informative synthesis essay examples

How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Your Guide From Start to Finish

Today, we're swamped with information, like reading 174 newspapers every day. It comes from all over—news, social media, science, and more. This flood might make you feel overwhelmed and lost in a sea of facts and opinions. But being able to make sense of it all is crucial.

This guide isn't just about handling all that info; it's about using it to write awesome essays. We'll show you step by step how to pick a topic and organize your essay. Let's dive in and learn how to turn scattered facts into powerful essays that really stand out.

What Is a Synthesis Essay

The synthesis essay is a powerful tool in writing. It's not just about gathering facts but about connecting them to make a clear and strong argument.

Writing a synthesis essay allows you to dive deep into ideas. You have to find similarities between different sources—like articles, studies, or arguments—and use them to tell a convincing story.

In today's world, where we're bombarded with information, synthesis essays are more important than ever. They let us explore how different ideas fit together and help us express our thoughts on complex topics. Whether you're writing about literature, science, history, or current events, a synthesis essay shows off your ability to analyze and understand a topic from all angles. And if you're struggling with this task, just ask us to ' write paper for me ,' and we'll handle your assignment for you.

Explanatory vs. Argumentative Synthesis Essays

In synthesis writing, there are two main types: explanatory and argumentative. Understanding these categories is key because they shape how you approach your essay.

Explanatory:

An explanatory synthesis essay does just what it says—it explains. These essays aim to give a balanced view of a topic by gathering information from different sources and presenting it clearly. They don't try to persuade; instead, they focus on providing information and making things easier to understand. They're like comprehensive summaries, breaking down complex ideas for a broader audience. These essays rely heavily on facts and expert opinions, avoiding personal bias.

Argumentative:

On the flip side, argumentative synthesis essays are all about persuasion. Their main goal is to take a stance on an issue and convince the reader. They gather information from various sources not only to present different views but also to build a strong argument. Argumentative essays aim to sway the reader's opinion by using gathered information as evidence. These essays express opinions and use rhetorical strategies to persuade.

And if you're keen on knowing how to write an informative essay , we've got you covered on that, too!

Synthesis Essay Structure

To craft a strong synthesis essay, you need a solid foundation. Here's a structured approach to help you nail it:

Introductory Paragraph:

• To kick things off, grab your reader's attention with a catchy hook or interesting fact. Give a bit of background info about your topic and the sources you'll be using, as it can help readers understand your topic better! Then, lay out your main argument in a clear thesis statement.

Body Paragraphs:

• Each paragraph should focus on a different aspect of your topic or source. Start with a topic sentence that links back to your thesis. Introduce the source you're discussing and highlight its main points. Also, using quotes, paraphrases, or summaries from your sources can make your arguments stronger.

Synthesis :

• This part is where your essay comes together. Look for common themes or differences among your sources. Use your analysis to build a strong argument. Don't forget to address any opposing viewpoints if they're relevant!

Conclusion :

• Wrap things up by restating your thesis and summarizing your main points. Explain why your argument is important and what it means in the bigger picture. End with a thought-provoking statement to leave a lasting impression.

References :

• Finally, don't forget to list all your sources properly using the right citation style, like MLA or APA. Do you know that different citation styles have different rules? So, make sure you follow the right one!

Choosing a Synthesis Essay Topic

Picking essay topics is just the beginning. To write a great synthesis essay, you need to carefully evaluate and connect different sources to build a strong argument or viewpoint. Here's a step-by-step infographic guide to help you choose the right synthesis essay topics wisely.

How to Write a Synthesis Essay with Easy Steps

Writing a synthesis essay is similar to a compare and contrast essay . It requires a methodical approach to blend information from different sources into a strong and persuasive argument. Here are some crucial steps and tips to help you along the way.

• Clarify Your Purpose: First, decide if you're writing an explanatory or argumentative synthesis essay. This choice will set the tone and direction for your essay.
• Source Selection and Analysis: Choose credible and relevant sources for your topic, balancing different types like articles, books, and websites. Analyze each source carefully, noting the main ideas and evidence presented.
• Formulate a Strong Thesis Statement: Create a clear and concise thesis statement that guides your essay. It should express your main argument or perspective.
• Structure Your Essay: Organize your essay with a clear synthesis essay outline, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of your topic.
• Employ Effective Transition Sentences: Use transition sentences to connect your ideas and paragraphs smoothly, ensuring a cohesive flow in your essay.
• Synthesize Information: Blend information from your sources within your paragraphs. Discuss how each source contributes to your thesis and highlight common themes or differences.
• Avoid Simple Summarization: Don't just summarize your sources—analyze them critically and use them to build your argument.
• Address Counterarguments (if applicable): Acknowledge opposing viewpoints and counter them with well-supported arguments, showing a deep understanding of the topic.
• Craft a Resolute Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in the conclusion. Emphasize the importance of your argument or insights, and end with a thought-provoking statement or call to action. ‍
• Revise and Proofread: Check your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammar mistakes. Ensure your citations are correct and follow the chosen citation style, like MLA or APA.

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Synthesis Essay Format

Choosing the right citation style can enhance the credibility and professionalism of your paper. The format of your synthesis paper depends on the specific guidelines given by your instructor. They usually fall into one of the popular styles: MLA, APA, or Chicago, each used in different academic fields.

1. MLA (Modern Language Association):

• Uses in-text citations with the author's last name and page number.
• Includes a 'Works Cited' page at the end listing all sources.
• Focuses on the author and publication date.
• Often used in humanities essays, research papers, and literary analyses.

2. APA (American Psychological Association):

• Uses in-text citations with the author's last name and publication date in parentheses.
• Includes a 'References' page listing all sources alphabetically.
• Emphasizes the publication date and scientific precision.
• Commonly used in research papers, scholarly articles, and scientific studies.

3. Chicago Style:

• Offers two documentation styles: Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date.
• Notes-Bibliography uses footnotes or endnotes for citations, while Author-Date uses in-text citations with a reference list.
• Suitable for various academic writing, including research papers and historical studies.
• Provides flexibility in formatting and citation methods, making it adaptable to different disciplines.

