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Thesis statement examples for synthesis essays.
September 15, 2021 February 28, 2023

A thesis statement is the main argument of your synthesis paper. It should be a concise, precise, and specific one. It must answer the question that has been posed tо you in your introduction. The thesis statement is the most important part of the essay, as it іs the part where your reader gets to see your position on a topic.
In most cases, your teacher or professor will assign you a topic аnd tell you to develop a thesis statement for your synthesis paper. But if this is not the case, you can use the following thesis statement examples as a guide for developing your own thesis.
Synthesis Paper Outline
A synthesis paper outline is the plan you use to organize your ideas. It will guide yоu during the writing process and help you avoid making mistakes. It is important to note that an outline is only a guideline, and it does nоt replace the synthesis essay structure.
Synthesis Essay Body Paragraphs
In the body paragraphs оf your synthesis paper, you need to provide evidence and examples to prove your thesis statement. You should also provide a counterargument to the thesis statement. You should provide evidence that supports the counterargument and then refute the counterargument. You should then provide evidence to support the second thesis statement and then the third thesis statement.
The body paragraphs in the body оf your paper are the main body of your paper. Each body paragraph is a major section. The first body paragraph is the most important. It is thе most important paragraph in thе paper. You need to convince thе reader to accept your argument. It is important to have аn engaging introduction. Your thesis statement should be the topic оf your paper. It should not be a fact or statement of fact. Your thesis statement should be аn opinion or аn interpretation about your paper topic . Your thesis statement should bе arguable and yоu must provide evidence to support it. Your thesis statement should be debatable. You must show that yоu are able to argue your point. You must show that you arе able to refute the other person’s point. The conclusion of your body paragraph must be thе sum up of your argument. Yоu can do this by paraphrasing the thesis statement. You can paraphrase the thesis statement and then paraphrase the conclusion. You can also paraphrase the conclusion and then summarize your thesis statement.
Synthesis Essay Conclusion
The thesis statement examples for synthesis essays are very different from the rest of your essay. Thesis statement examples for synthesis essays are very different from other types of essays as well. A thesis statement is the last sentence in your essay. It is the part where you state your main argument or claim. It should be short аnd to-the-point. It must bе concise, clear and to-the-point. The thesis statement examples for synthesis essays should bе based on your argument or thesis. Thesis statements in other types of essays can be too general. They do nоt give the reader enough details about what you are trying to say. The reader will not understand what you are trying to say аnd will nоt be able to follow your argument. Thesis statement examples for synthesis essays are based on facts. You need to make the reader understand thе topic. This is the part where yоu prove your main point. Thе reader should not be left guessing. The reader should know exactly what you are going to prove. This is where you provide supporting evidence аnd facts. Yоu can also use other types of evidence such as quotes, examples, statistics, etc. Thesis statements for synthesis essays should bе specific. You need to make sure that your thesis statement is focused on your main argument or point. This is where yоu give the reader the information they need to understand your topic.
Synthesis essay thesis statement examples can be very different depending on the topic you have chosen. However, there are some general tips you can follow.
Synthesis Essay Body Paragraph 1: The first paragraph is the body of your synthesis essay. This is where you present all the supporting evidence аnd facts that you have used. You can start with аn interesting fact that will make your reader continue to read your essay. Yоu cаn also include an interesting fact that will help you to hook the reader in your essay.
Synthesis Essay Body Paragraph 2: In the second paragraph, you present the opposing side. The second paragraph presents the opposing viewpoint. Yоu should use quotes and examples from the opposing viewpoint.
Synthesis Essay Body Paragraph 3: The third paragraph is the body of your synthesis essay. You should present аll thе supporting evidence and facts that you have used.

elliotjones
Elliot Jones is a 29-year-old middle school teacher and blogger. He has been writing since he was a teenager, and his writings have been featured on various websites and in magazines. He enjoys writing about education, parenting, and lifestyle topics.
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- How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples
Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on September 14, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan.
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .
Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.
You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:
- Start with a question
- Write your initial answer
- Develop your answer
- Refine your thesis statement
Table of contents
What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.
A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.
The best thesis statements are:
- Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
- Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
- Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.
The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .
The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.
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You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.
You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?
For example, you might ask:
After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .
Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.
In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.
The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.
In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.
The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.
A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:
- Why you hold this position
- What they’ll learn from your essay
- The key points of your argument or narrative
The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.
These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.
Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:
- In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
- In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.
A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.
The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:
- It gives your writing direction and focus.
- It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.
Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.
Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :
- Ask a question about your topic .
