Step 4: Synthesis This is where you use the specific information to inform or persuade your audience. A synthesis moves beyond a
paraphrase or a summary by combining it with your ideas
For example, a text might say that deforestation erodes the usable topsoil. How does this appeal to your audience and
purpose? It's up to you, the author, to determine how to use this information. You might use a quotation to cite the specific
data about how much topsoil is lost and then explain to your fellow students a small detail they could change to limit this
damage, such as recycling their notes in the campus recycle bins. That's an example of applying the data to your own idea
To quote information:
• Use a limited segment that is powerful (You can use ellipses to use part of a sentence)
• Embed the quotation into a sentence to strengthen the point
Using the information that remains, organize the following
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The title of the article and a sentence identifying your intended audience and purpose
Section 1, labeled 'Summary A summary of the text that is 300 words or less
Section 2. labeled Paraphrase Copy and paste the original text of a key idea in the text This should be a page
or less in your own words paraphrase the key ideas, and cite them appropriately
• Section 3. labeled Synthesis Write 300-500 words explaining why this text is an important idea for your
audience. You should use at least two original and powerful quotations from the text to illustrate your point
Inclucle the correct citations
. Section 4 labeled "Bibliography Include your bibliography citation
• At least one paragraph of paraphrasing on part of the article (labeled as such at the end of the paragraph)