Synthesis Essay Example

Here are two examples of synthesis essays that demonstrate how to apply the synthesis process in real life. They explore interesting topics and offer practical guidance for mastering the art of writing this type of paper.

Synthesis Essay Tips

Crafting a strong synthesis essay requires careful planning and effective techniques. Here are five essential tips to help you write your best paper:

• Diverse Source Selection : Choose a range of reliable sources that offer different viewpoints on your topic. Make sure they're recent and relevant to your subject.
• Seamless Source Integration : Avoid just summarizing your sources. Instead, blend them into your essay by analyzing and comparing their ideas. Show how they connect to build your argument.
• Balanced Tone : Maintain an impartial tone in your writing, even if you have personal opinions. Synthesis essays require objectivity, so they present different viewpoints without bias.
• Focus on Synthesis : Remember, synthesis essays are about linking ideas, not just summarizing sources. Explore how your sources relate to each other to create a cohesive argument.
• Address Counterarguments : Like in persuasive essays topics , acknowledge opposing viewpoints and explain why your perspective is stronger. This demonstrates your understanding of the topic and adds depth to your argument.

Concluding Thoughts

When writing a synthesis essay, it's essential to pick trustworthy sources, blend them effectively to build your argument and stay objective. Use smooth transitions, address counterarguments thoughtfully, and focus on analyzing rather than just summarizing. By following these steps, you'll create essays that inform, persuade, and engage your readers!

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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.

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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Synthesis Essay Examples

A synthesis essay is another piece of academic discourse that students often find difficult to write. This assignment indeed requires a more nuanced approach to writing and performing research. It’s particularly relevant to students taking an AP English Language and Composition exam, so learning how to write a synthesis essay is crucial to getting a high score.

This article will explore the definition of a synthesis essay, its functions, and objectives, and provide a tutorial on how to write a synthesis essay.

What is a synthesis essay?

To understand how to write a synthesis essay, we first need to figure out why it is called this way.

The word “synthesis” comes from the Greek language where it means “composition” or “collection.” This means that a synthesis essay can be interpreted as a piece of writing that combines something together. But what?

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program known for developing complex courses for high-school students includes a synthesis essay as one of its Language and Composition exam questions. In it, the AP Program asks students to analyze several sources of information and write an essay that “synthesizes” (or incorporates) evidence from some of the sources.

Thus, a synthesis essay is a written text that explores a certain issue using perspectives derived from multiple different sources.

Synthesis essay: format and objectives

Unlike other types of academic analysis, synthesis questions do not aim to evaluate the overall persuasiveness of your arguments. As a writer, you should aim to analyze, evaluate, and integrate diverse ideas into a coherent whole. Here are some of the skills students need to demonstrate in their synthesis essays:

• Analyzing sources . Before you learn how to start a synthesis essay, your task is to read and analyze the sources presented to you and understand what they’re about.
• Assessing the arguments . After familiarizing yourself with the available sources, you are supposed to evaluate if the arguments they support are strong or weak, which will help you determine the course of your essay.
• Identifying common positions . The next skill you must demonstrate is identifying common positions across the sources. By comparing and contrasting different viewpoints, the writer should be able to detect repeating ideas that contribute to a deeper understanding of the topic.
• Integrating sources . Your main task in a synthesis essay is combining ideas from different authors to create a cohesive argument. This will help you show how well you can extract information from various sources.

As you see, the chief goal of synthesis questions is to show how well you can analyze sources and derive information from them.

How to start a synthesis essay: tutorial

During an AP examination, you don’t have a lot of time to write the text. It can be stressful, and it’s not rare for students to panic and forget what to do. Don’t worry, with these simple steps, you’ll be able to create a great synthesis essay and ace your exam.

1. Scan the given sources

At first, you will be handed six sources that you’re supposed to briefly examine. These can include academic and newspaper articles, graphs, schedules, prompts, and other documents that can be used to support your future thesis statement.

Remember that you don’t have a lot of time, so take a quick look at the documents and leave short remarks that can help you remember which source supports or argues a certain opinion.

2. Develop your stance

After you’ve studied the sources, it’s time to come up with your stance and thesis statement. Note that, unlike other essays, the stance you must take in your synthesis essay might not correlate with your actual opinion.

Your task is to choose a position that you can support with the sources provided to you. This will showcase your ability to draw an unbiased and logical conclusion from a wide range of references. However, your stance should express an original idea and cannot paraphrase the points given in the source texts.

3. Write your essay

Your essay should start with a two or three-sentence-long introduction that gives background to the topic you’re going to be writing about. It should also include your thesis – the idea based on the evidence you’ve gathered that you’re going to defend in the next part of your essay. Don’t use personal pronouns as a synthesis essay provides an overview of facts instead of your opinion

The body of your synthesis essay should be built of several arguments. Each argument should refer to a specific part of your thesis and provide evidence to support the claims. Use the sources provided to you as evidence to validate your arguments. You should use at least three sources, but the more you incorporate in your text, the better. You can draw arguments and evidence from your background knowledge or include counter-arguments from the remaining sources. When you refer to the original documents, make sure to include the number of the source in brackets at the end of a sentence.

In your conclusion, restate your original thesis and summarize what you stated before. Don’t repeat the same thoughts. Instead, include a new idea you haven’t mentioned before or a call to action to finish your essay properly.

Synthesis essay: examples

The list of sources provided as part of the examination:

• A New York Times article about the relevance of blue-collar workers;
• A Washington Post article about the uselessness of art degrees;
• The Economist’s article about the decreasing wages of college graduates;
• A New Your Times article proving that college does pay off;
• An article about a businessman giving money to teens to start businesses instead of going to college
• A survey on whether college education is worth it

Is college worth it?

In the current era of shifting economic landscapes and evolving societal expectations, the value of higher education has become a subject of intense scrutiny. While some decades ago, a college education was considered the only solution to a better life, nowadays this sentiment is no longer relevant. Higher education can no longer guarantee high salaries and employment, not to mention the unbearable strain it puts on a future graduate’s finances.

