Synthesis Essay Model

We have spent the past two classes constructing a model synthesis essay.  Working together as a class, we responded to the following topic: "Discuss the poets' views on war, as they are presented in "Dulce Et Decorum Est" and "The Soldier".  As we put together the essay, we spent time talking about the features of synthesis writing that it will be important to duplicate on future pieces.

Some of the features we discussed...

• hook at the beginning of the introduction
• thesis statement that presents both subjects, suggestion of a focus on either similarities or differences, and direction (in this case, what are the poets' views on war?)
• body paragraphs each focused on a different support point
• body paragraphs beginning with a topic sentence that introduces the paragraph
• use of textual evidence, integrated smoothly and explained by the author of the essay
• use of transitions between ideas and paragraphs, indicating focus on differences or similarities
• present verb tense
• conclusion which restates the thesis, but also provides "real world" relevance or "bigger picture" impact

I assigned reading of "Polyfilla", and asked students to annotate the poem, then answer the multiple choice questions, for next class.