Introduced in 2007, the AP synthesis essay initially appears to be quite daunting. As in the APUSH DBQ questions, students are required to read 6-7 short sources and synthesize them into a persuasive essay which uses three or more of those sources as support.
In actuality, the synthesis essay is the easiest of the three. Though the AP often chooses topics that are somewhat...unusual (the 2008 prompt stands out here), the topics tend to be broad-based and relatively apolitical, with several topics being particularly helpful to a wide range of students, especially 2008 B and 2010). |
Find the Values
Find the "Command" and "Conquer"*
Side Note: Watch Out for "AND"!
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The Although/Nevertheless Thesis
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You're going to need a rough plan for all of your body paragraphs. That means presenting a logical, commonsense order of information for your reader. You're also going to need to synthesize the information, and that's different from merely referring to it.
Actual Synthesis: Put the Peanut Butter and Jelly Together
General Game Plan for Body Paragraphs
Synthesis Words and Phrases
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Synthesis Words and Phrases
Remember that X plus Y equals Z!
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Fine-tuning the synthesis essay meant to focus on the smaller (but important) details once you have the basic framework down pat. Get some practice with these ideas AFTER you have done work with students to write the thesis.
Don't Quote, Paraphrase
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One of the shifts you'll need to make writing the synthesis essay is that you're not encouraged to quote. Yeah, I know that FRQ 1, the rhetorical analysis essay, makes you quote at length. Sure.
The synthesis essay is different. Don't quote. Paraphrase. Why shouldn't I quote?
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Go Beyond the Minimum
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Synthesis Essay Rubric
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2007 - ADS
* The "and," as you can probably tell, is quite important. Essays failing to include or address BOTH parts of the prompt are guaranteed to get a low score. |