The modern world of employment has shifted. While decades ago society needed information-centric professionals, now the situation is different. With the Internet, employers can now find new hires from all over the world with much cheaper salary expectations, leaving local college graduates with no choice but to agree to a lower pay than they expected[3]. This demonstrates the new trend of decreasing rewards for higher education that is very likely to continue in the future.

Another issue is the lack of employment in certain areas. It is no secret that Art and Humanities graduates have a tough time finding positions with adequate pay in the field they studied[2]. Many of them have to search for employment in other fields that have nothing to do with their degrees, which further proves that higher education does not provide job security.

Furthermore, the cost of higher education in America has been the subject of many debates. Even with scholarships and financial aid, many students still find themselves facing daunting loan repayments upon graduation[6]. This financial pressure can delay important milestones such as buying a home, starting a family, or saving for retirement. Additionally, the job market may not always align with graduates' expectations, making it challenging to secure well-paying positions to effectively manage their debt. As a result, the financial impact of college can be felt long after receiving a diploma, shaping the economic landscape of young professionals for years to come.

In conclusion, higher education no longer offers guaranteed employment and financial stability benefits, often leaving graduates with an exorbitant debt they can not afford. Because of this, the governments should reevaluate their current educational and economic policies and develop other areas of education like vocational schools to provide stability to future generations.

Conclusion: Writing a synthesis essay

A synthesis essay tests your ability to conduct objective analysis and derive facts from multiple different references. It helps you learn to put aside your personal bias and provide an objective overview of information even if it contradicts your opinion. To produce a high-scoring synthesis essay, work on your analytical skills and use them to find evidence to defend your position.

If answering synthesis questions gives you trouble, use essay generator Aithor to generate sample essays, learn how to derive main information from source texts, create a plan, and express your thoughts concisely and eloquently.

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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?

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!

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

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:

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• 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.

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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:

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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 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 1,122,629 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

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• ↑ 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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Synthesis Essay Writing

Synthesis Essay Outline

Synthesis Essay Outline - Template and Examples

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Learn How to Write a Synthesis Essay Step by Step

Best Synthesis Essay Topics and Prompt Ideas

13+ Winning Synthesis Essay Examples For Your Inspiration

Ever wonder how to bring different ideas together in your essays seamlessly? That's what synthesis essays are all about – blending information from various sources to build a strong argument. 

You might find outlining such an essay difficult but no worries we are here to help!

This blog provides a comprehensive roadmap for developing a synthesis essay outline, saving you time and effort. Keep reading to learn how to create a perfect outline from this step-by-step guide. 

Let’s begin!

• 1. Defining Synthesis Essay
• 2. What is a Synthesis Essay Outline?
• 3. How to Write a Synthesis Essay Outline?
• 4. Synthesis Essay Outline Example
• 5. Tips to Craft a Perfect Synthesis Essay Outline

Defining Synthesis Essay

A synthesis essay collects information from a variety of sources and then combines them together to make a new whole. The ‘new whole’ is your essay that explains your point of view while analyzing both sides of the issue.

This type of essay needs to be properly structured and it should be well organized. If the information in the essay is not connected logically, it will confuse the reader. The reader won’t get anything out of it if it does not provide cohesive information.

Difference Between a Synthesis Essay and an Argumentative Essay

The synthesis essay is somewhat similar to an argumentative essay but it is a more complex type of essay. 

In an argumentative essay , you have to present an issue, support it with evidence, and prove that your views are right. On the other hand, in the synthesis essay, you have to evaluate the factors of an issue to consider the implications of a decision.

What is a Synthesis Essay Outline?

A synthesis essay outline is like a roadmap for your writing journey. It's a plan that spells out what you'll write in your essay.

A typical outline for a synthesis essay will begin with an introduction . Begin with something to grab attention, then state your thesis – what your essay will argue. 

After that, outline what each of your three body paragraphs will discuss. Be sure to include details from various sources.

Lastly, map out what your conclusion will cover. This is where you wrap up your argument. 

An outline helps you see how information connects, so make sure to clearly summarize the key points.

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Synthesis Essay Structure

Here is a synthesis essay outline template that you can follow while writing your essay:

How to Write a Synthesis Essay Outline?

Crafting a perfect outline is crucial in order to write a good synthesis essay. Without an outline, your synthesis paper might end up in multiple directions. 

Let’s explore the steps to write a perfect outline:

Step 1: Choose a Relevant Topic

Select a topic that aligns with your interests and the assignment requirements. Ensure it's broad enough to find multiple sources but specific enough for focused research. If you are looking for intriguing topics check out our synthesis essay topics blog!

Step 2: Conduct Thorough Research 

Explore various sources, including articles, books, and academic journals, to gather information on your chosen topic. Take note of key arguments, data, and perspectives.

Step 3: Synthesis Essay Introduction

The introduction is the section where you introduce the topic of your paper. Start with a hook statement to grab the reader’s attention at the beginning. Provide a brief background of the issue and state the purpose of your essay. 

Convince the reader to review your work by stating the importance of your point of view. Lastly, state the thesis statement that briefly summarizes the whole agenda of your essay.

Here is a sample synthesis essay thesis template, take a look: 

Step 4: Synthesis Essay Body Paragraphs

The body section starts with the topic sentence that supports the thesis statement. Invoke relevant facts and data that strengthen your argument. Then relate all the evidence and target points to conclude the overall essay.

When dealing with counter-arguments, carefully acknowledge opposing views. State that these perspectives are valid, but clarify why they don't undermine your main point. Support your stance by presenting evidence that reinforces your argument and effectively refutes the counter-arguments. This strengthens the overall credibility of your essay.

Step 5: Synthesis Essay Conclusion

In the conclusion section just summarize the information that you have presented earlier. Restate the thesis statement to enforce the message of your essay. Reiterate the main points of your essay provide a call to action and close the essay nicely.

Step 6: Synthesis Essay Bibliography

As this is an outline, we'll touch on the key aspects without diving into specific sources:

• Citation Style: Choose a writing style ( MLA , APA , etc.) based on your assignment requirements.
• List of Sources: Compile a list of major sources supporting your argument. While this outline won't detail every source, ensure impactful references are included in your essay.
• Credit Research: Properly credit each source, acknowledging its role in supporting your research and argument.

