Synthesis is the kind of paper that looks at how a collection of articles approach a subject. In other words, it is reflective and requires you to think and analyze across a number of sources. We will be reading some short essays, watching a Ted talk, and visiting a few websites on the topic of the slavery in America and where we are now in the black lives matter movement. You will be looking for places where the sources agree, disagree, reinforce, subvert, and contradict. This is a paper where the sources are talking to each other and you are presenting your analysis of the places where they agree and contradict each other. In the opening paragraph I expect to see the full name of each source you use and its author. After that you will write a well-crafted thesis statement stating how you will analyze how the sources are synthesized. You will be quoting from the sources, so do not forget quotation marks and a works cited page.
The paper will be 1,500-1800 words. Some of the things that might be included in your paper are:
A short description of how you came up with the structure of your synthesis
3-4 examples where the sources agree, disagree, reinforce, subvert, or contradict
Where do the articles show convergence (coming together) or divergence (moving apart)?
You are looking for the themes that run through the various sources.
How are the authors talking to each other through their work?
Do ideas from one source subvert ideas from another one?
Be sure to formulate a thesis and write in complete sentences. The critical analysis paper asked us to take a very close look at one article, this paper asks you to step back and look at the big picture of numerous articles. You are writing about what each author adds to a common conversation. Do not write in first person and be sure to include the sources you use on your Works Cited page.
Things to watch out for:
Do not simply summarize the sources, or bombard the reader with a mass of facts, but no analysis
I expect to see sentences like this: while speakers W and X discusses the benefits of a liberal education, speaker Y is trying to subvert the idea that liberal education is necessary and wants education to change to a more modern formula. This would be followed by examples from each source showing how this is accomplished and include analysis from you. While it sounds like an opinion paper, it is not. It relies on your “critical thinking” skills and analysis.
Use MLA or APA format in this paper. If you have questions about format go to OWLPurdue.edu.
Sources for the Synthesis Paper:
Read: “In Whose Honor” by Alex Barker
Read: “You want a Confederate Monument?”
Read: Whose Heritage?
Read: Robert E Lee
Read: This is Sacred Ground
Read: As Monuments Come Down
Read: Monuments Must Go
Read: Southern Symbols
Read: Confederate Delusions
Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/baratunde_thurston_how_to_deconstruct_racism_one_headline_at_a_time (Links to an external site.)
Websites: https://nmaahc.si.edu/ (Links to an external site.) https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/ (Links to an external site.)
YouTube Video: Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday:
Billie Holiday-Strange fruit- HD (Links to an external site.)
Billie Holiday-Strange fruit- HD
Strange Fruit (lyrics)
Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
There are 10 sources listed here. You do not have to use all of them in your paper, but you will need to read all of them in order to make the decisions about how you will compose your synthesis. For the final paper include at least 5-6 sources.
1500-1800 word minimum
MLA or APA format