Mrs. W. Scruggs’s Research Project for Synthesis EssayAP English Language and Composition

Researched Synthesis Project (Research Paper)

Introduction to our project: Since 2007, the AP Language and Composition Exam has required that students

demonstrate an understanding of and ability to apply research and synthesis skills by writing a synthesis essay. This is an essay in which you establish YOUR OPINION BASED ON AVAILABLE RESEARCH on a controversial topic. You will make an original claim and enter into a “conversation” with researched sources. Rather than teaching the research paper and synthesis essay separately, I think if you understand how to engage in the research process, then synthesize the sources you find, then write the paper, you should have a much better understanding of this essay on the AP Exam.

Task: You will research a controversial topic, then using the template provide you will create a

full synthesis prompt on your topic. You will provide the sources with citations, and all will be electronically submitted in the proper format. You will then write your paper based on your prompt. The essay response itself must cite at least three of your sources and be three to five pages typed double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman. All of components will be uploaded into Googledocs and shared with me at jbhsjollyroger@gmail.com.

What to do:1. Pick your topic. You may use one of the ones on the list, or you may propose your own.

If it is not on my list, you must have my approval before proceeding.2. Submit your topic idea to the blog by _March 15, 2013 end of class.3. Find 7 sources, one of which must be a visual such as a pie chart, photograph, or editorial

cartoon that reflects various opinions or information on the topic. All of the sources must not represent one side of the issue. Both sides of an issue must be reflected in your sources and you should have a balanced number of each. All sources may be electronic, but they may not be search engines, personal blogs/wikis/social media, and must be from a .gov, .edu., or .org site unless it’s the website of a newspaper or scholarly journal.

4. You must submit each of your sources with MLA heading exactly like a real AP Exam source as provided in the sample. All 7 sources must be on one word document, but each source should be on its own page. You will upload these into googledocs and then share with jbhsjollyroger@gmail.com by _March 19, 2013 11:59 p.m.

5. You will write and post to the blog an AP-format synthesis prompt (following the template) for your topic with sources listed by __March 21, 2013.

6. You will then post in the blog your rough draft in response to your prompt by March 24, 2013 @ 11:59 p.m.__

7. After commenting on two peers’ working drafts and receiving feedback on yours. You will write your final draft of your essay in MLA format. After peer editing, you will upload into googledocs and share with jbhsjollyroger@gmail.com your final paper, prompt, sources, and all required elements by March 28, 2013 @ 11. 59 p.m.

Use this prompt template!!AP English Language and Composition

Reading Time: 15 minutesSuggested Writing Time: 40 minutes

[Introduce your topic and frame your discourse. Clearly explain the issue, define any key terms, provide any pertinent background information, and invite discussion on all sides of the issue. This section should be one or two paragraphs in length, depending on your topic.]

Carefully read the following seven sources, including the introductory information for each source. Then synthesize information from all of the sources (only for our research project: 3 minimum on regular synthesis essay) and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies the claim that [insert your claim here] Or that develops a position on the most important considerations [insert the organization here] face when developing [insert “what” and “what for” here].

Make sure that your argument is central; use the sources to illustrate and support your reasoning. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. You may cite the sources as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the descriptions in parentheses.

Source A (Author’s last name)Source B (Author’s last name)Source C (Author’s last name)Source D (Author’s last name)Source E (cartoon or image)Source F (Author’s last name)Source G (Author’s last name)

From: http://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/NR/rdonlyres/FAE5E37A-3C02-442A-9D48-61BF2FF5796C/0/SynthesisPromptTemplate.doc

Use this template for each source. Make sure you have the MLA citation of the source at the top, then include the article, etc. below.