Here's a handy synthesis essay outline sample for you. Download and keep it for reference as you write your essay outline.

Synthesis Essay Outline PDF

Synthesis Essay Outline Example

An example essay helps a lot in understanding the format and how to structure the information. Whether you are writing a college essay or a research paper, taking help from sample essays is always a good idea.

Synthesis Essay Outline AP Lang Example

Argumentative Synthesis Essay Outline Example

Explanatory Synthesis Essay Outline Example

Be mindful of using the correct synthesis essay outline structure for your essay. Here is an outline worksheet to help you write a fabulous essay without getting into any trouble. 

Synthesis Essay Outline Worksheet

Need more sample essays for inspiration? Check out our synthesis essay examples blog!

Tips to Craft a Perfect Synthesis Essay Outline

Here are some valuable tips to guide you while structuring a synthesis essay:

• Clarity is Key: Ensure your outline reflects a clear flow of ideas, making it easy for readers to follow your argument.
• Balance Your Arguments: Distribute evidence evenly across your body paragraphs to maintain a balanced and cohesive essay.
• Thesis Precision: Fine-tune your thesis statement for clarity and specificity, guiding the focus of your synthesis.
• Varied Source Integration: Use a mix of sources to enrich your essay, providing diverse perspectives on the topic.
• Counter-Argument Consideration: Anticipate counter-arguments and address them strategically within your outline to strengthen your position.
• Logical Sequencing: Arrange your points in a logical order, creating a seamless transition between ideas in your essay.
• Concise Summary: Craft a concise yet impactful conclusion in your outline, summarizing key points without introducing new ideas.
• Revise and Refine: Regularly review and refine your outline to ensure it aligns with your evolving ideas and research.
• Thematic Unity: Maintain thematic unity throughout your outline, emphasizing connections between different sections of your essay.
• Reflect on Purpose: Periodically revisit the purpose of your essay to ensure your outline aligns with your overarching goals.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some mistakes you should avoid while structuring your essay: 

• Fragmented Flow: Creating an outline without a logical sequence can lead to a disjointed essay, making it challenging for readers to follow your argument.
• Overloading Evidence: Including an excessive amount of evidence in your outline may overwhelm your essay, diluting the impact of key points.
• Vague Thesis: A poorly defined thesis in your outline can result in a lack of focus, making it difficult to synthesize ideas effectively in the essay.
• Source Monotony: Relying heavily on a single type of source in your outline can limit the richness of your synthesis, offering a narrow perspective on the topic.
• Ignoring Counter-Arguments: Failing to address potential counter-arguments in your outline may weaken your essay's overall persuasiveness and credibility.
• Illogical Sequencing: Disorganized sequencing of ideas in your outline can confuse readers, hindering their understanding of your synthesis.
• Excessive Detail: Including too much detail in your outline may lead to an overwhelming essay structure, detracting from the clarity of your main ideas.

Wrapping it up!

Hopefully, this ultimate outline writing guide and samples will help you craft a perfect outline for your essay. However, if you still face some difficulty in crafting the outline, take help from a professional writer.

Writers at  MyPerfectWords.com provide impeccable essays written just according to your requirements. You can purchase any type of essay, research paper, thesis, dissertation, book review, and any other type of paper from our custom essay writing online .

Place your order now and buy a synthesis essay at cheap prices.

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Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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Keep reading

Chapter 5: Writing a Summary and Synthesizing

5.4 Informative vs. Argumentative Synthesis

Svetlana Zhuravlova

In academic research and writing, synthesizing of the information from the obtained available resources results in novelty, discovery, reaching to the common sense on a debatable issue, clarifying the perplexity of the subject under the discussion,or making the point on a controversial topic. Your rhetorical goal for writing a synthesis essay will be identified by the given assignment. In your First-Year Writing courses, you may write an Informative/Explanatory Synthesis and/or an Argumentative Synthesis.

What is an Informative/Explanatory Synthesisis?

In informative writing, you are explaining the discussion points and topics to your readers without taking a position of one side or another, without showing your opinion. Even if the topic is debatable and highly controversial, instead of promoting your personal opinion, you have to objectively introduce the ideas of others, explain and show how their information is related to each other’s, how the information may connect and diverge. You are not showing your agreement with some authors and disagreement with the others. You should stay neutral both in your comments on the found information and in your conclusions reached at the end of the discussion.

Organize the discussion among the authors of your sources as was explained in Section 5.2  under “How do You Synthesize? “

• Example: Numerous authors wonder if this is a natural progression over time because of the laws that have changed or a shift in ideals that redefine what free speech is supposed to be…  Author N believes that [free speech] is not controlled enough in the interest of the people, while Authors B and D believe that, in an ideal world, opinions would be formed and spoken without repercussion and merely be a part of language…

  At the end of the discussion, draw your neutral conclusion on the topic:

• Example: The question if speech has become limited, affecting the right to freedom of speech, lies in the hands of the people and the justice system itself.

Additional examples for Explanatory Synthesis here

  What is an Argumentative Synthesis?

Everything you learned about Argumentative Writing in chapters of this textbook is true and valid for writing an Argumentative Synthesis. The main difference may be that you are to support your ideas with evidence found in multiple sources, show and explain how the authors’ opinions relate, who of your authors agree and who disagree on the controversial issue, while your comments on the information retrieved from these sources and your conclusions will clarify your own position in the debate.

First, you start the debate with the assertion that sets the goal for the debate, its controversy:

• Example: Societal changes are a large part in the debate of free speech and its limitations . The debate is about whether offensive speech should be punished when it is said with the intent to psychologically harm a group or person, or if immoral or scandalous speech should be off-limits.