- Write your initial answer.
- Develop your answer by including reasons.
- Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.
The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .
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Writing a synthesis essay is one of the most engaging tasks you may face. The purpose of this type of paper, for a college or university student, is to demonstrate that you can deal with extensive research, take apart big concepts, and show the skeleton of the argument.
The perfect paper will take ideas from various sources, summarize them, and combine them into a thesis statement — a single position that the synthesis essay is trying to argue. Identifying the synthesis statement will help you combine it with other theses, helping you to write in cohesive synthesis essay format. If you have ever wondered how to write a synthesis essay, this article from EssayPro’s do my homework service will help you compose a synthesis paper outline, or give you a simple structure to guide you through the writing process.
What Is a Synthesis Essay
Writing a synthesis paper is just like creating any other form of thesis. According to the synthesis essay definition, it is a written discussion of ideas. They tend to draw on two or more sources from academic papers, fiction sources, speeches, interviews, articles, lectures, or observations.
In other words, if you have two ideas from a similar topic, you can isolate the core of what they’re trying to say. For instance, you might have a paper that examines the use of smartphones in the modern world, and another on the rise of teenagers in social media. After synthesizing the information, you may come up with a combined thesis like: smartphones and social media are not destroying a generation.
Two Types of Synthesis
- Explanatory Synthesis Essay
This type helps readers get a better understanding of a topic. Instead of arguing a point, the goal here is to explain a particular topic.
In the body, explain the topic using sources and present these sources objectively. Like in any regular writing assignment, back up each supporting claim with two or more credible sources.
- Argument Synthesis Essay
The goal of this type of paper is to argue a specific topic and justify it with evidence. Unlike the explanatory type, here you will do the same thing you would do if working on a regular argumentative paper. State your position, make supporting claims, and then provide credible evidence to back up each claim.
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How to Choose a Topic
A synthesis paper prompt must be debatable. Depending on your assignment, you may have to choose a primary text. Choose a book that might have opposing viewpoints.
Step 1: Browse through topics and ideas. Read from sources and check selected topics in-depth to see if any of them take your interest.
Step 2: Choose a topic, then gather relevant and useful sources to include in your synthesis paper.
Step 3: Apply ideas from the sources onto your synthesis essay outline. Doing so should make writing far easier and save you time.

It is important for good synthesis essay topics to be debatable as if they have been in public conversations for decades. This makes them emotionally-charged for all sides involved, and this will likely mean that a lot of evidence for them will be widely available.
Examples include:
- Income inequality
- Progressive taxation policy
- Immigration policy
- Drug legalization
- Gun control
Bad topics would be ones in which the debate has long been over, and the scientific community has provided an objective answer for them. Also, bad topics may include those that have a yes or no answer. For instance:
- The Flat-Earth theory
- The safety and effectiveness of vaccines
- Racial supremacy
- Does gravity exist?
- Should we trust doctors?
Synthesis Essay Structure
Creating an outline will be useful for structuring your synthesis paper and planning your work. Paste supporting evidence, sub-arguments, and specific points in the appropriate sections. Make sure that every aspect proves the claim of your thesis. Any extra information will only make your paper worse.
If the information goes against your central claim, then you should acknowledge it, as it will make your paper stronger. Make sure you check all of the sources you’ve picked carefully. When writing about the causes, do not summarize them – analyze them. Read further for a sample synthesis essay outline.
The basic synthesis essay outline template contains three major parts:
- Introduction with a thesis statement
- Body, which contains arguments and counterarguments to the thesis
An outline for a synthesis essay starts with an introduction, which is a brief description of what the paper will be about. The essay introduction is important. It will consist of a hook, the background and relevance of your topic, and the thesis statement. How to write a synthesis statement is explained below.
Example: An article published by Jean Twenge clearly warns readers that the rise in the use of smartphones in the modern world is ruining teenagers. Furthermore, the author makes a sensational claim that the rise in social media and smartphone usage are creating a metaphorical earthquake with a magnitude never previously witnessed in the world. The author then provides pieces of evidence from other studies concerning the issue as well as personal observations — all of which seem to support his claim. According to Twenge, the main hypothesis for claiming that smartphones and social media usage result in destroying a generation is that increased use of these two platforms results in mental depression and other mental issues. This paper will mainly refute the claims of the author by focusing on the issues raised by the work.
Synthesis writing always includes a thesis, which is the central argument of the entire paper. Your thesis should be the core argument of separately sourced theses.
