English 1A Name ________________________

Fague

Developing Your Synthesis Essay (a 20-point exercise)

--------------------------------------Your Intro Paragraph----------------------------------------

1. Do you introduce your topic for your essay, either tradition, colonialism, or perceptions of
nature? What else could you say about your topic so that your reader understands it better?

2. Do you list the readings that you’ve chosen to explore your topic through? You should! This
provides a context for your essay. (There are books about these topics, but your essay is shorter
because you’re looking only at what the readings show you about the topic).

3. Do you introduce a conflict about your topic? What are at least 2 ways of thinking about your
topic (tradition, colonialism, or perceptions of nature)?

4 Does your intro paragraph end with your thesis statement, your main idea, your opinion
about your topic that you’ll explore in your essay? Your thesis should be the last sentence in
your intro paragraph.

--------------------------------------Your Thesis Statement----------------------------------------

1. Does your thesis statement say something about your topic (tradition, colonialism, or
perceptions of nature)? What do the readings show you about the topic? Write what you think
about your topic here:

2. Is your thesis your main point of the essay? Read over your paragraphs so far, and make any
adjustments to your thesis here:

3. Name two ways that others would disagree with your thesis statement. What could they say?
--------------------------------------Your First Body Paragraph----------------------------------

1. Read over your first body paragraph. Is the first sentence your main point of the paragraph?
In other words, is it your topic sentence? It should be! If not, make adjustments below:

2. What is this paragraph showing your reader about your thesis, your main point for the essay?

3. Do you use quotations, details from a reading or two, to show your reader what you say in
your topic sentence? What could you add to this paragraph?

--------------------------------------Your Second Body Paragraph-------------------------------

1. Read over your second body paragraph. Is the first sentence your main point of the
paragraph? In other words, is it your topic sentence? It should be! If not, make adjustments
below:

2. What is this paragraph showing your reader about your thesis, your main point for the essay?

3. Do you use quotations, details from a reading or two, to show your reader what you say in
your topic sentence? What could you add to this paragraph?
--------------------------------------Moving Forward-------------------------------

Have you discussed three readings yet? What could another reading show about your thesis?
Does another reading create an intriguing conflict or complication? If so, great! You want your
essay to be compelling!

List a few thoughts that you have about your topic that you haven’t written yet:

How would others disagree with your thesis, and is there a reading that you could use to show
how others disagree? Why don’t you agree with those who disagree with you?

Why is understanding your topic important?

What questions do you still have about your topic?

What questions do you have about your own thesis?