Then, you are moderating the debate among the experts

• Professor of Law E disagrees…
• His thought is echoed by Professor R from the University of …
• Authors F and S also discuss and assess…
• Following in their steps, Authors D and T express…
• Unfortunately, in opposition to their respect, Author X asserts that…
• This brings us back to the view point of Authors F and S, who argue that…

Finally, conclude the discussion and finalize your position:

•  Thus, hateful and immoral speech – which typically associates itself with low-value because of harmful words – will continue to find its limitations in the world even if it is not through government operations…  

When you synthesize, you are a part of the discussion and a leader of the discussion that you have initiated. You are introducing the voices and ideas of others, so you should be flexible and fair to all participating authors. You should avoid personal attack, as well as other logical fallacies in your comments on the information borrowed from your source materials. Read more in 6.5 Logical Fallacies

A Guide to Rhetoric, Genre, and Success in First-Year Writing by Svetlana Zhuravlova is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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5.4: Informative vs. Argumentative Synthesis

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In academic research and writing, synthesizing of the information from the obtained available resources results in novelty, discovery, reaching to the common sense on a debatable issue, clarifying the perplexity of the subject under the discussion,or making the point on a controversial topic. Your rhetorical goal for writing a synthesis essay will be identified by the given assignment. In your First-Year Writing courses, you may write an Informative/Explanatory Synthesis and/or an Argumentative Synthesis.

What is an Informative/Explanatory Synthesis?

In informative writing, you are explaining the discussion points and topics to your readers without taking a position of one side or another, without showing your opinion. Even if the topic is debatable and highly controversial, instead of promoting your personal opinion, you have to objectively introduce the ideas of others, explain and show how their information is related to each other’s, how the information may connect and diverge. You are not showing your agreement with some authors and disagreement with the others. You should stay neutral both in your comments on the found information and in your conclusions reached at the end of the discussion.

Organize the discussion among the authors of your sources as was explained in Section 5.2 under “How do You Synthesize? “

• Example: Numerous authors wonder if this is a natural progression over time because of the laws that have changed or a shift in ideals that redefine what free speech is supposed to be… Author N believes that [free speech] is not controlled enough in the interest of the people, while Authors B and D believe that, in an ideal world, opinions would be formed and spoken without repercussion and merely be a part of language…

At the end of the discussion, draw your neutral conclusion  on the topic:

• Example: The question if speech has become limited, affecting the right to freedom of speech, lies in the hands of the people and the justice system itself.

Additional examples for Explanatory Synthesis here

What is an Argumentative Synthesis?

Everything you learned about Argumentative Writing in chapters of this textbook is true and valid for writing an Argumentative Synthesis. The main difference may be that you are to support your ideas with evidence found in multiple sources, show and explain how the authors’ opinions relate, who of your authors agree and who disagree on the controversial issue, while your comments on the information retrieved from these sources and your conclusions will clarify your own position in the debate.

First, you start the debate with the assertion that sets the goal for the debate, its controversy:

• Example: Societal changes are a large part in the debate of free speech and its limitations . The debate is about whether offensive speech should be punished when it is said with the intent to psychologically harm a group or person, or if immoral or scandalous speech should be off-limits.

Then, you are moderating the debate among the experts

• Professor of Law E disagrees…
• His thought is echoed by Professor R from the University of …
• Authors F and S also discuss and assess…
• Following in their steps, Authors D and T express…
• Unfortunately, in opposition to their respect, Author X asserts that…
• This brings us back to the view point of Authors F and S, who argue that…

Finally, conclude the discussion and finalize your position:

• Thus, hateful and immoral speech – which typically associates itself with low-value because of harmful words – will continue to find its limitations in the world even if it is not through government operations…

When you synthesize, you are a part of the discussion and a leader of the discussion that you have initiated. You are introducing the voices and ideas of others, so you should be flexible and fair to all participating authors. You should avoid personal attack, as well as other logical fallacies in your comments on the information borrowed from your source materials. Read more in 6.5 Logical Fallacies

“5.4 Informative vs. Argumentative Synthesis” is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 / A derivative from the original work by Svetlana Zhuravlova

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How to Write an Informative Synthesis Essay

When writing an informative synthesis essay you will be required to combine multiple sources with your own voice and ideas to explain a certain position or topic. To accomplish this, you will need at least two sources which offer information on your topic. Look for material that contains a unique opinion or analysis, and then use these differences, or the sum of total of ideas, to formulate your own position. The key to a good synthesis essay is being selective with the information you present and using it to strengthen your thesis.

Choose your source material carefully. Make sure it corresponds with your topic and the assignment. Try to combine a number of different resources, everything from books and newspapers to lectures and scientific studies. Read the material, take notes and highlight the parts you want to use.

Create a thesis. This is the main focus of your essay. It must be clear and concise, directly stating your purpose. Use the information you've gathered during your research to help you come up with a thesis statement, but make sure the idea is solely your own.

Sketch an outline. This is simply an organizational plan for your essay. Think about how you want to arrange your information and how it's going to be expressed throughout the essay. Remember, it should follow a logical order and include your sources.

Write your introduction. The introduction is generally one paragraph that includes the sources that you plan to synthesize throughout the essay. Provide the title and author of each source and summarize the topics. The introduction should also contain your thesis statement. Most often, it is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.

Write the body of your synthesis essay. This is the core of the assignment where you must draw upon the information you've gathered and synthesize it in order to support your thesis. Use all of your sources and demonstrate their similarities as well as their differences to completely inform the reader. Remember to always properly cite the sources according to the guidelines (MLA or AP).

Write your conclusion. This is the last paragraph of your essay. Remind the reader of the information you've provided and clearly connect it to your thesis statement. If necessary, you can refer the reader to further research or state that there were certain elements of the topic that you could not cover within the confines of your essay.

Edit your essay to ensure that all of the information adheres to your topic and thesis statement. Make any necessary changes and proofread for grammatical errors. Give the essay to a friend or family member, as another person who may be able to spot mistakes or inconsistencies that you've missed.

• Users.drew.edu: Synthesis Writing
• Ucc.nau.edu: How to Write a Synthesis

Arthur Barnhouse has written numerous short stories, contributed content to various websites and was an invited speaker at a university symposium on creative writing. He began writing in 2002 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Pittsburgh. Barnhouse has driven across the United States numerous times and draws upon his travel experiences in his writing.