Example of a synthesis thesis: Although technology has brought tremendous changes to society, the use of smartphones and social media are not in any way destroying a generation, especially when looking at the reasons portrayed by Twenge.
The first paragraph must present a counterargument to your thesis. This demonstrates your ability to think from an opposing point of view — which can be greatly valued in higher educational facilities. Be sure to note that the counterargument isn’t strong enough to discredit your thesis.
Example: One of the main reasons for not supporting the article and observations by the author is the fact that all of the pieces of evidence chosen found by the author are biased. Twenge only uses and reviews studies that inherently support her views.
Your next paragraphs should now present arguments in favor of the thesis. Remember to structure all paragraphs in the body using the following synthesis format:
- Supporting Argument
- Topic Sentence
- Analysis of Evidence
Example: At the same time, she ignores other studies which have been conducted to show that screen time does not have major impacts on depression and other mental health related conditions that affect teenagers. In one claim, the researcher used a study that contended that the more teens used social media like Facebook, the more they became depressed. However, she did not dwell on the issue of depression, yet the same research revealed that being depressed as a result of using Facebook did not result in more Facebook usage (Twenge). Such findings remove the blame from Facebook, as it shows clearly that unhappiness and Facebook are not entirely correlated—as portrayed by the Twenge. Moreover, by not using Facebook more often after they have become unhappy suggests that the use of Facebook has not entirely replaced how teenagers could use social media to find alternative happiness or to come out of their depression.
A conclusion should be a summary of the overall paper. Then, conclude the paper with a final sentence. In other words, restate the main points and address any unanswered questions.
Example: To replace various factors that signified the previous generation, such as teen pregnancy and underage alcohol usage, as some of the indicators of how harmful these devices are to the current generation. All of these issues that have affected the previous generation have also had an impact on the future lives of teenagers, and by reducing them, it definitely signifies a more prosperous generation, based on moAlthough Jean Twenge has certain valid claims on the use of social media and teenagers, there is a lot of bias in her article, which further reduces the credibility of her article. She chooses only to focus on one side of the issue and completely neglects to give any attention to ideas that would oppose her stance, which shows that social media and smartphones could be of great use to teenagers. She also chooses to replace various bad factors that signified the previous generation, such as teen pregnancy and underage alcohol usage as some of the indicators of how harmful these devices are to the current generation. All these issues that affected the previous generation have much impact on the future lives of teenagers, and by reducing them, it definitely signifies a better generation, based on moral and values
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Tips for Writing a Synthesis Essay
A key factor in working on a synthesis paper is doing a proper analysis of a given text or prompt. To successfully analyze it, you must comprehend the text’s purpose, rhetoric, and the argument the author claims. In other words, you are answering the question: “So what?” Then, you must build your application, and write your work around that.
- Avoid titling the assignment as ‘synthesis essay’ followed or preceded by a relevant title.
- Remember to address your readers appropriately.
- Use precise vocabulary. Don’t be shy about using a dictionary.
- Use a clear sentence structure. Avoid using passive voice.
- Proofread and correct errors: spelling, comma errors, subject-verb agreements, plurals, possessives. And avoid using the word “you.”
- Make sure your citations are correct.
- Make use of sentence and paragraph transitions.
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Writing Techniques
Make use of Summarizing: One of the simplest methods of organization. It allows you to summarize the sources that possess the highest amount of relevance. The issue with this is that this method doesn’t include any of your independent thoughts.
Examples: Paraphrase source material. Write segments of sources in your own words. Quoting sources can also be used under this technique. In every case of using examples, make sure to cite the source.
Multiple Reasons: Using multiple reasons – typically two – is known to be an extremely effective method.
Strawman: Present one argument against your thesis. Though, make sure the argument is not very strong. The advantage of this method is to teach awareness of the other side of the argument. This type of evidence presents an introduction and description. It is followed by the opposing view and a decisive factor.
Concession: This technique illustrates the opposing viewpoint. It shows the positives being much stronger than the negatives.
Compare and Contrast: The compare and contrast method allows writers to examine two sources at once. Comparing shows similarities, as contrasting shows the differences. Illustrating an in-depth analysis of your chosen topic is possible.
Synthesis Essay Format
The synthesis paper format depends on what style is required by your teacher or professor. The most common formats are: MLA, APA, and Chicago style. APA is used in fields of Education, Psychology, and Science; MLA is used for citing Humanities; and Chicago style is used for Business, History, and Fine Arts. Purdue Owl is a format guide you can use that focuses mainly on MLA and APA, and Easybib is a citation multitool you can use for citing any of your external sources.

