Synthesis or Argument: Research Essay >> on laws that mandate discriminatory practices

Order Description

The Paper: : Explanatory Synthesis or argumentation

Find an article that discusses Jim Crow or other laws that mandate discriminatory practices–either toward oppressed nationalities (Blacks, Mexicans, etc.) or others: race, gender, origin, etc.
I’m thinking we could choose either gender or origin.

Minimum number of sources: 8–at least 4 must be from library database.

I’m assuming the outline will get done first. Please send the outline to me as soon as it gets finished.

The Assignment
Find an article that discusses Jim Crow or other laws that mandate discriminatory practices–either toward oppressed nationalities (Blacks, Mexicans, etc.) or others: race, gender, origin, etc. Conduct your research in the School’s Library database (or any other library)–not through Google.

Essay #2 Assignment Description Only
The Paper: Explanatory Synthesis or argumentation – Topic of your choice

You may use any/all assignments, forums, readings, and videos as your sources. Minimum number of sources: 8–at least 4 must be from library database.

Key Features of a Synthesis

Whenever you report to a friend the things several other friends have said about a film or CD you engage in synthesis.  People synthesize information naturally to help other see the connections between things they learn. Synthesizing sources is a matter of pulling them together into some kind of harmony.  Synthesis searches for links between materials for the purpose of constructing a thesis or theory.

(1) It accurately reports information from the sources using different phrases and sentences;
(2) It is organized in such a way that readers can immediately see where the information from the sources overlap;
(3) It makes sense of the sources and helps the reader understand them in greater depth.

In the process of writing your synthesis paper, you will explore the sources in a new way and become an expert on the topic.

Writing the Synthesis Essay

The introduction (usually one paragraph)
1.    Contains a one-sentence statement that sums up the focus of your synthesis.
2.    Also introduces the texts to be synthesized:. You may:
(i)  Give the title of each source (following the citation guidelines of whatever style
sheet you are using);
(ii)  Provide the name of each author;
(ii)  Sometimes also provide pertinent background information about the authors,
about the texts to be summarized, or about the general topic from which the
texts are drawn.

The body of a synthesis essay
This should be organized by theme, point, similarity, or aspect of the topic.
Be sure that each paragraph:
1.     Begins with a sentence or phrase that informs readers of the topic of the paragraph;
2.     Includes information from more than one source;
3.     Clearly indicates which material comes from which source using lead in phrases and
in-text citations.  [Beware of plagiarism:  Accidental plagiarism most often occurs
when students are synthesizing sources and do not indicate where the synthesis
ends and their own comments begin or vice verse.]
4.    Shows the similarities or differences between the different sources in ways that make
the paper as informative as possible;
5.    Represents the texts fairly–even if that seems to weaken the paper! Look upon
yourself as a synthesizing machine;  you are simply repeating what the source says,
in fewer words and in your own words.  But the fact that you are using your own
words does not mean that you are in anyway changing what the source says.