Synthesis Strategies for Source Conversation

Finding Ideas

• Ideas are the arguments in a synthesis paper.

• Essential for understanding source interaction.

Prompt Analysis

• Identify language that reveals key ideas.

• Example prompt: "How does commercializing fear and horror affect how individuals respond to the mysterious elements of life?"

Source Evaluation

• Evaluate each source for clear connections to identified ideas.

• Look for conspicuous relationships between sources and ideas.

• Avoid forcing connections.

Idea Correlation

• Identify frequently referenced ideas across sources.

• Prioritize these ideas when formulating arguments.

Hexagon Activity for Source Connection

• Inspired by the concept that multiple connections can exist.

• Use hexagons to represent sources and their relationships around a central prompt.

Hexagon Setup

• Center Hexagon: Main prompt.

• Surrounding Hexagons: Thesis or central claim of each source (labeled A, B, C, etc.).

Establishing Relationships

• Identify how sources relate: adding, clarifying, confirming, disagreeing, etc.

• Use symbols or words to represent the connections.

• Include quotes or evidence to support identified relationships.

Synthesis Sentence

• Formulate a sentence that captures the interaction between two sources.

Source E Clarification

• Source E clarifies violence is not a problem if the kid's in control, can tell the difference between reality and fiction, and has others around with them to ground them in reality.

Visualizing Source Fluidity

• Arrange hexagons to visually represent the fluid conversations between sources.

• Allows easy rearrangement to explore different relationships.

Integration with Idea-Based Approach

• Start with an idea and map related sources.

• Analyze how sources relate around the chosen idea.