Some key points are:
- Times New Roman 12 pt font double-spaced
- Top right corner includes last name and page number on every page
- Titles are centered
- The header should include your name, your professor’s name, course number, and the date (dd/mm/yy)
- The last page includes a “Works Cited” page
- Times New Roman 12 pt font double-spaced 1” margins
- Include a page header on the top of every page
- Insert page number on the top right
- The synthesis essay structure should be divided into four parts: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References.
Chicago Style
- Times New Roman 12 pt.
- Use double-spacing amongst the lines of the paper.
- Use one-inch margins.
- Use ½ inch indents for paragraph beginnings.
- Write with left-justified text that has a rugged edge.
- Use full names of people or organizations.
- The bibliography is to be on a separate page.
Synthesis Essay Rubric
High range (8-9 points).
- Effectively develops a position on the assigned topic.
- Demonstrates full understanding of the sources or text.
- Correctly synthesizes sources and strengthens a position. The writer drives the argument, not the sources.
- The writer’s argument is convincing.
- The writer makes no general assertions and cites specific evidence for each point. His/her evidence is developed and answers the “So what?” question.
- The paper is clear, well-organized, and coherent. It is a stand-alone piece rather than an exam response.
- Contains very few grammatical and spelling errors or flaws, if any.
Note: 8-9s are rare. A strong ‘7’ paper can jump to an 8-9 if the writing style is mature and perceptive.
Middle-Range (5-7)
- Adequately develops a position on the assigned topic.
- Demonstrates sufficient understanding of the ideas developed in the sources.
- Sufficiently summarizes the sources and assumes some control of the argument. Those rated ‘5’ are less focused than a ‘6’ or a ‘7’.
- The writer's argument is sufficient, but less developed.
- The writer successfully synthesizes the sources and cites them.
- The writer answers the “So what?” question but may use generalizations or assertions of universal truth. The writer cites their own experience and specific evidence.
- The paper is clear and well organized —‘ 5’s are less so.
- Contains few minor errors of grammar or syntax.
Note: A ‘7’ is awarded to papers of college-level writing. A ‘5’ on one of the AP English Language and Composition essays designates a three on the AP exam. It most likely relies on generalizations that have limited control of the claim and argument. ‘5’s often lose focus and digress.
Low-Range (1-4)
- Inadequately develops a position on the assigned topic.
- The author misunderstands and simplifies the ideas developed in the sources.
- Over-summarizes the sources, lets the sources drive the argument.
- The writer has weak control of organization and syntax. The paper contains numerous grammatical/spelling errors.
- The writer does not cite the sources correctly, skips a citation, or cites fewer than the required minimum of the sources.
Notes: those papers ranked ‘4’ or ‘3’ do assert an argument but do not sufficiently develop it. A ‘2’ does not develop an argument. A ‘1’ has severe writing errors and does not assert a claim.
Synthesis Essay Example
Have you read the whole article and are still struggling? Check out these great critique paper example — from our term paper writer service . Feel free to use them as a reference.
Synthesis Essay Example MLA
An article published by Jean Twenge clearly warns readers that the rise in the use of smartphones in the modern world is ruining teenagers. Furthermore, the author makes a sensational claim that the rise in social media and smartphone usage are creating a metaphorical earthquake, the likes of which have never been previously witnessed in the world. The author provides pieces of evidence from other studies concerning the issue, as well as personal observations—all of which support Twenge’s claim. According to Twenge, the main theory for claiming that smartphone and social media usage result in destroying a generation is that increased use of these two platforms results in mental depression and other mental problems. This paper will mainly refute the claims of the author by focusing on the issues raised by the author’s work.
Sample Synthesis Paper APA Style
Society has various aspects that signify the difference in lifestyles and behaviors amongst individuals in a community. Language is one of these essential aspects that help to identify individuals in a society. Identification of a common language will generalize a specific group of individuals possessing the same culture, even if they are from different races. In this essay, let’s examine how language defines our identity in society. Let’s also look at how two different authors have given different views about how language defines black schoolchildren in the Oakland School District.
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How to Write a Surprisingly Good Synthesis Essay
Your class has been writing a few argumentative essays here and there, and you have to admit … you’re getting pretty good at it. But now your instructor says that you need to take it a step further and write a synthesis essay .
The name might be a little intimidating, but don’t worry—I’ll be here to give you example topics and show you exactly how to write a synthesis essay.

First … What Is a Synthesis Essay?
Before we jump right into generating ideas and writing your synthesis , it would be pretty useful to know what a synthesis essay actually is, right?
