A synthesis essay takes a unique viewpoint about a central idea, theme, or topic, and backs it up with a
combination of multiple sources.
The process has four major components:
Synthesizing sources
Composing a thesis or claim
Formatting the essay
Talking with the texts
In your synthesis essay, you will respond to the question/prompt:
What are the most important skills or knowledge that new students need to be successful college writers?
You will choose which skills or knowledge to discuss and support your choices with information from the
readings on composition provided from Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. You must cite at least two of the
readings in your essay.
Here are the requirements for the Synthesis Essay:
Develop an opinion-driven- thesis that responds to the prompt.
Develop paragraphs with a single topic and topic sentences.
Use examples from the readings and your own experiences to support your response.
Summarize/ quote/ paraphrase from your source material.
Use the ICE method/ They Say, I Say Templates.
Demonstrate in-text/ parenthetical citation correctly.
This assignment must be a minimum of 500 words in length.
Format your completed paper using MLA8.
Create a relevant paper title.
Develop a Works Cited page with at least two citations.
Your intended audience should be apparent
