WRT 205, Sect. 270, Spring 2008, Syracuse University

Fourth graded assignment

Research synthesis

In many social science and natural science disciplines, research syntheses are an important tool. In some cases, new findings emerge from synthesizing research that others have done. (If you're curious about that, you can find an example here and here.) More commonly, research syntheses are a way of encapsulating what is already known about a topic. Also, reports of new research in the sciences and social sciences typically begin with a literature review, which is a type of research synthesis.

Assignment: Write a synthesis of the useful sources that you have read for your research project. You may include sources from your preliminary bibliography or annotated bibliography.

Features of the research synthesis:

1. Title
2. Introduction that includes a thesis. The introduction and thesis should relate what you are reading to what questions you are asking. Especially in the introduction but throughout the paper, it should be clear why you have read these sources and how they will help you answer your questions.
3. Body: Topical review of your sources--not a source-by-source series of summaries. The review of sources will necessarily summarize them (so that others know what they're saying), but this summary should be integrated into your review of major points made by your sources. Some good instructional sites:
   --"The Literature Review: A Few Tips on Conducting It"
   --"Literature Reviews"
   I've also bookmarked some sample research syntheses that you can browse. These are websites, not essays, and their documentation is not in MLA style. Nevertheless, they do a good job of integrating sources topically rather than summarizing them one by one. Notice that these sample syntheses are very "science-y." Your essay, on the other hand, should read continuously as an essay, rather than as separable chunks. You may, nevertheless, find it helpful to use headings and subheadings.
   Whenever you paraphrase, summarize, refer to, or quote from a source, use MLA parenthetical references to cite the source (handbook pp. 193-200).
4. Conclusion: Significance of the research synthesis; further research needed.
5. Works Cited. Use MLA style (handbook pp. 201-234). If you are using sources that I don't have access to, e.g., sources obtained through private-subscription databases, please send PDFs of the sources when you send your paper.
   

Feel free to email or IM me while you're working on this or any assignment. I try to answer IM messages immediately and email eithin 24 hours.

Length: 1500-3000 words, which would come to 6-10 double-spaced pages. Since you're submitting this document electronically, you can single-space the pages, though. Just do a word count to be sure you're within the limits.

Manuscript preparation: Follow the specifications here.

Due date: The first draft is due in hard copy in your conference in the week of March 17; the final draft through electronic submission on March 27.

Grading: As I grade the final draft, my primary concerns will be whether you have followed the directions above. Your research synthesis should be a coherent essay that focuses on the sources themselves, but in the context of your research questions. I expect precise MLA citation style. If you are using a program such as EasyBib or RefWorks, you'll need to verify that your citations are completely accurate in their format, layout, and the like. Editing matters; so does the manuscript presentation. If you do the assignment as requested and hand it in on time, you'll get a "C." If you do it well, you'll get a "B." If you do it exceptionally well, you'll get an "A." This assignment counts as 25% of your final course grade.