When you think about a synthesis essay, you can think of it as being kind of like an argumentative essay.
There is one key difference, though—your instructor provides you with the sources you are going to use to substantiate your argument.
This may sound a little bit easier than an argumentative essay. But it’s a different kind of thinking and writing that takes some time to get used to. Synthesis essays are all about presenting a strong position and identifying the relationships between your sources.
Don’t fall into the trap of simply summarizing the sources . Instead, make your point, and back it up with the evidence found in those sources. (I’ll explain this in more detail when we talk about the writing process.)
Many of your sources will probably have information that could support both sides of an argument. So it’s important to read over them carefully and put them in the perspective of your argument.
If there’s information that goes against your main points, don’t ignore it. Instead, acknowledge it. Then show how your argument is stronger.
If this all seems a little too theoretical, don’t worry—it’ll all get sorted out. I have a concrete example that takes a page from the Slytherins’ book (yes, of Harry Potter fame) and uses cunning resourcefulness when analyzing sources.

Great and Not-So-Great Topics for Your Synthesis Essay
A great topic for a synthesis essay is one that encourages you to choose a position on a debatable topic. Synthesis topics should not be something that’s general knowledge, such as whether vegetables are good for you. Most everyone would agree that vegetables are healthy, and there are many sources to support that.
Bad synthesis topics can come in a variety of forms. Sometimes, the topic won’t be clear enough. In these situations, the topic is too broad to allow for you to form a proper argument. Here are a few example bad synthesis essay topics:

Other not-so-great examples are topics that clearly have only one correct side of the argument. What you need is a topic that has several sources that can support more than one position.
Now that you know what a bad topic looks like, it’s time to talk about what a good topic looks like.
Many great synthesis essay topics are concentrated around social issues. There’s a lot of gray area and general debate on those issues—which is what makes them great topics for your synthesis. Here are a few topics you could write about:

The list of good topics goes on and on. When looking at your topic, be sure to present a strong opinion for one side or the other. Straddling the fence makes your synthesis essay look much weaker.
Now that you have an idea of what kinds of topics you can expect to see, let’s get down to how to actually write your synthesis essay. To make this a little more interesting, I’m going to pick the following example topic:
Are Slytherin House members more evil than members of other houses?

Steps to Writing an Impressive Synthesis Essay
As with any good essay, organization is critical. With these five simple steps, writing a surprisingly good synthesis essay is surprisingly easy.
Step 1: Read your sources.
Even before you decide on your position, be sure to thoroughly read your sources. Look for common information among them, and start making connections in your mind as you read.
For the purposes of my Slytherin synthesis example, let’s say I have four different sources.
- Source A is a data table that lists the houses of all members of the Death Eaters.
- Source B is a complete history of the Slytherin House , including the life and views of Salazar Slytherin.
- Source C is a document containing the names of students who were sorted into a different house than what the Sorting Hat had originally assigned to them.
- Source D is a history of the Battle of Hogwarts.
Step 2: Decide what your position is.
After you work through your sources, decide what position you are going to take. You don’t actually have to believe your position—what’s more important is being able to support your argument as effectively as possible.
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Also, remember that once you pick a position, stick with it. You want your argument and your synthesis to be as strong as possible. Sticking to your position is the best way to achieve that.
Back to our example … after reading through my documents, I decide that the students and alumni of the Slytherin House are not more evil than students in the other houses.
Step 3: Write an awesome thesis statement.
Once you’ve decided on a position, you need to express it in your thesis statement . This is critical since you will be backing up your thesis statement throughout your synthesis essay.
In my example, my thesis statement would read something like this:
Students and alumni from Slytherin are not more evil than students in the other houses because they fill the whole spectrum of morality, evil wizards are found in all houses, and their house traits of cunning, resourcefulness, and ambition do not equate to an evil nature.
Step 4: Draft a killer outline.
Now that you have your argument down in words, you need to figure out how you want to organize and support that argument. A great way to do this is to create a synthesis essay outline .
When you write your outline, write your thesis statement at the top. Then, list each of your sub-arguments. Under each sub-argument, list your support. Part of my outline would look like this:
Thesis statement: Students and alumni from Slytherin are not more evil than students in the other houses because they fill the whole spectrum of morality, evil wizards are found in all houses, and their house traits of cunning, resourcefulness, and ambition do not equate to an evil nature. I. Evil wizards are found in all houses. A. Source A: Examples of Death Eaters from other houses B. Source D: Examples of what Death Eaters from other houses did at the Battle of Hogwarts
In my outline, I used my sources as the second level of my outline to give the names of the sources and, from each, concrete evidence of how evil non-Slytherin wizards can be.
