4.1.7: Present
- Page ID
- 328982
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Present gathered information by summarizing, synthesizing, and creating texts to share.
Once you have found sources, you will start putting your argument together. Consider how you will answer your research question and write a working thesis. Don't worry if it isn't perfect, it will evolve as you go along. You will use three kinds of critical thinking to turn your working thesis into a convincing argument.
Summarizing, Analyzing, and Synthesizing
As academic researchers, you are expected to bring your own ideas to your argument. Instead of repeating the sources you found, you will use develop your own ideas. You will summarize your sources to show comprehension. You need to analyze them to find important details that you can use, and then you will synthesize by using those details as evidence.
Summarize.
Writing summaries of your sources ensures you comprehend what you have read. You need to understand what is being argued so that you can accurately use them in your own paper. For long or complicated academic articles, summarizing smaller sections keeps everything manageable.
Summarizing should be a regular part of your critical reading and annotating skills.
If you are writing an annotated bibliography, you can use these summaries as part of your annotations.
Analyze.
Summaries explain what is said while an analysis asks how. You will need to explain the methods the author uses to make their argument. How do they organize their work? What kind of evidence is used? When analyzing sources for research you could ask:
1. What is the author arguing? How do they support their argument?
2. What kind of assumptions does the author make about this topic?
3. Who is the audience for this source? What is the purpose?
4. What is the evidence used? Is it effective in supporting the ideas presented?
5. How do the ideas presented relate to my research?
6. What conclusions can I make from examining this source?
Synthesize.
The process of synthesizing takes information from other sources and uses it to support your argument. This means you will use sources to support your claims. To do this, you decide what you want to argue. As you develop and organize your ideas, look for details from your sources that relate to your argument.
According to the University of Illinois Springfield writing resource center, synthesis is an important step in writing your argument because:
- It integrates information from a number of sources. This shows that you have done the necessary research to fully engage with a topic.
- Reading and analyzing multiple sources helps you understand the conversation around your topic. Synthesizing shows you understand the facets of that conversation and can connect those ideas to yours.
- Successful synthesis creates links between your ideas and the sources. This helps you write logically and makes your paper flow.
- Synthesis prevents your argument from looking like a list of copied and pasted sources.
Synthesis is a higher order process in writing—this is the area where you, as a writer, get to shine. It shows your reader you have thoroughly considered your research question and developed it into a logical argument. (link to U of Ill. Writing Resources)
To synthesize for your paper, you:
Read different topic-related sources, take notes, and summarize each source.
1. Look through sources and notes to find key concepts. Look for repeated ideas.
2. Find relationships and draw conclusions about ideas among sources.
3. Take a position on the topic.
4. Organize the concepts to explain and support the claim.
5. Use and incorporate sources as evidence to support ideas.
6. Explain relationships between ideas and sources.
7. Organize the argument into a readable and comprehensible text.
8. Embed sources using an accepted documentation system.
9. Present or publish your argument.
An example of synthesis can be found here: Example of synthesis from OWL at Purdue
Conclusion
Like writing of all kinds, doing research and synthesizing information is a multistep process. Allow yourself plenty of time. Planning ahead is a key step in keeping on track and avoiding panic.
If you get lost or confused, ask someone to help. Colleges usually have a dedicated research librarian who loves to help students with their projects. Tutors in writing centers sit at their desks hoping a student walks in and asks for help. Asking for help is not a weakness; it’s a way to learn.
Works Cited
"Synthesizing Research." The Learning Hub. University of Illinois Springfield, uis.edu, https://www.uis.edu/learning-hub/writing-
resources/handouts/learning-hub/synthesizing-research
"Synthesizing Sources." Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University, purdue.edu,