What is a synthesis?

What is a synthesis? A synthesis is a document that links information from two different sources from any two periods of times (Jamieson 1). In our situation, we happen to be using two documents from different time periods. These connections show the relationship between the two documents but it is up to us to determine why the relationships are important. A synthesis provides new information, not information you can look up on the internet, so in theory you are creating new knowledge out of knowledge already discovered (Jamieson 3). The first step to making a synthesis is researching information on the two documents. For example I am researching technology, specifically how the computer was made. It was made invented by Charles Babbage and the more recent document I have explains how Steve Jobs advanced computers from Babbage to make personal computers. I am going to be explaining how Babbage and Jobs saw the potential of the computer and wanted to show the world what it was capable of. The most important thing to remember during research is that you only want to have the most important information regarding your topics. You will find a lot of information but you only want what relates your topics together, do not get caught up in merely background information about them. After you research your topics, you then have to create a thesis that explains what your synthesis will be connecting between the two documents. Finally you must decide how you are going to introduce and organize your information into your synthesis, the arguments you are going to use, and how to inform your readers of the relationship between your topics. This is how to make a well organized thesis that makes sense to the readers (Jamieson 6).

Jamieson, Sandra. Resources for Writers: Synthesis. Ed. Rebbeca M. Howard. Drew University, 1999. Web. 6 Oct. 2011. .