{"id":6920,"date":"2019-02-25T17:00:26","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T01:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/blog\/?post_type=essay-writing-blog&p=6920"},"modified":"2020-08-02T07:52:27","modified_gmt":"2020-08-02T14:52:27","slug":"create-synthesis-essay-outline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/create-synthesis-essay-outline\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Superb Synthesis Essay Outline"},"content":{"rendered":"

Think you\u2019re ready to write your synthesis essay outline?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s awesome! But I\u2019m going to ask you for a favor: pump your brakes for a second, so you can ask yourself this question:<\/p>\n

Have I ever written a synthesis <\/i>essay <\/i><\/b>before? <\/i><\/p>\n

If the answer is no<\/i>, then you\u2019ll want to check out How to Write a Surprisingly Good Synthesis Essay<\/a> so that you know what you\u2019re getting yourself into.<\/p>\n

Go ahead, I\u2019ll wait.<\/p>\n

Toe in the Water<\/h2>\n

Okay\u2014now that you know what\u2019s what, let\u2019s get down to business.<\/p>\n

By now, your teacher should have given you a synthesis essay topic and the sources. Sometimes you\u2019re given a specific prompt or stance on a topic; sometimes your teacher will expect you to come up with your own stance to argue<\/a> in the essay.<\/p>\n

Whatever the case, the outline process will be the same. There are just a couple of steps you should take before you start on the outline that will ensure your success on this paper.<\/p>\n

Read the material<\/h3>\n

Make sure you read through all of the sources and take notes on common themes or arguments<\/a> being made. This will help you draw connections between the sources and give you material to quote<\/a> when it\u2019s time to defend your stance.<\/p>\n

Brainstorm a bit<\/h3>\n

Going into an essay blind is like getting lost in the wilderness. Going into an outline without brainstorming is like having a poorly drawn map and forgetting your compass.<\/p>\n

Brainstorming is a solid exercise that helps you figure out which direction your writing needs to take to reach a successful outcome. It also lowers the risk that you\u2019ll get stuck mid-paper and want to start over.<\/p>\n

Here are some other great prewriting strategies<\/a> that can be super helpful to you before you dive into your essay.<\/p>\n

The Layout of a Synthesis Essay Outline<\/h2>\n

The above is the basic layout of your synthesis essay outline. It should look pretty familiar if you\u2019ve written an argument essay<\/a>. If not, don\u2019t worry\u2014we\u2019re going to break it down, piece by piece.<\/p>\n

The best thing we can do is practice with a low-stakes assignment that will help you get started on your own outline.<\/p>\n

The Topic at Hand<\/h2>\n

If you can\u2019t tell where this is going, know that I\u2019m a huge nerd (as if the above image wasn\u2019t a dead giveaway), and we\u2019re about to tackle a very controversial topic:<\/p>\n

Are the Star Wars prequels good movies?<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For the sake of this exercise (and because I like a challenge), we\u2019ll be arguing the position that, yes, the Star Wars<\/i> prequels are indeed cinematic achievements. We will also pretend we have been given several sources that help us make this argument:<\/p>\n

“Pew Pew: The Not-So-Quiet Triumph of the Star Wars Prequels,\u201d a 2016 article by J.J. Binks published in ARTOO Magazine<\/i>.<\/p>\n

“Studies in Sci-Fi Cinema,\u201d a 2015 essay by Bob A. Fett published in Lando: A Journal of Swagger<\/i>.<\/p>\n

“Good Enough for Roger Ebert,\u201d a 2018 blog post by Mo N. Mothma published on Some Like It Hoth<\/i>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Synthesis essays require that you argue a stance using your sources as evidence, so there’s a good chance you\u2019ll also be required to find sound counterarguments within your sources. And then your goal will be to refute them … but we\u2019ll get to that in a moment.<\/p>\n

Also keep in mind that not all topics will be so cut-and-dry like this. Often, teachers will give you sources that are more complicated, and it\u2019s up to you to find the arguments within, both those that agree and disagree with your position.<\/p>\n

The Outline<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at how we can craft a synthesis essay outline using the above sources, step by step.<\/p>\n

Intro<\/h3>\n

The essay introduction<\/a> is where you first draw your reader in with a strong hook sentence.<\/p>\n

Next, you provide context (background information) on the history and importance of the issue.<\/p>\n

You should finish this paragraph with your thesis.<\/p>\n

Hook<\/h4>\n

The intro starts with your hook<\/a>\u2014a sentence that grabs the reader\u2019s attention. Here’s what you might write as a hook for our Star Wars<\/i> stance:<\/p>\n

If fans fail to love the <\/i>Star Wars prequels, then they are simply not true <\/i>Star Wars fans.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Learn more about writing effective hooks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Context<\/h4>\n

You\u2019ll be discussing the issue at length in your body paragraphs, but your reader needs an introduction to the key elements of the issue. This is a good spot to briefly answer the following questions:<\/p>\n