the language of composition chapter 3: synthesizing sources: entering the conversation ap english...

The Language of CompositionThe Language of CompositionChapter 3: Synthesizing Sources: Chapter 3: Synthesizing Sources:

Entering the ConversationEntering the Conversation

AP English AP English

Language and CompositionLanguage and Composition

Synthesizing SourcesSynthesizing Sources

All writers All writers use the work use the work of of othersothers to to develop their develop their own ideas own ideas and position. and position.


The speaker The speaker must be as must be as knowledgeableknowledgeable as as possible about possible about his/her his/her subjectsubject in in order to develop order to develop ethosethos with the with the audience.audience.


The speaker must The speaker must researchresearch and use and use the work of the work of others to develop others to develop his/her own his/her own understandingunderstanding of of the subject. the subject.


By engaging with By engaging with a a variety of variety of sourcessources and and developing developing questionsquestions (annotations, etc.) (annotations, etc.) you enter a larger you enter a larger conversation.conversation.


As a writer, the As a writer, the synthesissynthesis of of these sources will these sources will provide strong provide strong supportsupport for your for your position.position.

Types of SourcesTypes of Sources

A A multi-facetedmulti-faceted collection of collection of sources will sources will provide more provide more detailed and detailed and specificspecific examples examples to help establish to help establish your position.your position.


AnecdotesAnecdotes are are brief stories that brief stories that illustrate a point. illustrate a point.

They can be They can be about about personal personal experiencesexperiences or or about something about something that happened to that happened to somebody else.somebody else.


FactsFacts represent represent information that information that is is verifiableverifiable through general through general sources, such as sources, such as encyclopedia, encyclopedia, history books, or history books, or biographical biographical dictionaries. dictionaries.


Since facts are available in numerous Since facts are available in numerous reference booksreference books, they represent a , they represent a general cultural knowledge called general cultural knowledge called ““Common KnowledgeCommon Knowledge.” .”

Common knowledge does Common knowledge does notnot need need to to be citedbe cited..


Quantitative DataQuantitative Data are are typically represented typically represented as as statisticalstatistical information. information.

Quantitative Data Quantitative Data must be cited must be cited because they because they represent the work represent the work of others.of others.


Expert TestimonyExpert Testimony represents the represents the opinions of those opinions of those with with extensive extensive knowledgeknowledge of a of a subject. subject.

It should be It should be quoted directly or quoted directly or paraphrased and paraphrased and must be cited.must be cited.


Citing anecdotes, Citing anecdotes, facts, data, and facts, data, and expert testimony expert testimony helps to establish helps to establish logoslogos between between the speaker and the speaker and the subject. the subject. AudienceAudience

SpeakerSpeaker

SubjectSubject

LogosLogos


It also adds to the It also adds to the development of development of ethosethos between the between the speaker and the speaker and the audience since you audience since you are giving credit to are giving credit to those who have those who have developed these developed these ideas.ideas.

AudienceAudience

SpeakerSpeaker

SubjectSubject

EthosEthos


No matter how helpful sources may be No matter how helpful sources may be in informing you about your topic, in in informing you about your topic, in supporting your position, or in supporting your position, or in demonstrating your awareness of demonstrating your awareness of conflicting viewpoints, conflicting viewpoints, your argument your argument must always be centralmust always be central..

Relationship of Sources to the Relationship of Sources to the AudienceAudience

When determining the When determining the type of sources to type of sources to use within your use within your writing, and even the writing, and even the format by which to format by which to cite those sources, cite those sources, we need to refer back we need to refer back to the Rhetorical to the Rhetorical Triangle. Triangle.

AudienceAudience

SpeakerSpeaker

SubjectSubject

EthosEthos LogosLogos

PathosPathos

Relationship of Sources to the Relationship of Sources to the AudienceAudience The level of formality in the The level of formality in the

documentation of sources is documentation of sources is determined by who the determined by who the audienceaudience is and is and what the what the contextcontext of the piece is… of the piece is… In-class essay vs. formal research In-class essay vs. formal research

paperpaper


The types of sources The types of sources included should also included should also vary in order to build vary in order to build rapportrapport (ethos) with (ethos) with the audience. the audience.

Stress those Stress those sources that are sources that are likely to likely to engageengage your your audience.audience.

AudienceAudience

SpeakerSpeaker

SubjectSubject

EthosEthos


These tips will These tips will establish both establish both logos and ethoslogos and ethos between the between the author and author and audience.audience.

AudienceAudience

SpeakerSpeaker

SubjectSubject

EthosEthos LogosLogos

The Synthesis EssayThe Synthesis Essay

The Synthesis Essay is the typical The Synthesis Essay is the typical school school research paperresearch paper where a student where a student must make use of must make use of multiple sourcesmultiple sources to to support a position, or thesis.support a position, or thesis.


The key to the synthesis essay is to The key to the synthesis essay is to make make your argument centralyour argument central. . What is it you want to prove? What is it you want to prove? What is your What is your messagemessage? ? Start from this perspective. Start from this perspective.


If you are If you are uninformeduninformed about a given about a given topic, then make ample use of the topic, then make ample use of the sources provided/researched to sources provided/researched to develop an adequate develop an adequate understandingunderstanding before attempting before attempting to developto develop a a position. position.


Once you have Once you have developed a developed a position, a thesis, position, a thesis, weave weave ((synthesizesynthesize) the ) the sources into the sources into the paper paper to supportto support your position.your position.


1.1. AssessAssess how the sources will help you how the sources will help you complete your task. complete your task.

Can the sources provide you with Can the sources provide you with information that backs up your information that backs up your position? position?

Do they provide you with an Do they provide you with an opposing argumentopposing argument that you can that you can refute? refute?


It’s extremely important to keep an It’s extremely important to keep an open mindopen mind to the information provided to the information provided by all the sources as this will reveal by all the sources as this will reveal your ability to understand the your ability to understand the complexitycomplexity of the issue. of the issue.


2.2. “Take stock” of the “Take stock” of the various issuesvarious issues surrounding the task. surrounding the task.

Arguments rarely have only Arguments rarely have only two two sidessides

Separating the task will provide Separating the task will provide greater scope to your positiongreater scope to your position


3.3. Present your thesis reasonably, Present your thesis reasonably, logicallylogically, and clearly. , and clearly.

Apply the rhetorical triangleApply the rhetorical triangle A reasonable voice is an A reasonable voice is an informed informed

voicevoice Anticipate Anticipate objectionsobjections and respect and respect

the the multiple perspectivesmultiple perspectives within the within the tasktask


4.4. Incorporate the sources within your Incorporate the sources within your argument. argument.

Use Use direct quotationsdirect quotations and and paraphrases. paraphrases.

CiteCite sources to establish ethos and sources to establish ethos and logos. logos.

Most importantly, be sure that the Most importantly, be sure that the sources are used in the service of sources are used in the service of your argumentyour argument..

the language of composition chapter 3: synthesizing sources: entering the conversation ap english...

Documents

general sources

audiencethe types of

variety of sources

helpful sources

documentation of sources

type of sources

use of multiple sources

types of sourcesanecdotes