“Synthesizing is the process whereby a student merges new information with prior knowledge to form a new idea, perspective, or opinion to create insight.”
- Shannon Bumgarner
Today, we are writing our big synthesis essay! Final drafts will be collected the end of the day on Wednesday November 8th. Cut off time: 4pm. I will print them out at this time and go home!
Materials needed:
- Canadian poetry booklet
- East Van poetry booklet
- Free writes booklet - printed materials placed here please.
Items to show Ms. Shin:
- Free writes
- TWO Synthesis essay outlines- thematic statement and graphic organizer (T-chart or Venn Diagrams)
- Shannon Bumgarner
Today, we are writing our big synthesis essay! Final drafts will be collected the end of the day on Wednesday November 8th. Cut off time: 4pm. I will print them out at this time and go home!
Materials needed:
- Canadian poetry booklet
- East Van poetry booklet
- Free writes booklet - printed materials placed here please.
Items to show Ms. Shin:
- Free writes
- TWO Synthesis essay outlines- thematic statement and graphic organizer (T-chart or Venn Diagrams)
Your synthesis essay can be written TWO ways: A) block method or B) point-by-point
BLOCK METHOD
The Block Method presents all arguments related to A, and then compares and/or contrasts them to all arguments related to B. This style is a little bit more difficult to use because there is so much space between points about A and points about B; however, it can be useful for shorter assignments.
The pattern is as follows:
BLOCK METHOD OUTLINE EXAMPLE:
Thesis: Same as in Point-by-Point Method Outline.
PART 1
Point 1: Mill believes that the majority makes moral decisions.
Point 2: Mill argues that complete open-mindedness always benefits society.
Point 3: Mill claims that we are all equal because mere accident determines what worldview we are born into.
PART 2
Point 1: Bakunin believes that public opinion should be the basis of society’s decisions, which is slightly different than Mill’s understanding of a moral majority.
Point 2: Unlike Mill, Bakunin allows freedom of expression to be limited by public opinion.
Point 3: As with Mill, Bakunin extends equality to all and embraces diversity.
POINT-BY-POINT METHOD
The Point-by-Point method alternates arguments about the two items (A and B) that you are comparing and/or contrasting.
The pattern is as follows:
POINT-BY-POINT METHOD OUTLINE EXAMPLE:
Thesis: John Stewart Mill and Michael Bakunin both support three of the basic principles of democracy (government by the people, tolerance, and equality); however, they support them to different degrees and for different reasons.
POINT 1
Paragraph 1: Mill believes that the majority makes moral decisions.
Paragraph 2: Bakunin believes that public opinion should be the basis of society’s decisions, which is slightly different than Mill’s understanding of a moral majority.
POINT 2
Paragraph 3: Mill argues that complete open-mindedness always benefits society.
Paragraph 4: Unlike Mill, Bakunin allows freedom of expression to be limited by public opinion.
POINT 3
Paragraph 5: Mill claims that we are all equal because mere accident determines what worldview we are born into.
Paragraph 6: As with Mill, Bakunin extends equality to all and embraces diversity.
BLOCK METHOD
The Block Method presents all arguments related to A, and then compares and/or contrasts them to all arguments related to B. This style is a little bit more difficult to use because there is so much space between points about A and points about B; however, it can be useful for shorter assignments.
The pattern is as follows:
- Point 1 about A
- Point 2 about A
- Point 1 about B (with discussion about connections to A)
- Point 2 about B (with discussion about connections to A)
- Etc.
BLOCK METHOD OUTLINE EXAMPLE:
Thesis: Same as in Point-by-Point Method Outline.
PART 1
Point 1: Mill believes that the majority makes moral decisions.
Point 2: Mill argues that complete open-mindedness always benefits society.
Point 3: Mill claims that we are all equal because mere accident determines what worldview we are born into.
PART 2
Point 1: Bakunin believes that public opinion should be the basis of society’s decisions, which is slightly different than Mill’s understanding of a moral majority.
Point 2: Unlike Mill, Bakunin allows freedom of expression to be limited by public opinion.
Point 3: As with Mill, Bakunin extends equality to all and embraces diversity.
POINT-BY-POINT METHOD
The Point-by-Point method alternates arguments about the two items (A and B) that you are comparing and/or contrasting.
The pattern is as follows:
- Point 1 - discuss A o Point 1 - discuss B
- Discussion about overall links between A and B
- Point 2 – discuss A
- Point 2 - discuss B
- Discussion about overall links between A and B
POINT-BY-POINT METHOD OUTLINE EXAMPLE:
Thesis: John Stewart Mill and Michael Bakunin both support three of the basic principles of democracy (government by the people, tolerance, and equality); however, they support them to different degrees and for different reasons.
POINT 1
Paragraph 1: Mill believes that the majority makes moral decisions.
Paragraph 2: Bakunin believes that public opinion should be the basis of society’s decisions, which is slightly different than Mill’s understanding of a moral majority.
POINT 2
Paragraph 3: Mill argues that complete open-mindedness always benefits society.
Paragraph 4: Unlike Mill, Bakunin allows freedom of expression to be limited by public opinion.
POINT 3
Paragraph 5: Mill claims that we are all equal because mere accident determines what worldview we are born into.
Paragraph 6: As with Mill, Bakunin extends equality to all and embraces diversity.