A synthesis can serve different purposes, depending on the assignment. In a background synthesis, your goal is to collect and organize information from various sources by topic or theme, presenting an overview of what is known about a subject.
it helps organize information and ideas
Here is the standard order for these components
Good examples to come back to
Author. Title of Source. Title of Container, Other Contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location.
Good to keep in mind
List each source that you have cited in your paper with an in-text citation in the Works Cited page. Only list sources you have cited in the paper. Do not list sources that you have consulted but not cited.
only list sources that you cited
Here are examples: If the source has page numbers: (Pauling 113). If the source does not have page numbers: (Pauling). If the source has page numbers: (“Bilingual Minds” 113). If the source does not have page numbers: (“Bilingual Minds”).
Good to keep in mind
In-text citations are used throughout your paper to credit your sources of information.
Cite sources and don't plagiarize
All information sources are not created equally. Sources can vary greatly in terms of how carefully they are researched, written, edited, and reviewed for accuracy.
Sources need to be relevant and well-researched
Secondary sources discuss, interpret, analyze, consolidate, or otherwise rework information from primary sources.
Secondary sources provides information but is not a first hand account
Primary sources are direct, firsthand sources of information or data
Primary sources are firsthand accounts
If you know that you are only looking for articles, you can exclude sources like interviews or abstracts from your search.
Keep in mind what types of sources you need for your paper
Weak thesis statement: Advertising companies use sex to sell their products. A thesis is weak when the statement is too broad.
Thesis statements should be more specific and not too broad
writers need a thesis statement to provide a specific focus for their essay and to organize what they will discuss in the body of their writing.
Thesis statement is a very important part of writing
. Your introduction should state the issue at hand, establish your position regarding it, describe your paper’s organization, and identify the scope of your coverage.
Important to remember
“Transform Your Paper: Follow these six steps to effectively revise and improve your writing, ensuring clarity, organization, and precision.”
Good to keep in mind
but the former sounds less aggressive and accusatory,
don't be rude
Peer review can feel scary because you may feel uncomfortable sharing your writing at first, but remember that each writer is working toward the same goal:
It's important to remember this if you are scared to share your work
you should be looking for general consistency and clarity.
this is important to be coherent when writing
stick with transition words that actually have meaning and purpose.
Use words that makes sense
Three common ways to structure a paper are chronological order, spatial order, and order of importance. Choose the order that will most effectively fit your purpose and support your main point.
Plan it out and structure it in a way that makes sense
outright fabricating is not.
In a piece of nonfiction writing, don't just make stuff up.
Not all online search engines’ results will be useful or reliable.
Good to keep in mind. It's important to check your sources.
why you are writing (to inform, to explain, or some other purpose) and for whom you are writing.
Know who and what you are writing for
“a social group that communicates at least in part via written texts and shares common goals, values, and writing standards, a specialized vocabulary and specialized genres.”
Discourse communities shares common goals and ways of communicating