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Summary |
Synthesis |
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Basic reading technique |
Advanced reading technique |
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Explains a source by describing important points |
Uses important points of multiple sources to draw one’s own, original conclusions |
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Shows only what original authors wrote |
Creates something new by comparing or drawing relationships between the original writings of two or more authors |
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Addresses one set of information at a time (For instance, one usually writes a summary of paragraph addressing source A, a paragraph summary of source B, and so on) |
Combines elements or parts of multiple sources within a single paragraph to address a common theme or idea |
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Demonstrates knowledge of overall meaning of a single source |
Builds on multiple sources to achieve new insight and ideas. |
As you will be writing paragraphs in both discussion posts and in applications throughout your course, here is a general model for writing cohesive and logical paragraphs. In each of your paragraph, make sure you begin with a clear topic sentence. Next, be sure to include supporting evidence and analysis. Finally, provide a clear lead out or link, logically connecting one paragraph's ideas to the topic you discuss in the next paragraph:
Main Idea: Your topic sentence stating the concrete claim the paragraph is advancing.
Evidence: Paraphrase or direct quotations from the source material you are using to support your topic sentence's claim.
Analysis: Your explanation and evaluation of the evidence; explaining the evidence you provided and its relevance in your own words.
Lead Out: Concluding; preparing your reader to transition to the next paragraph (and the next claim).
