How To Write A Synthesis Essay? 7 Mistakes To Avoid
Have you ever wondered why your classmates get straight As, while your essays always come back with less desirable grades? If your instructor is unwilling to explain the mistakes you've made, let us solve the mystery for you. We have created the list of the common errors students make because they don’t know how to write a synthesis essay. Go through our list and use the advice we offer to rectify every problem, and your next paper will get the grade you deserve!
You Think Synthesis And Argumentative Essays Are The Same
If you ignore the specific requirements of a synthesis essay format and write it the same way as you would write an argumentative essay, you will hardly get an A. Of course, you need to make a point and support it with arguments, but a synthesis essay also urges you to use different sources to back up your claims. Without studying, analyzing and using at least 3 to 5 sources, you won’t be able to get the high grade you need. Make sure to ask your professor about his or her specific requirements for this unusual assignment.
You Forget To Analyze The Prompt
Sometimes professors ask you to choose the essay’s topic on your own, but when they give you the prompt, you are expected to follow it. If you don’t, you risk losing valuable points of your grade that might eventually cause you to fail the class. Paying close attention to the prompt is the first step to a completed assignment.
Synthesis essay prompt is most likely to request you to evaluate specific issues, examine the factors that influence them or formulate a recommendation. The synthesis essay topics usually cover controversial social issues, like the death penalty or euthanasia. So you get to form a firm stand on the problem and support it with material gathered from different sources.
You Don’t Do Proper Research
If you are in a hurry, you can pick three books at random that cover the topic of your synthesis essay and be done with the research part of the assignment. That way bad grades lie. Your instructor will specify the number of sources to be used, but you should check out more than the required number to be able to choose the pertinent books and articles to cite.
Skimming through the sources won’t help you write the synthesis essay faster. Slow down and note the passages you can quote or summarize for your paper. Identify the differences and similarities between different sources to help you group them. This is also the right time to determine your position on the topic of the essay.
You Fail To Formulate A Thesis Statement
Fail to include a thesis statement into a synthesis essay introduction, and kiss your A goodbye. A good thesis allows your professor to evaluate your paper in under 30 seconds. If it showcases your position on the problem, promptly outlines the paper and hints at opposing arguments, your instructor will know you are on the right track. Remember the purpose of your writing when formulating a thesis statement. This one sentence should tell the reader whether your essay is worth reading.
You Start Writing Without Creating A Synthesis Essay Outline
When you are short on time, you might be tempted to start writing the paper right after reading the sources. The result usually gets a S or a D, because your reasoning is all over the place, the paragraphs and the sentences are disconnected, and you forget to group and compare your sources. To avoid this mess, create a crude outline of a synthesis essay introduction, a body, a conclusion. Jot down your thesis statement and the ideas you have for your hook. Study a synthesis essay conclusion example or two. Devote a couple of hours to structure your arguments into neat paragraphs.
The easiest thing for you to do would be to go by source, summarizing and analyzing each one. However, this approach won’t secure you an A. Instead, structure your synthesis essay outline by argument, providing quotes and summaries from different sources to support each claim. Don’t forget to include transitions to make the whole paper look streamlined and well-written.
You Ignore The Opposing Arguments
You want your synthesis essay to persuade the professor of your in-depth knowledge and profound understanding of the topic, so you avoid any mentions of the opposing arguments. Don’t be surprised when the paper comes back with something other than an A. When you willfully ignore the opposite points, it makes your reasoning look weak. It seems like you don’t know how to write a synthesis essay to rebuke the opponents of your position.
Stop burying your head in the sand. Include a paragraph on the counterarguments to your claims within the body. Provide your take on the opposing claims. Your professor will appreciate your honesty as well as a good grasp of the different angles of the problem. And before you hurry off to the next mistake, check out a synthesis essay conclusion example in our database to get inspired.
You Save Time On Editing And Proofreading
If you finish the essay the night before it is due, you will be tempted to skip the editing part and simply submit it in the morning. However, you shouldn’t trust your sloppy middle-of-the-night writing. Don’t try proofreading the moment you finish the paper. Let it be for now and get some rest.
Get up an hour earlier in the morning and go through your paper with a fine-toothed comb. Your mind will be rested and fresh, and your chances of catching typos and logical mistakes will be much better. Every professor appreciates a well-structured text free of little errors and written according to the perfect synthesis essay format. And getting on your instructor’s good side is precisely what you need to secure a high grade.
Avoid these mistakes and use our advice to rock your next synthesis essay. Now that you know how to write a synthesis essay, you are bound to get a better grade. But if you aren’t confident about your writing prowess, and you desperately need an A, contact our writers. They will complete the assignment for you quickly and efficiently.
