Synthesis Essay Timing Tips
Tania has found students do best when they allot these time segments.
2 Minutes: Planning
Read the prompt, underlining key words. Read it again. Write your thesis, making sure it responds to the prompt.
8 Minutes: Sources and Evidence
Glean the sources and evidence that support or undercut your message.
10 Minutes: List the elements
Make sure you note the source for each piece of evidence.
Sub-claim 1:
Evidence:
Sub-claim 2:
Evidence:
Sub-claim 3:
Evidence:
Counter-claim:
Evidence:
Rebuttal:
Now examine these elements for stronger and weaker arguments. Remove the sub-claims you don’t need.
Next, arrange your claims and evidence, along with your thesis, in an outline.
15 Minutes: Write!
Hint: You might want to steal 5 minutes from the argument essay, giving you 20 minutes to write the synthesis essay.
The orators in ancient Greece and Rome recognized the magic of rhythm. They noticed that the cadence of an expression could have a huge influence on an audience[. Cicero was especially fond of one of the more powerful rhythms, the paean. We think of the paean today as a song or poem that praises, gives thanks, or celebrates a triumph. But it first meant words that heal.