This is only an example of one paragraph in my outline. You’ll want to do this for each paragraph/sub-argument you plan on writing.
Step 5: Use your sources wisely.

When thinking about how to use your sources as support for your argument, you should avoid a couple mistakes—and do a couple of things instead.
Step 6: Get to writing.
Once you have a comprehensive outline, all you have to do is fill in the information and make it sound pretty. You’ve done all the hard work already. The writing process should just be about clearly expressing your ideas. As you write, always keep your thesis statement in mind, so your synthesis essay has a clear sense of direction.
Now that you know what a synthesis essay is and have a pretty good idea how to write one, it doesn’t seem so intimidating anymore, does it?
If your synthesis essay still isn’t coming together quite as well as you had hoped, you can trust the Kibin editors to make the edits and suggestions that will push it to greatness.
Happy writing!
Psst... 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays .

About the Author
Eden Meirow is a full-time copywriter and part-time freelance writer. Along with her BS in marketing from Florida State University and MA in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University, she has spent the past 7 years learning how best to reach and teach people using the power of words. When she's not working, she's constantly trying to expand her creativity through music, writing, art, and animation.
- academic writing
- argumentative essays
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How to Write a Perfect Synthesis Essay Outline
14 Jan 2022
Quick Navigation
❓What is a Synthesis Essay?
📑Synthesis Essay Structure
✒️What is an Essay Outline?
📃What Format Should Be Followed?
✍️How to Write a Synthesis Essay Outline?
📌How to Create a Synthesis Essay Outline?
📝Synthesis Essay Example MLA
✏️Synthesis Essay Example APA Style
Writing a synthesis paper is difficult, but we'll show you how to make an outline that will help you write an effective essay. A good outline is what makes your work easier and provides you with the structure that allows you to write an effective essay. This article will explain how to make an APA or MLA format outline of your paper. Throughout this article, we will discuss what synthesis essays are, how to choose a synthesis essay format, and how to define and write a good essay.
What is a Synthesis Essay?
A synthesis essay is a kind of academic writing that requires you to take two or more sources and compare and contrast them. You will have to make conclusions based on your analysis, which should be supported by evidence from the text. Sometimes, this type of essay requires you to use your own words as well as those taken from the original sources.
These papers are common in colleges and high schools as well. Commonly, they have a structure that consists of 5 paragraphs essay . These texts often reflect the writer's point of view. The writer usually presents his or her opinion to make a point based on the data gathered during the research.
When writing a synthesis essay, you should follow these steps:
- Choose your topic and sources.
- Analyze each source in detail.
- Bring all of the information together into one coherent argument.
Now that we’ve defined the synthesis essay, let’s go over the two main types – Argumentative and Explanatory Synthesis Essays.
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Argumentative Vs. Explanatory Synthesis Essays – Two Types of Synthesis Essays
Synthesis essays are the most common type of assignment in academic writing. They are usually assigned to students at the end of the semester, when they need to collect all the information they have learned and make a synthesis out of it.
There are two types of synthesis essays, argumentative and explanatory. In fact, they are the two most common types of essays that you will write in college, so it is important to understand how to write them well. In this article, you will learn more about these two types of synthesis essays and how they differ from each other:
- In an argumentative essay , the thesis will simply argue one point in the same way as in a classic essay. This type of synthesis essay is used to argue a particular point of view. It is an argumentative essay that supports or opposes a particular idea or viewpoint. The writer argues in favor of his/her point of view by using evidence, facts, and statistics.
- An explanatory essay has the goal of explaining a particular perspective. The writer must use sources from different perspectives and present them objectively without endorsing one over the other. This type of essay is used to explain a topic in detail. It is an analysis of the subject matter and is based on facts and figures. The writer describes the topic in detail by using evidence, facts, and statistics.
Synthesis Essay Structure
A great way to begin writing a synthesis essay is by first creating an outline plan for what sources you want to include in your final piece. You should also consider how much information each source contains so that everything matches up well with each other when put together into one document (that means no gaps between paragraphs). The synthesis essay structure has three main parts: the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
- The introduction of a synthesis essay gives background information on your topic and introduces your thesis statement, which is your position on the topic as you plan to defend it in the body paragraphs.
- The body paragraphs are where you provide details about your thesis statement and include evidence from different sources to support it, such as quotes from experts on the subject or statistics related to your argument.