Source A

Author (last name, first name). “Title of Article.” Name of Site. Date of Posting/Revision. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sometimes found in copyright statements). <electronic address>

[A sentence or two in italics introducing the source material]

[Paste selected source content here]

Possible Topics for Contemporary Issues Project 1. Terrorism 2. Global Warming 3. Obesity in America 4. Education 5. Reality Shows 6. Animal Rights 7. Stem Cell Research 8. Driving Safety and technology 9. Immigration 10. Advertising and Body Image 11. National Health Insurance 12. Privacy 13. Art & Music 14. Social Security and Retirement 15. Illiteracy 16. Slave Trade 17. Cosmetic Surgery 18. Suburban Poverty 19. Appearance Bias 20. Comedy: Too Funny or Too Far? 21. Corporal Punishment in the Home 22. Virtual Government 23. Nature vs Nuture 24. Cheating 25. Alternative Fuel Sources 26. Video Game Violence 27. Youtube & Copyright 28. Organic Food / Food Sources 29. Pluto 30. Accepted Roles in Mainstream America 31. Technology 32. Darfur 33. HPV Vaccine 34. Autism 35. Veterans Affairs

MLA Documentation for Books A book by one author Last name, First name of author. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published. A book by two or three authors Last name, First name of first author, and First name and last name of second author. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published. Last name, First name of first author, First name and last name of second author, and First name and last name of third author. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published. A book by three or more authors Last name, First name of one author, et al. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published. A book with an anonymous author The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published. A book with one editor Abbreviation for editor Last name, First name of editor, ed. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published. A book with an author and an editor Last name, First name of author. The Title of the Book Underlined. Ed. First and last name of editor. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published. An anthology or compilation (a book with several works) Last name, First name of editor, ed. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published. A work in an anthology Last name, First name of author. “Title of work in quotes.” Title of Anthology Underlined. Ed. First and last name of editor. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published. Page numbers without p. or pg. MLA Documentation for Articles An article in a reference book (encyclopedia) with an author at the end of article Last name, First name of author. “Title of Article in Quotes exactly as you looked it up.” The Title of Reference Book Underlined. Volume or edition like 1999 ed. or vol. 3. An article in a reference book (encyclopedia) without an author at the end of article “Title of Article in Quotes exactly as you looked it up.” The Title of Reference Book Underlined. Volume or edition like 1999 ed. or vol. 3. Year published. 7

An article from a Monthly or Bimonthly Periodical (Magazine) Last name, First name of author. “Title of Article in Quotes.” Title of the Periodical Underlined. Month abbreviated. (Date of periodical written like this 15 Oct 2003): Page numbers without p. or pg. A signed article from a daily newspaper Last name, First name of author. “Title of Article in Quotes.” Title of Newspaper Underlined. Date of newspaper written like 15 Oct. 2003/newspaper edition: Page numbers without p. or pg. MLA Documentation for KISD Online Databases ABC-CLIO American Government, American History, Ancient History, World Geography, and World History “California Gold Rush, 1849.” American History. ABC-CLIO. 2 Feb. 2004 <http://www.americanhistory.abcclio.com>. Bloom’s Literary Reference Online Brackett, Virginia. "The Abbott." Facts On File Companion to the British Novel: Beginnings through the 19th Century, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. 16 Mar. 2007 <http://www.fofweb.com>. Britannica Online “Psychoneurosis.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 16 Jan. 2004 <http://school.eb.com>. Gale Group - Book “William Shakespeare.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. 17 vols. Biography Resource Center. Gale Group. 24 Feb. 2004 <http://galenet.galegroup.com>. Gale Group – Magazine or Periodical Gates, Anita. “Gone with the Wind.” New York Times. 5 Jul. 1998. p54. Expanded Academic. Gale Group. 16. Jan 2004 <http://galenet.galegroup.com>. Grolier Online “Newton, Sir Issac (1642-1727).” The New Book of Popular Science. 2003. Grolier Online. 16 Feb. 2004 <http://go.grolier.com/>. Magill On Literature “John Steinbeck.” Magill On Literature. 16 Jan. 2004 <http://web.ebscohost.com>. SIRS Tuttleton, James W. “Steinbeck Remembered.” New Criterion. Mar. 1995. 22-28. SIRS Renaissance. 16 Jan. 2004 <http://www.sirs.com>. World Book Online Reference Center Perkins, Barbara M. "Steinbeck, John." World Book Online Reference Center. 2008. 7 Jan. 2008 <http://www.worldbookonline.com>. 8