas. This will also help you later as you start writing your paper.

Helpful Tip: You do not need every source to address every main idea!

YOUR TURN

If you have not already, please stop and fill out the blank matrix above with at least TWO of your sources before moving to the next page.

For now, feel free to leave the My Thoughts column blank as we will discuss this more later.

Click NEXT to move through the tutorial.

QUICK CHECK

When you are synthesizing, how should you organize your paper?

Source by source

Not quite. When synthesizing you want your sources to interact with each other.

Main idea by main idea

Correct! Organizing your paper idea by idea puts your sources into conversation with each other.

Chronological order

"For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned." -Benjamin Franklin

Author by author

Not quite. You want your authors' works to interact with each other like a conversation.