Informative Essay Outline

An Informative Essay Outline serves as a structural framework, guiding writers to effectively convey their ideas. Crafting such an outline ensures clarity and coherence in essays. This complete guide, enriched with practical examples, is designed to simplify the process of creating an informative essay outline. It highlights the significance of structure in essay writing, making it an indispensable tool for anyone seeking to master the art of presenting information systematically. Incorporating Essay Examples in this guide further aids in understanding the nuances of essay writing, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and seasoned writers.

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In school, students in English subjects are required to do essays. These essays may be in a form of a descriptive essay , narrative essay , expository essay, persuasive essay or even an informative essay. These essays follow a certain structure or format to maintain its unity, coherence and organization. Let’s say you are to write an informative essay How are you going to do it? You know very well that the purpose of an informative essay is to give information to educate other people about a certain topic. In this article, you will be able to know how to create a good informative essay.

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What is an Informative Essay? – Definition

An informative essay is a style of informative writing that aims to educate the reader on a specific subject. It’s characterized by presenting facts and data without the inclusion of personal opinions or persuasive elements. The primary goal is to inform and enlighten the audience about the topic at hand. In a short informative essay , this is achieved in a concise manner, ensuring that the essential information is conveyed clearly and efficiently. This type of essay is fundamental in academic and educational contexts, as it focuses on the clear presentation of facts, aiding in the development of research and writing skills.

What are the 5 Parts of an Informative Essay?

Informative essays are pivotal in academic writing, especially for students and educators. They offer a structured way to convey knowledge and understanding on a particular topic. A well-crafted informative essay typically consists of five main components, each serving a unique purpose in delivering clear and concise information. Below, we delve into these components, crucial for anyone looking to enhance their writing skills in creating persuasive essays , narrative essay examples, and other forms of academic writing.

1. Introduction

The introduction is the gateway to your essay. It begins with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention, followed by a brief overview of the topic. The introduction sets the tone for the entire essay and should be engaging yet informative. It culminates in a thesis statement, which is the backbone of your essay. This statement clearly outlines the central idea or argument that your essay will explore. Crafting a compelling introduction is essential, as it prepares the reader for the detailed exploration of the topic that follows.

2. Thesis Statement

Embedded within the introduction, the thesis statement is the guiding star of your essay. It presents your central argument or the main point you wish to convey. A well-formulated thesis statement is concise and specific, offering a clear direction for the essay. It lays the foundation for the arguments and evidence that will be presented in the body paragraphs. A strong thesis statement is essential for maintaining focus and coherence throughout your essay.

3. Body Paragraphs

The body of an informative essay is where the bulk of the information is presented. It typically consists of three paragraphs, each dedicated to a specific point or aspect of the topic. These paragraphs should follow a logical sequence and each should start with a topic sentence that relates back to the thesis statement. This is where you present evidence, facts, and examples to support your thesis. For instance, when discussing narrative essay examples , each paragraph might explore different aspects like character development, plot structure, or thematic elements.

4. Supporting Evidence

Within the body paragraphs , supporting evidence plays a crucial role. This evidence can come in various forms, such as statistics, quotes, or real-life examples. The key is to ensure that all evidence directly supports the main points and adds value to your argument. For instance, in a short essay, selecting the most impactful evidence is vital to maintain conciseness while effectively conveying your argument.

5. Conclusion

The conclusion is where you wrap up the essay by summarizing the main points and restating the thesis in light of the evidence presented. It’s important to end with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. The conclusion should not introduce new information but should neatly tie all the parts of your essay together, reinforcing your thesis and providing a final perspective on the topic.

In summary, an informative essay is structured around these five essential components. Each part plays a critical role in crafting a cohesive and compelling narrative. Whether you’re writing persuasive essays, narrative essay examples, or any academic piece, understanding and utilizing these five parts effectively can significantly enhance the quality of your writing. Remember, the goal is to inform and enlighten your audience with a well-structured and insightful essay.

How do you end an informative essay?

You end an informative essay by simply rephrasing the thesis statement , summarizing the main points in the body of the essay and providing a closing sentence that would have a connection to your introduction.

How many paragraphs are in informative essay?

Basically, an informative essay has a maximum of four to five paragraphs.

Does an informative essay need a thesis?

An informative essay needs a thesis. Without a thesis, all of the information you provided will be unfocused.

Whenever you want to share a specific information to your target readers or to anybody, you always have to do intensive research to make your details accurate. You should also choose a topic that is timely or interesting enough to keep the attention of your readers. An informative essay is a best tool for an author to educate people on what is the truth behind every single information.

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300 Best Synthesis Essay Topics

It’s pretty much impossible to write a great synthesis essay without a good topic. And let’s face it, we’re not Ethan Hunt to pull off some crazy stunts to get it done. So, it’s better to keep it realistic and rely on a thoughtful topic to stand out the best in this academic activity.

Speaking of which, are you having trouble coming up with a thoughtful topic for your synthesis essay? Don’t worry, this blog post has tons of ideas for you to check out. Let’s get to know them all!

Table of Contents

The Ultimate Lists of Unique Synthesis Essay Topics

Synthesis essay topics related to finance.

• Impact of Cryptocurrencies on Traditional Banking Systems.
• The Role of Financial Education in Wealth Accumulation.
• Ethical Considerations in Investment Banking.
• Government Regulations Effect on Stock Market Stability.
• Behavioral Economics: Understanding Investor Decision-Making.
• The Rise of Fintech: Disrupting Traditional Financial Services.
• Corporate Social Responsibility in Financial Institutions.
• Globalization’s Influence on Financial Markets.
• Income Inequality and its Economic Implications.
• The Pros and Cons of High-Frequency Trading.
• Balancing Profit and Environmental Impact.
• The Psychology of Consumer Spending and Debt.
• Bridging the Knowledge Gap with Financial Literacy Programs.
• Credit Card Debt and Its Long-Term Consequences.
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Financial Decision-Making.
• Striking a Balance Between Revenue and Business Growth.
• The Economics of Healthcare: Insurance, Costs, and Access.
• Challenges and Solutions in Student Loans.
• The Role of Central Banks in Economic Stability.
• Risks and Rewards of Investing in Emerging Markets.

