AP English

by


 

AP Language

Mrs. Mathew

Unit 3: Synthesis Project

 

You will be creating an AP Exam Synthesis Question. The Synthesis Question gives you several sources and asks you to combine (synthesize) them with your own thoughts to create a cohesive essay. This is the same goal as a research paper.  Your question (prompt) and sources should be formatted, labeled, and presented as on the AP Lang Exam.  This will be modeled after the ones in the sample packets you were given.

 

Source Requirements:

  • 8 sources
  • No sources older than 10 years
  • At least two sources published within the last two years (2020, 2021, 2022)
  • Provide 1-2 sources that are images (political cartoons, graphs, charts, etc.)
  • Sources should demonstrate a range of positions and approaches to the topic. Your goal is to figure out what 2-3 of the main “sides” are in the debate around the issue and represent those sides fairly.

 

Research Resources:

  • Use this link to access academic databases through CPS and Lane.

 

Example topics:

  • Security vs Privacy: Personal Rights
  • Standardized Education Movement
  • Parenting Styles of the 21st Century
  • Why Movements Matter: Voices of the People
  • Technology’s Impact on American Families

 

Project Requirements:

Include, neatly formatted in one document

  • Prompt page with directions, introduction, and assignment
  • 6 sources
  • MLA citation of each source
  • 3 potential thesis statements for this essay
    1. One that is open
    2. One that is closed
    3. One that is a counter argument thesis.
  • Choose one thesis statement, and create an outline of a response to ensure that others can synthesize these sources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most effective Synthesis Prompts give the test-takers a wide variety of sources to consider. These sources are of various types, lengths, and opinions. This diversity allows each test-taker to choose their own individual approach to the assignment while providing them with the tools to adequately synthesize into their paper.

 

You are going to choose EIGHT sources specific to your assigned topic. This will ensure that your group will be providing sources that show the complexity of the issue.

 

Therefore, when choosing your sources, keep several guidelines in mind:

 

  1. Choose sources that cover a variety of viewpoints on your assigned topic, making sure to keep the sides evenly represented.
  2. Choose sources from a wide variety of locations and formats. Use the list below as guidance; it is certainly not all-inclusive. Requirements are in CAPITAL letters. Beyond those required types, you may choose the rest of your sources at your discretion.

 

**ACADEMIC JOURNAL National Newspaper (online or print editions)
Data Online Article (NO WIKIPEDIA)
**EDITORIAL Poll Results
** NEWS WEBSITE Popular Culture Magazine
**IMAGE (graphs, charts, cartoons, photos) Primary Book Source
Essay by an expert Private Web Page or Blog post
Field-Specific Magazine article Published letter from individual
Government Publication Transcript of Interview
Government Website Letter to Editor
Local Newspaper  

 

  1. Consider the validity of your sources. It is ok to have an opinion piece that could obviously be biased but make sure the source is still reliable.

 

  1. Your sources should be a combination of opinion and factual writing. It’s hard to have a conversation with facts so make sure that you’re getting sources that talk about the issue, rather than just defining it or giving background information.
  2. Think outside the box when looking for sources. The most obvious choices are not always the best.

 

  1. Have fun! Creating an assignment like this is challenging but can also be very rewarding and is evidence of high-level thinking skills.

2022 AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION

SECTION II

Total time – 2 hours

 

Question 1

 

You will be creating an AP Synthesis Question Prompt page. This will be modeled after the ones in the sample packets you were given.

 

Your prompt page will have three (3) parts:

 

Directions: The following prompt is based on the accompanying six sources. This question requires you to synthesize a variety of sources into a coherent, well-written essay. Synthesis refers to combining the sources and your position to form a cohesive, supported argument and accurately citing sources. Your argument should be central; the sources should support this argument. Avoid merely summarizing sources.

 

Introduction: This section will serve as an introduction to your topic, since the writer may be unfamiliar with the issue. It should be one to two paragraphs in length. You will want to give background information about your topic. Keep in mind that this introduction goes BEFORE the reader has gotten to the actual PROMPT. Be careful to address each potential side to the issue so you do not introduce bias into your prompt, therefore slanting your audience to one side. You will need to determine what background information is MOST essential to the writer who will view the accompanying sources.

 

Assignment:  Parts of this section may very closely resemble those on sample prompts. Be sure to tell them to read the attached sources and write an essay. Your prompt should require the student to include elements of both exposition (analysis) and argument. You may be asking your writer to propose a potential solution to the problem. You want your writer to offer an opinion or suggestion about something, not just explain the topic.

 

Examples

  1. Exposition (bad): Write an essay in which you examine which issues are involved when making decisions about Space Exploration.
  2. Argument (bad): Write an essay in which you agree or disagree with the necessity of Space Exploration.
  3. Both (good): Develop a position about what issues should be considered most important in making decisions about Space Exploration.

 

  1. Exposition (bad): Write an essay in which you examine the issues related to tension in schools between individuality and conformity.
  2. Argument (bad): Write an essay in which you support, refute, or qualify the notion that schools’ chief goals should be to promote individuality.
  3. Both (good): Write an essay in which you use a chosen issue (dress code, mandatory classes, structure of the school day) to argue the extent to which schools should support individuality or conformity.

 

 

Source A (SOURCE)

Source B (SOURCE)

Source C (SOURCE)

Source D (SOURCE)

Source E (SOURCE)

Source F (SOURCE)

 

Source A

MLA CITATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source B

MLA CITATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source C

MLA CITATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source D

MLA CITATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source E

MLA CITATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source F

MLA CITATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thesis Statement #1:

 

 

Thesis Statement #2:

 

 

Thesis Statement #3:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outline