Transcript The Synthesis Question New for 2007

The Synthesis Question-New for 2007
By Winona S. Siegmund
WHY?
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In many universities, a “common introductory
sequence of courses is a one-semester course
in composition followed by another semester
course that offers additional instruction in
argumentation and teaches skills of
synthesizing, summarizing, paraphrasing,
quoting, and citing secondary source
material.”
All quotations are from 2007 AP English Course Description or the
synthesis question instructions on the College Board website.
To Satisfy Colleges &
Universities…
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The College Board folks have added
BOTH of the following to your exam:
A passage on the m-c test “from a
published work that includes footnotes
or a bibliography; the documentation
questions will be based on these
passages. The total number of m-c
questions will not change.” AND
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“The prompt and stimulus for one of
the 3 mandatory essay questions will
highlight synthesis skills.”
What will it look like?
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You’ll have a 15 minute reading period
to read/study/mark on the documents
You’ll then have 40 minutes to write the
essay.
How will the documents look?
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Most likely, you will have 6 or 7
documents to examine.
They will come from a range of sites
such as specific encyclopedia, credible
websites, journal article excerpts,
charts, graphs, photos, book excerpts.
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The citation precedes the document.
Be mindful of what type of document
you’re examining. All will be credible.
Use as many of them as you can use
effectively. The ABSOLUTE minimum is
3; you should use more than 3.
For all synthesis essays:
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“The question requires you to
synthesize a variety of sources into a
coherent, well-written essay. When you
synthesize sources you refer to them to
develop your position and cite them
accurately. Your argument should be
central; the sources should support this
argument. Avoid merely summarizing
sources.” (italics = original)
High Score
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Take a position on the issue which is
wholly supportable from the
documents.
Write a sophisticated thesis that
doesn’t oversimplify the issues.
“Provide an extended consideration
[analysis] of the sources.”
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ANALYZE; ANALYZE; ANALYZE;
ANALYZE; ANALYZE.
Use the documents to support your
position.
Thoughtful, insightful, relevant analysis
is a HUGE component of your score.
Extended consideration?
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“They go beyond merely citing sources to
assaying their significance to the thesis being
developed and forging connections between
the writer’s position [yours] and that of the
author of the source. Writers of the top
essays enter into conversations with the
sources that they choose rather than being
overwhelmed by them.”
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“These essays attribute information
gained from sources rather than simply
appropriating information.”
They provide insightful conclusions—
addressing the “so what issue”:
Questions you need to
address in your essay:
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“How should educated, informed
citizens continue to think about the
issue at hand?
How will it continue to influence
readers’ lives?”
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Style still matters – a lot
The 9 descriptor = “[These essays are]
especially sophisticated in their
argument and synthesis of cited
sources, or impressive in their [your]
control of language.”
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8 = “The writer’s [your] argument is
convincing and the cited sources
effectively support [your] position. The
prose demonstrates an ability to control
a wide range of the elements of
effective writing but is not flawless.”
Middle Essays
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A clear thesis, but one that doesn’t
explore or see the issue’s complexity
Quotes from the sources are included,
as are brief comments on the quotes
There is a limited link between your
position and the position in the sources
Repetitive conclusion—a lot like the
thesis.
Low Essays
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Can’t manage the sources
No conversation with the source writers
Essay is dominated by the sources
A lot of summarizing rather than conceptualizing
Weak thesis
Little analysis of sources
Sources may not be cited—a HUGE flaw!!!
May misunderstand the sources
Big block quotes with no real analysis
The Break Down (not yours!)
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9 = extraordinary—beyond effective
8/7 = effective
6/5 = adequate (5 usually means not
worthy of college credit)
4/3 = inadequate
2/1 = little success
0/- = no credit
Tips:
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Carefully read and mark on all
documents; use a shorthand that works
for you.
Include at least 4 of the documents—
especially the graphs or pictures.
Cite, cite, cite your sources—include the
authors’ last names or document
letters!!
Tips:
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Make the most of the time you have.
Pore over the documents during the 15
minute reading period; read them all, if
possible, but don’t skip or skim.
If you need to read a bit more once the
40 minutes begins, do so, but carefully
budget your time.
Underline your task. Stay focused on it.
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Be sure that your thesis is complex—
not an oversimplification. Take a clear,
strong, articulate position on the
issue—one that is readily supported by
at least 4 of the documents.
Make your intro. paragraph complete
and VERY informative!
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Imbed your use of sources. Clearly
connect them to what you’re saying—
don’t just dump them into the essay to
stand alone.
CITE them as you use them. DO NOT
skip that step!
Use quotation marks when you quote.
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When you paraphrase AND when you
quote, provide a citation. It will most
often be in parentheses.
Allow enough time to finish—to get to
the end and to treat those “so what”
questions.
They were…
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“How should educated, informed
citizens continue to think about the
issue at hand?
How will it continue to influence
readers’ lives?”
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Self-edit as you write.
These essays WILL be scored as first
drafts and holistically; however, as
always, “In no case may an essay with
many distracting errors in grammar and
mechanics be scored higher than a 2.”
The Prompts Themselves
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They are designed to be engaging.
The topics should not be altogether
foreign to you.
Some of the prompts will provide a
greater range of freedom than others.
You NEVER earn extra points for trying
to take what you perceive as “the hard
way.”
The Dos…
 STICK to what you’ve been given.
 Avoid tangents.
st
 Avoid 1 person.
 Avoid slang.
 Avoid sloppy or inaccurate citations.
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You’ll most likely get either this
direction:
“Then, in an essay that synthesizes at
least 3 of the sources for support, take
a position that defends, challenges, or
qualifies the claim that…” OR
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“Then write an essay in which you
evaluate….Synthesize at least 3 of the
sources for support.”
BOTH types of prompts are preceded by
an Introduction. PORE over the
introduction. Perceive and write on
both that which is explicit AND implicit.
Always remember…
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You’re smart.
You’re well prepared.
You can do this!