Synthesis Notes!

The collected wisdom of 2nd and 3rd period 2010!

First Period

Captain Napkin and the Bay City Rollers (Jacob, Stephen, and Robbie)

Do:

• Extrapolate data


• Cite Sources correctly


• Strong voice


• development

Don’t:

• Incorrectly cite sources


• Compare/contrast instead of develop argument


• Simply quote or paraphrase


• oversimplify

"Jerry Jordan's Jelly Jar and Jam Begin That Way" - Theodore Geisel

Josilyn, Jarele, Joe, Joyce

Do’s

• Cite sources correctly and use the appropriate sources that support the argument


• Integrate quotes smoothly


• Stay on topic. Make sure the prompt is answered


• Use the required amount of sources

Dont’s

• Going off topic and answering the wrong prompt


• Analyzing sources  instead of using sources to support your argument


• Plopping sources. Using sources that doesn’t agree with your argument

Strategies

• Think of the paper as an argument paper that uses sources to support the argument


• Answer the prompt.  Before writing the paper, read the prompt and make sure you understand what it is asking

The Knights who say "Ni!"

Whitney Franks, Rachel Knight, Natalie Young, and Dulcerita Acevedo

• Correctly cite three sources and expand to show how it supports your argument


• Match argument with thesis


• Read your essay if you have time


• Use information outside of source (equals more points)


• Take a stance that you can support the best (you don’t need to agree with the side you take)

• Avoid not citing extra information


• Avoid bad  grammar


• Avoid sudden changes! You need to use better transitions


• Avoid letting your counter-argument takeover your argument


• Avoid over simplification with the quote

The Redundantly Elaborate Group

(Trae, Kaitlyn, and Alyssa)

Because our group was incredibly original and unique, we decided to think outside the box. Instead of writing up a redundant but elaborate paragraph, we simplified everything into one simple list.

• Cite Sources


• Weave Quotes


• Avoid Overciting Sources


• Avoid Not Citing Sources


• Analyzing without Arguing, Avoid that


• Use Elaborate Diction and Syntax


• Flow the Argument


• Synthesize quotes, don’t plop them.


• Avoid over-simplification (kudos if you can find the irony in this rule)


• Besides that, argument strategies

The Better Late Than Never Group

Hunter, Navi, Agnes, and Jack.

DO:
1. Cite your sources somewhere in the sentence that you're using them whether by name dropping or afterwards listing the source.
2. Make sure to use at least 3 sources that are given to allow your essay above the score of 4.
3. Stay focused on the topic.

DON'T:
1. Over address the counter argument.
2. Only elude to your sources
3. Oversimplify the source's information
4. Misinterpret the Information given by the sources.

STRATS:
1. Re-read citation sentences to make sure the flow works with your paper.
2. Expand on all information, what may seem obvious to you at the time might be left unanswered otherwise.

Second Period

"It's like I have ESPN or something..."

Adrianna, Haley, and Connor

Do’s: effectively address the prompt, take a position, use right amount of sources, cite sources

Don’ts: don’t repeat, don’t get off topic, don’t contradict yourself unless addressing counterargument, don’t oversimplify, don’t paraphrase

Strategies: make sure argument stays central and sources agree, underline useful things in sources, outline is it makes things more organized and faster, good handwriting

Team Awesome Super Thundercat Viking Warrior Team

Sarah, Lily, Christian, Taylor M.

What do you need to do/ be able to do?

• Answer the prompt and take a position on what your argument will be.


• Support your claim with the provided sources.


• Usage of your own examples or anecdotes arte helpful and give a more personal appeal.


• Cite your sources.


• Stay on track and make sure that the thesis ties into the essay.


• Make sure that it is fluent and smooth, not choppy.

What are the pitfalls you need to avoid?

• Summarizing/ paraphrasing


• Weak thesis


• Plopping quotes


• Not relating to your thesis

What strategies do you suggest for glorious speech?

• Make sure to double check prompt/ directions before and after essay to make sure you have met all of the requirements.


• Break down and organize your argument and make sure thesis supports all of your claims.


• Good handwriting

Helen of Troy and the Super Friends of Attica

Nicole M., Taylor F., Helen, and Cody

Do…

• Use the right amount of sources as directed by the prompt (3 usually)


• Relate sources to the thesis


• Stay on track with your sources


• Enter the conversation of the topic at hand


• Develop a STRONG thesis – Give commentary on sources


• Use sources that relate to thesis


• Use your own examples


• Be fluent, not choppy


• Answer prompt

Don’t…

• Oversimplifying


• Plop quotes


• Use sources that divert from thesis


• Be repetitive


• Go off on tangents


• Forget to cite sources


• Summarize


• Contradict yourself (unless it’s a counter argument)

Strategies…

• Answer the “So what?” question


• Make a call to action and give a relatable solution


• Make your own argument and use the sources to support


• Make sure to double-check the prompt


• Break down and organize your argument and make sure thesis supports all of your claims


• Smooth transitions


• Highlight or underline what you want to use in the sources


• Control language

Nicole and her Ninja Warriors of Alexandria

Alex, Nicole S., Scott, and Britany

DO’S
————-
1. Develop your position, the graders like reading a well developed paper that is going somewhere instead of being a hit and run.
2. Use the correct amount of sources, anything less and you will be DQed AP style, which basically means a score no higher than a 4 I do believe. Along with having the correct NUMBER of sources you also need to know when its appropriate to use one and how to use it so its beneficial to you, none of this sticking the thirty word quoted source in the center of your paragraph business.
3. Your writing should flow as if you are writing with water, yes water, that is the type of fluency thy AP graders desire.
4. Transitions should be silky smooth as well, a rocky transition is distracting, as are spelling issues and grammatical errors.
5. State your position and stick to it like glue, when you’re wishy-washy it makes you sound like you’re BS-ing your way through your paper, and apparently they don’t like that. Sad. I know.

DON’TS
————-
1. Do not contradict yourself in your paper, as said above, stick to you story like you are in deep trouble and have a high paid lawyer.
2. Go off on tangents. While these are fun with friends, the grader is not your friend, they are actually the enemy. The enemy that will demolish you if need be
3. Over simplification is a no-no.
4. Summarize the sources you have, they gave you the sources to use as part of your argument not to summarize like hey yeah, this is their argument and I agree. No. You are using their argument to agree with yours not the other way around.
STRATEGIES
————–
1. Read the directions.
2. Read the directions again.
3. Go through your sources and circle or highlight–or whatever floats your boat– the information that might be useful to you later on in your essay, this way as your writing you don’t have to take the extra time to re find what you wanted to use.

The Jess's of Maddisen Courtney

Maddisen, Courtney, Jesse, Jessica

DO:

• Effectively take a position


• Provide 3 sources and support them


• write with maintained focus


• answer prompt

DON’T:

• simply paraphrase or miss quote sources


• let sources contradict thesis


• go on tangents


• be not insightful


• use no sources or wrong amount

STRATEGIES:

• using own experience and knowledge


• going above and beyond to fully develop point


• control language


• smooth transitions


• manage time