Synthesis Essay Writing Strategies

The video tutorial, led by John Zia, focuses on the synthesis essay section of the AP exam. It covers how to analyze sources, extract key ideas, and use evidence to support a thesis. The tutorial includes a detailed practice session with Source D, emphasizing the costs of vertical farming. It also guides students on writing a body paragraph, incorporating evidence and commentary. The session concludes with a recap of the key points discussed.

What is the primary focus of the synthesis essay in the AP exam?

• To write a narrative essay

• To develop a defensible thesis using multiple sources

• To analyze a single source in depth

• To summarize multiple sources

What should you look for when reading sources for the synthesis essay?

• The author's biography

• Key factors and quotable lines

• The publication date

• The length of the source

What is the importance of putting sources in conversation with one another?

• To make the essay longer

• To show complexity and depth in the discussion

• To confuse the reader

• To avoid using commentary

What should you do after identifying key factors in a source?

• Ignore them

• Only use them if they are statistics

• Use them to develop your thesis

• Write them down without analysis

In the sample source analysis, what is the main argument against vertical farming?

• It produces low-quality food

• It is too expensive and energy-intensive

• It is not environmentally friendly

• It is not scalable

How can you make your synthesis essay more convincing?

• By avoiding any statistics

• By using vague evidence

• By focusing on only one source

• By providing specific statistics and commentary

What is a key step in translating source analysis into essay writing?

• Using only one source

• Writing a conclusion first

• Developing a thesis and structuring a body paragraph

• Ignoring the sources

What is the role of commentary in a synthesis essay?

• To connect evidence back to the thesis

• To replace evidence

• To introduce new sources

• To summarize the source

What is a strength of the sample student paragraph reviewed in the video?

• It uses only one source

• It has no clear thesis

• It lacks commentary

• It effectively uses evidence and commentary

What is a potential weakness in the student's paragraph?

• No thesis statement

• Lack of specific evidence

• Overuse of commentary

• Too many sources