Topics for a Synthesis Essay Related to History

• Impact of Ancient Civilizations on Modern Societies.
• The Influence of Enlightenment Ideas on Democratic Revolutions.
• Comparative Analysis of Ancient Greek and Roman Political Systems.
• The Role of Religion in Shaping Historical Events.
• Transforming Economies and Societies in the Industrial Revolution.
• Effects of Colonialism on Indigenous Cultures and Societies.
• The Renaissance. 
• Women’s Suffrage Movements – A Global Perspective.
• Ideological Struggles and Global Consequences of The Cold War
• The Impact of World War I on Political and Economic Landscapes.
• Progress and Challenges of Civil Rights Movements.
• The Age of Exploration – Europe’s Expansion and its Consequences.
• Causes of The Fall of Ancient Empires. 
• Pioneers and Paradigm Shifts During the Scientific Revolution.
• Revolutionary Movements in Latin America. 
• Social, Economic, and Cultural Transformations During the Black Death. 
• Cold War Competition and Technological Advancements. 
• The Causes, Responses, and Long-term Effects of the Great Depression. 
• Impact of World War II on Global Political Alliances and Borders.
• Resistance, Change, and Reconciliation of Apartheid in South Africa. 

Good Synthesis Essay Topics Related to Food

• The Evolution of Fast-Food Culture and Its Impact on Society and Health.
• Farm-to-Table Movement – Sustainability and Locavore Practices.
• The Cons of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
• Exploring Cultures Through Food Experiences during Culinary Tourism.
• Food Labeling and Consumer Awareness.
• The Influence of Social Media on Food Trends and Eating Habits.
• Traditional Cuisine vs. Globalization: Preserving Culinary Heritage.
• The Health Impacts of Veganism: Benefits and Challenges.
• Food Waste: Causes, Consequences, and Sustainable Solutions.
• The Cultural Significance of Street Food Around the World.
• Causes, Prevention, and Policy Initiatives of Obesity Epidemic.
• The Role of Food in Celebrations and Rituals Across Cultures
• Food Allergies and Intolerances. 
• Health Benefits of The Mediterranean Diet.
• Impact of Climate Change on Food Security and Agriculture.
• The Rise of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives. 
• Traditional Cooking Techniques vs. Modern Culinary Innovations.
• Food Safety Regulations – Ensuring Public Health in a Globalized World.
• The Psychology of Food Cravings and Emotional Eating.
• Culinary Arts and Creativity Influences on Gastronomic Experiences.

Easy Synthesis Essay Topics Related to Technology

• Transforming Industries and Workforce with Artificial Intelligence
• Cybersecurity Threats in the Digital Age. 
• The Impact of 5G Technology on Communication and Connectivity.
• Big Data Analytics – Revolutionizing Business Decision-Making.
• Ethical Implications of Biotechnology Advancements.
• Internet of Things (IoT) – Connecting Devices and Transforming Lives
• Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. 
• Blockchain Technology – Disrupting Traditional Industries.
• Robotics and Automation. 
• Privacy in the Digital Era Balancing Convenience and Security.
• Quantum Computing – Unlocking the Potential of Unprecedented Computing Power.
• The Role of Technology in Healthcare. 
• Digital Transformation in Education – Online Learning and Virtual Classrooms.
• The Impact of Social Media on Society and Relationships.
• Smart Cities – Enhancing Urban Living Through Technology.
• E-commerce and Online Retail. 
• The Future of Work – Remote Collaboration and Gig Economy.
• Advancements in Identity Verification and Security.
• Environmental Sustainability in Technology. 
• Human-Computer Interaction – User Experience Design and Accessibility.

Informative Synthesis Essay Topics

• Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture, Health, and Economies.
• Advancements in Renewable Energy. Solar, Wind, and Hydroelectric Power.
• Rise of Populism – Global Political Landscape and Implications.
• Social Media Influence on Political Opinions and Activism.
• Mental Health Stigma – Cultural Variations and Attitude Shifts.
• Historical Context and Modern Consequences of Digital Revolution.
• Space Exploration – Past Achievements and Future Frontiers.
• Global Water Crisis, Scarcity, Pollution, and Sustainable Solutions.
• The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Systems and Public Health Policies.
• Biodiversity Conservation – Importance, Threats, and Conservation Strategies.
• Impact of Video Games on Cognitive Skills and Social Behavior.
• Mass Migration – Causes, Challenges, and Social Integration.
• Online Education – Accessibility, Effectiveness, and Future Trends.
• Rise of Extremism: Factors, Ideologies, and Counterterrorism Efforts.
• Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment and Job Markets.
• The Role of Women in Sustainable Development and Gender Equality.
• Technological Solutions to Urban Traffic Congestion and Pollution.
• Impact of Social Isolation on Mental and Physical Health.
• Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Healthcare Access.
• Global Economic Inequality – Causes, Consequences, and Policy Responses.
• The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Global Development.
• Impact of Ocean Pollution on Marine Ecosystems and Human Health.
• Cultural Globalization – Homogenization, Hybridization, and Resistance.
• The Influence of Art and Literature on Social Change and Cultural Values.
• Genetic Engineering – Ethics, Applications, and Controversies.
• The Role of International Organizations in Conflict Resolution.
• Internet Privacy – Legislation, Surveillance, and User Awareness.
• Impact of Social Determinants on Health Disparities.
• Technological Solutions for Sustainable Waste Management.
• The Role of Education in Social Mobility and Economic Development.