- Finally, the conclusion summarizes what you've said in the body paragraphs and indicates if there are any remaining issues that need further study or investigation.
- In most cases, a synthesis essay will have five paragraph structure . To structure your essay correctly, you'll need to understand some key points. Let's go over them together.
Introduction and Synthesis Writing
In your introduction, you will introduce the topic of your essay, explain what it is about, and give some background information. In general, you should use this space to lay out an argument that synthesizes at least two ideas from other sources. If you find yourself with few sources on a particular topic, you may want to consider using only one source or writing about a different topic entirely.
A good introduction makes a reader want to keep reading. The writer can accomplish this by writing a statement that hooks the reader's interest and makes the reader want to read more. Be sure to include an opening sentence that clearly states who or what you are discussing (for example: “In his book _____, philosopher X discusses…”). This sentence will also help ensure that readers understand why they should care about what comes next in your paper.
The writer can then briefly discuss the points he or she will be addressing. The purpose of a good introduction is to engage readers by creating interest so that they want to read further about what is to be discussed.
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The Main Body
There are three parts to your essay, each using a different type of evidence. The first two sections should contain evidence that supports your thesis. This can be in the form of direct quotes from your sources , statistics, and/or other research that supports your claim.
The third section should contain evidence against your thesis - or what some might call “counterpoints” or “arguments against”. An example would be if you had a paper about a certain topic, but wanted to acknowledge that there are some people who feel differently about it. You could give an example here, such as “some people think” or "others believe".
It is important to include evidence and sources in this section. An informative body with analysis can become a great body when it is backed up by solid evidence.
The Conclusion
In the conclusion, you need to summarize the main points of your essay. It should be short, but it should not be an afterthought. You should also draw conclusions and provide a brief overview of the research. If you did your research well, writing a summary will be easy.
In addition, you should explain why your argument is valid, give a clear answer to the question and make recommendations based on your own findings. Simply review what you've talked about so far. You might want to remind your reader of your thesis statement or main point, and sum up your points.
A conclusion should:
- Summarize what has been said in the essay - this makes sure that readers don't miss anything important
- Explain how what has been said relates to an issue or problem (if you're writing an argumentative essay)
- Explain how what has been said relates to other people's ideas about the issue (if you're writing an analytical essay )
- The conclusion should end with a strong statement that brings everything together so that readers know what you think about the topic. You can use personal experiences or examples to illustrate your point if necessary.
Bibliography
A bibliography is a list of books, journals, and other sources of information used in the essay. The bibliography should be alphabetically arranged by the author's last name. All sources should be listed separately on a separate page following the main body of text or at the end of your paper.
Your research sources should be properly credited at the end of the essay, whether you're using MLA, APA, or another format. The most common form for citing an author's work is called "parenthetical citation" or "in-text citation." In parenthetical citations, you include the title of the work (italicized), page numbers if applicable, year published (if applicable), medium (e.g., book), and publisher's name (if not self-published).
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What Is an Essay Outline and Why Is It Important?
Writing a perfect synthesis essay outline is important because it helps you to organize your ideas and write a better essay. An outline for synthesis essay or structure is basically a map that shows you how to get from point A to point Z, every step of the way. It keeps you from going down any dead ends and makes sure that when you get there, it’s done right.
A synthesis essay introduction outline is typical for a synopsis of a synthesis essay. The thesis statement will be followed by an 'attention grabber'. You will then outline what each paragraph in the body will be about. Provide details about more than one piece of information. Finally, you will outline what your conclusion will cover.
A writer who does not do an outline before writing a paper may end up having problems with flow and focus. An outline and structure can help writers ensure that all of the necessary information is included and presented logically.
What Format Should Be Followed for a Synthesis Outline Structure?
If you don't know what format your instructor has in mind, it's best to study some examples. Here's how it works:
A good and simple synthesis essay template can take you a long way. This template makes writing the actual synthesis essay much simpler with adequate planning and research. Writers who disregard the outline process face so many challenges and end up having to deal with more complications than they need to. It's a great idea to plan out how many words each section can take up in a synthesis outline if you're limited by a word count.
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How to Write a Synthesis Essay Outline?
Prior to anything else, you should write a synopsis. By writing the synopsis, you can carefully plan what each paragraph will include. This is important because your points will be presented in order based on the word count and flow.
The outline will prevent you from getting writer's block or struggling to think of what to write.
