Synthesizing Information

1. Synthesizing Information

2. Thesis Statements • Your thesis statement should appear in your abstract and in your introductory paragraph • Your thesis statement is the main point of your essay • It is the answer to your research questions • The rest of your essay will exist to prove your thesis statement is correct • Be prepared to possibly rephrase or revise your thesis statement as you go along

3. Thesis Statement • EXAMPLE QUESTION: What effect does steroid therapy have on osteoporosis?THESIS STATEMENT: Long term steroid therapy negatively affects bone density and bone growth and can increase a patient’s risk of developing osteoporosis.

4. Organizing Your Essay • First, organize your notes • Second, classify your notes into sections • Third, organize the sections and determine in what order you will discuss these ideas • Fourth, establish a clear outline of your main points and what quotes you will use to support these ideas

5. Organizing Your Essay • Your paper should be 3-4 pages NOT including your cover sheet, abstract, or references page • You will need an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion

6. Introduction • Introductions serve to provide the readers with the general topic of the essay • Introductions explain the author’s main point • Your thesis statement is best placed as the last sentence of your introduction

7. Body Paragraphs • Body paragraphs provide the EVIDENCE you need to support your thesis • All body paragraphs need: • Topic sentences • Examples • Analysis of the examples

8. Conclusion • Conclusions serve to sum up the information in the essay • Conclusions can provide recommendations for the future or provide thought-provoking questions for further research • Conclusions should NOT contain any new information

9. Synthesizing Info in Your Paper

10. What does “synthesize” mean? • To synthesize information means to take the information from a source and combine it with your own thoughts and ideas • It is NOT summarization • To synthesize requires that you take the information, draw your own conclusions about this information, reflect upon it, and analyze it

11. When you synthesize information in your paper, you combine your own thoughts with the information from other sources to make a new point • You want this combination to be as seamless and smooth as possible

12. Make fruit smoothies – not fruit salad! Photo from:www.musclemakergrill.com Photo from: www.savorysweetlife.com

13. How to Synthesize Effectively

14. Step 1: Organize the Information • Outline your paper • Categorize your sources and the sections of your sources you plan on using • Connect the outline of your paper with the information you plan on using from your sources • Create a system for this that works for you

15. Step 2: Integrate the Information • You will need to integrate the information from the sources into your paragraphs • Either you build your paragraph and insert the information • OR • You start with your information and build your paragraph around it

16. Step 3: Blend • Remember you are making a smoothie! • Use signal phrases to introduce outside information • Signal phrases include: • For example… • According to… • As X writes/states/explains/reports/notes…

17. Step 3: Blend, continued • After any quotes or sections you have paraphrased be sure you CITE the information correctly • Then, add your analysis. This is where you explain to the reader the importance of the quote. This is also where you connect this information with your thesis. • Use signal words to let the reader know you are now combining your thoughts with the information you just presented.

18. Step 3: Blend, continued • The signal phrases you use to introduce your analysis will depend on what conclusions you would like to draw • To agree: The author makes an excellent point…, It is important to note that…, The author confirms the idea that… The author emphasizes the point that… • To disagree: While the author states X, it is important to realize that…, This idea is in contrast with…, Although the author believes…

19. Example • Oakleaf goes on to explain that "By only focusing on individual parts of a concept, test creators tend to develop over-simplified test items.  In fact, the fixed-answer choices limit the ability to measure changes in "complex behavior or actual performance success" (237).  Furthermore, "tests do not necessarily help students learn and develop complex skills, which should ultimately be a goal of good assessment." (237).Oakleaf is emphasizing the point thatfixed-choice tests have their place in an assessment initiative, but cannot measure enough or effect enough change to be a whole useful tool. 

20. Example • Illustrating the functions of the tool, she explains “Typically, instructors who use clicker technology prepare true/false or multiple choice questions in advance and project these questions on the screen, either through the clicker software interface or PowerPoint, as a graded quick or question related to the depth and breadth of course content” (2009, p. 20). Connor contends that clickers make an effective learning tool that can enhance learning by making it more interesting. However, this is not always the case.

21. A Note on Citation • Be sure you are familiar with citation rules! • While blending your ideas with that of other author’s makes for good research, it is important to identify where your thoughts end and another’s begin!

22. Good Luck on Your Papers! • Good luck on your papers  • Get started RIGHT AWAY!! • If you want me to look at a draft, you must submit it on or before next class.