Synthesis Essay Topics Related to Art & Literature

• Impact of Art Movements on Modern Creative Expression.
• The Influence of Literature on Social and Political Change.
• Feminism in Art: Empowerment, Representation, and Challenges.
• Surrealism in Art and Literature: Exploring Dreams and Reality.
• Literary Symbolism – Hidden Meanings Across Cultures and Ages.
• Renaissance Art and Humanism – Rediscovery of Classical Ideals.
• Dystopian Literature – Reflections of Societal Fears and Hopes.
• Cubism in Art – Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Reality.
• Postcolonial Literature – Voices from Marginalized Communities.
• Romanticism in Art and Poetry – Emotion, Nature, and Imagination.
• The Beat Generation – Rebellion, Freedom, and Literary Innovation.
• Gothic Art and Literature. 
• Modernism in Art and Literature. 
• Magical Realism – Blurring the Lines Between Reality and Fantasy.
• Impressionism in Art – Capturing Light, Color, and Momentary Impressions.
• Absurdist Literature and Theater – Nihilism and Existentialism.
• Native American Art and Literature. 
• Satire in Art and Literature. 
• Graphic Novels – Merging Visual Arts and Narrative Storytelling.
• Neoclassicism in Art – Revival of Classical Ideals and Forms.
• Science Fiction Literature – Exploring Future Societies and Technologies.
• Baroque Art – Drama, Emotion, and Ornate Beauty.
• The Poetry of War. 
• Rebellion, Activism, and Urban Creativity in The Street Art.
• Existentialism in Literature – Human Freedom and Individual Responsibility.
• Photorealism in Art – Replicating Reality in Astonishing Detail.
• Literature of the Harlem Renaissance – African American Cultural Revival.
• Minimalism in Art and Literature.
• Environmental Art and Eco-Literature. 

Politics Synthesis Essay Topics

• The Impact of Political Polarization on Democratic Institutions.
• Globalization and Nationalism – Conflicting Forces in International Politics.
• Human Rights in the Age of Terrorism.
• The Role of Social Media in Political Movements and Public Opinion.
• Populist Leaders and Democratic Erosion.
• Foreign Aid and Development.
• The Influence of Political Lobbying on Policy-Making and Legislation.
• International Cooperation and National Interests.
• Understanding the US Electoral Systems.
• Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict.
• Crisis Diplomacy.
• The Role of Supranational Organizations (EU, UN) in Modern Diplomacy.
• Media Influence on Elections.
• Civil Liberties vs. National Security.
• The Refugee Crisis.
• Gender Equality in Politics.
• Disinformation Campaigns.
• Political Movements and Social Change.
• The Impact of Economic Inequality on Political Participation and Policy Decisions.
• Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution. 
• Nuclear Proliferation – International Agreements and Security Dilemmas.
• Soft Power in International Relations: Cultural Diplomacy and Influence Strategies”

As you know a thoughtful topic is a must for a great synthesis essay as it guides your piece into the realm of success. This blog post was all about providing you with some excellent topics for your synthesis essay. Also, it’s not absolutely necessary that you use these topics but you can make use of the ideas and come up with your own subject for an impressive and unique synthesis essay.

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How RNA Differs from DNA

This essay is about the differences between DNA and RNA in terms of their structures, functions, and replication processes. DNA, structured as a stable double helix, uses deoxyribose sugar and the bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. It serves as the primary storage of genetic information. In contrast, RNA, which is usually single-stranded, incorporates ribose sugar and the base uracil instead of thymine. It plays a dynamic role as a messenger and translator of genetic instructions, especially through mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA. While DNA replication ensures accurate inheritance of genetic material, RNA synthesis enables the translation of genetic codes into proteins. These differences shape their complementary roles in the central dogma of molecular biology and are foundational to various medical and technological applications, such as PCR and mRNA vaccines.

How it works

The fundamental constituents of life, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid), are pivotal molecules imperative to life’s operations. Both harbor genetic data and are indispensable for cellular functions, yet they possess inherent disparities that delineate their respective roles and contributions in biological realms. These distinctions are rooted in their distinct chemical compositions, genetic functionalities, and mechanisms of duplication.

In terms of structure, DNA and RNA exhibit discernible traits that dictate their diverse functions. DNA comprises two intertwined strands forming a double helix, comprising nucleotides consisting of deoxyribose sugar, phosphate groups, and four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

Conversely, RNA typically exists as a single strand and incorporates ribose sugar instead of deoxyribose. Moreover, RNA employs uracil (U) as a base in lieu of thymine, while retaining the other three bases from DNA. These structural disparities confer RNA with greater flexibility and evanescence relative to DNA’s enduring, archival configuration.

Functionally, DNA and RNA fulfill distinct roles that synergize within genetic mechanisms. DNA serves as the primary reservoir of genetic data, faithfully preserving instructions for organismal construction and maintenance. Its remarkable stability ensures preservation across generations. Conversely, RNA assumes a more dynamic intermediary role. Messenger RNA (mRNA) transcribes genetic data from DNA and conveys it to ribosomes for protein synthesis. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) play pivotal roles in translating genetic directives into functional proteins. Additionally, various RNA types, such as microRNA and small interfering RNA, modulate gene expression and the broader genetic landscape.

The processes of replication and synthesis further demarcate DNA from RNA. DNA replication unfolds within the cell nucleus, where enzymes like DNA polymerase facilitate genome duplication during cell division, guaranteeing progeny inherit complete instructions. RNA synthesis, or transcription, similarly occurs in the nucleus but necessitates RNA polymerase to transcribe specific genes, yielding mRNA. Subsequently, this mRNA migrates to the cytoplasm, where translational apparatus interprets it and synthesizes proteins accordingly. These contrasting procedures underscore DNA’s enduring data storage versus RNA’s adaptable information dissemination.

The disparities between DNA and RNA extend beyond cellular confines, impacting medicine and biotechnology. DNA replication principles underpin polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, while mRNA’s instructive capacity has informed the development of RNA-based vaccines, inciting immune responses via cellular protein synthesis. Their divergent stability and flexibility render each molecule suitable for distinct applications, reflective of their evolutionary niches.

Ultimately, the interplay between DNA and RNA delineates the core tenets of molecular biology, where DNA’s genetic information cascades to RNA and thence to proteins. While DNA offers a steadfast repository of directives, RNA embodies the dynamic courier and executor of said directives. Their intrinsic disparities ensure cells maintain equilibrium between genetic storage and biological machinery necessary for life’s sustenance.

This discourse serves as a springboard for contemplation and further inquiry. For tailored guidance and adherence to academic standards, consider engaging professionals at EduBirdie.

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