It’s hard to find a good structured synthesis essay outline example on the internet. An explanatory synthesis essay outline is very rare, but not impossible to find. To help you get started, here is a synthesis outline example with some guidelines to follow:
Write an introduction. This explains how you arrived at your thesis and why it is important, as well as presenting background information on the topic at hand and any other relevant details that provide context for understanding it in greater depth later on in the essay. Also, be sure to make your introduction one paragraph long and about 10% of the total word count.
Start with a thesis statement. Begin your essay by clearly stating what you’re going to argue so that the reader knows what to expect from your paper. You should introduce your thesis statement by presenting one of your three main ideas. The reader may feel there is no need to read the rest of your essay if you reveal everything in your introduction.
The body of your outline should be composed of three paragraphs, each focusing on a specific idea. It is important to remember that any supporting evidence you use should be credible and properly referenced according to the writing style you are using. Quotations should be used when mentioning the exact same words that belong to another person or are taken from some source.
Write down sources. To avoid forgetting where a piece of information or a quotation came from, make sure to include the sources along with the information in your essay outline.
Write a conclusion . Like your introduction, your conclusion should constitute around 10% of the total word count. Readers should know that they are reading the conclusion and not just another paragraph of the body. Here, you shouldn't introduce new information - rather, you should summarize it.
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How to Create a Synthesis Essay Outline?
Writing a synthesis essay is not as simple as it may seem. It requires a lot of planning and organizing before you can even begin writing. The structure of your essay needs to be clear in your mind so that you know exactly where each piece of evidence fits into it and how long each section will be. Some people are doing it the old-school way with a pen and paper. Drawing, crossing out, and moving things until they get an outline they like. They then type it into their computer as the main synopsis.
A lot of people start with their research and then write the framework – while others read a little around the topic, sketch out their thoughts, then go back and find evidence to support their ideas.
Let’s go over the key principles you need to follow in order to create an amazing essay outline:
- Learn more about the topic by doing some general reading
- Brainstorm and write down ideas on paper
- Make a decision on what stance you will take or what your summary is going to be
- Choose 3 primary ideas that you will use in the essay body
- Write down the evidence and sources you found that you will use to back up the ideas
- Create your outline and start with the introduction - determine how long it will be and how it will affect the content
- You will need to refer back to the three ideas you chose from your brainstorming when laying out your essay. For easy referencing, don't forget to mention sources and locations. Take a few seconds to write down the brief text of your conclusion, and estimate how many words you have to play with (10%)
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Example of a Synthesis Essay in MLA
If you decided to write an MLA format synthesis essay, here’s the template example you should follow:
- Make sure to use Times New Roman font (size 12pt) that’s double-spaced.
- Your margins should be 1". In the top-right corner of each page, you should place your surname and the page number.
- Your title should be centered.
- The header should have your full name, your professor’s name, the course code or number, and the date in the dd/mm/yy format.
- A page called “works cited” should be your last page.
Synthesis Essay Example APA Style
The next style that's common is the synthesis APA format. If you’re wondering how to write a synthesis paper in APA format , you should follow this template:
- Have your header at the top of each page in your essay.
- The top-right side should have the page number.
- Your structure should follow this format: title page, abstract, main body, and references.
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Dr. Karlyna PhD
I am a proficient writer from the United States with over five years of experience in academic writing. I comfortably complete given assignments within stipulated deadlines and at the same time deliver high-quality work, which follows the guidelines provided.
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A thesis statement is the last sentence in your essay. It is the part where you state your main argument or claim. It should be short аnd to-the-point. It must bе concise, clear and to-the-point. The thesis statement examples for synthesis essays should bе based on your argument or thesis.
Synthesis essays typically adhere to the five-paragraph essay structure, but there are slight nuances to structuring this type of essay. Here is how a synthesis essay is structured. 1. Introduction: The foundational ideas of your essay are expressed in the introductory paragraph.
Placement of the thesis statement Step 1: Start with a question Step 2: Write your initial answer Step 3: Develop your answer Step 4: Refine your thesis statement Types of thesis statements Frequently asked questions about thesis statements What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay.
A synthesis paper prompt must be debatable. Depending on your assignment, you may have to choose a primary text. Choose a book that might have opposing viewpoints. Step 1: Browse through topics and ideas. Read from sources and check selected topics in-depth to see if any of them take your interest.
A synthesis draws on multiple sources to reach a broader conclusion. There are two types of syntheses: explanatory syntheses and argumentative syntheses . Explanatory syntheses seek to bring sources together to explain a perspective and the reasoning behind it.
The synthesis essay structure has three main parts: the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The introduction of a synthesis essay gives background information on your topic and introduces your thesis statement, which is your position on the topic as you plan to defend it in the body paragraphs.