English

• Synthesis


  Combining multiple sources and ideas to form a whole
• Synthesis


  • Involves looking for similarities and differences between sources
  • Goes beyond summarizing ideas from various sources
• Synthesis


  Differs from summarizing in that it combines information from multiple sources and adds the writer's own analysis and ideas
• Types of synthesis


  • New understanding
  • Deeper understanding
  • Changed understanding
• Strategies for synthesizing

  1. Rest method: Read, Edit notes, Synthesize, Think

  2. Add method: Add what student knows, what student learned from reading, what student learned from discussion
• The add method is like a stoplight - red light is what the student already knows, yellow light is processing new facts during reading, green light is discussion with peers
• Venn diagrams can be used to record facts about two topics and identify overlapping ideas, but they only work well for simple comparisons
• Grammatical signals and expressions


  Writing devices that serve to maintain text coherence, signal the relationship between new sentences and the one before it, and are important writing devices in text construction
• Idea development


  The manner or pattern by which a writer or speaker explains their main idea about a topic in a paragraph or paragraphs
• Patterns of idea development/organization

  • General to particular
  • Claim and counter claim
  • Problem solution
  • Cause and effect
• General to particular


  • Starts with a broad or big idea and follows it with specific or small ideas in support
  • Also called deductive method
• Claim


  A statement or declaration of belief, stance or opinion that is arguable and used to support or prove an argument
• Counter claim


  An idea that opposes or is against a claim, a statement that provides data to explain why and/or how a claim is valid
• Reasons and evidence


  Important in claim-counter claim pattern as they support and explain the validity of an argument
• Signal words/verbs for counter claims


  • Argue, refute, disagree, oppose, contradict, however, but, in contrast, otherwise, notwithstanding, in opposition, nevertheless, on the other hand, on the contrary, although, even though, while, it may be true, still, others may say that, but it is often thought, supposed, imagined, it's easy to think, but when you look at the facts
• Transitions to show evidence


  • According to, evidence shows, the work of [blank] indicates, the study reveals, based on the evidence or data, the author claims
• Problem and solution


  The text presents a significant problem and explains it in detail, then suggests a possible solution
• Grammatical signals for problem and solution


  • Answer, challenge, need, difficulty, dilemma, enigma, improve, indicate, issue, plan, a need, problem, propose, remedy, resolve, respond to, solve, suggest
• Cause and effect


  Describes or discusses an event or action that is caused by another event or action, may have a single cause and effect or several causes with several effects
• Grammatical signals for causes


  • Because, causes, creates, due to, for this reason, if this then leads to, on account of, produces, since
• Grammatical signals for effects


  • As a result, consequently, hence, in effect, resulting, since, therefore
• research papers an outline may help you keep track or large amount of information.
• Creative writing

  outline may help organize the various plot threads and help keep track of character traits.
• Journalist

  a person who works in journalism to report the news
• Journalistic Writing


  Used to report news stories

  • internet
  • radio
  • Television broadcast
  • newspaper
• Characteristic of Journalistic Writing

  1. Simplicity and Brevity
  2. Precision
  3. Objectivity and Factual
  4. Fairness and Balance
  5. Inverted Pyramid
• Primary sources

  provide immediate, first-hand accounts of a topic of evidence that originally and directly comes from the main source of information
• secondary sources

  are one step removed from primary sources, though they often quote or otherwise use primary sources. They can cover the same topic, but add a layer of interpretation and analysis.
• New Understanding

  something a reader has not considered before until reading the text.
• Deeper Understanding

  becoming more aware or appreciative of an idea after reading the text.
• Changed Understanding

  thinking differently because of the text
• Summary

  share the key points from an individual source and then move on and summarize another source
• Summary leads to synthesis but synthesis is not a summary
• News Report


  A report of current events that tells readers what is happening here and abroad
• Opinion Article


  Tells the writer's opinion about a topic, tries to influence public opinion, suggests solutions to present problems
• Feature Article


  A detailed report of a topic of interest, published in newspapers and magazines
• Sports News Article


  A form of writing that reports on matters pertaining to sporting topics and competitions, typically covering information on highlights of the game, athletes, persons or teams involved, the type of sport, and scores or final outcomes of the game
• Sports News Articles aim to show the drama and excitement of the actual game to the readers
• Feature Articles are reports about a certain topic, issue, person or event with more background and in-depth details, often recapping major news that was reported in the previous news cycle, containing elements of news but with the main function to humanize, add color, educate, entertain and illuminate
• Front loading


  A concept used when drafting reports to ensure that all the key information are included to prevent the readers to lose their interest in reading the article