Synthesis Across Texts
📖 Learn
Synthesis is one of the most sophisticated reading skills you will develop. Unlike simple comparison, synthesis across texts requires you to integrate ideas from multiple sources to create new understanding, identify patterns, and develop original insights that no single source provides alone.
Definition: Synthesis
Synthesis is the process of combining information from multiple sources to create a new, unified understanding. It involves identifying connections, resolving contradictions, and drawing conclusions that extend beyond what any single source states.
Why Synthesis Matters for College Success
In college, you will rarely be asked to analyze just one text. Research papers, literature reviews, and analytical essays all require you to synthesize multiple perspectives. The SAT and ACT test this skill through paired passages that require you to compare, contrast, and integrate ideas.
The Four Levels of Synthesis
| Level | Description | Example Signal Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Summary | Restating main ideas from each source | states, argues, claims, suggests |
| 2. Comparison | Identifying similarities and differences | similarly, likewise, in contrast, however |
| 3. Integration | Weaving ideas together to show relationships | together, collectively, when combined |
| 4. Transformation | Creating new insights beyond source material | this suggests, taken together, ultimately |
Key Synthesis Strategies
- Identify the conversation: What larger question or debate are the texts responding to?
- Map the positions: Where do authors agree, disagree, or complement each other?
- Find the gaps: What questions remain unanswered when you consider all sources together?
- Build your own argument: Use evidence from multiple sources to support your original thesis.
Tip for SAT/ACT Paired Passages
Always read both passages before answering comparison questions. Look for places where authors use different evidence to support similar claims, or similar evidence to support different claims. These are often the focus of test questions.
💡 Examples
Work through these examples to see synthesis in action. Each example shows how to combine ideas from multiple sources.
Example 1: Synthesizing Agreement
Source A: "Social media has transformed how teenagers communicate, leading to shorter attention spans and preference for visual content."
Source B: "Digital platforms have reshaped youth communication patterns, with studies showing increased reliance on images and decreased tolerance for long-form text."
Example 2: Synthesizing Disagreement
Source A: "Standardized testing provides objective measures of student achievement that allow fair comparisons across schools and districts."
Source B: "Standardized tests measure test-taking ability more than actual knowledge, systematically disadvantaging students from lower-income backgrounds."
Example 3: Synthesizing Complementary Information
Source A: "Climate change has caused average global temperatures to rise 1.1°C since pre-industrial times, with accelerating ice melt in polar regions."
Source B: "Coastal communities worldwide are experiencing unprecedented flooding, with sea levels rising faster than historical models predicted."
Example 4: Synthesizing Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Source A (1963): "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." - MLK Jr.
Source B (2020): "Racial wealth gaps have persisted for generations, with the median white family holding eight times the wealth of the median Black family."
Example 5: Synthesizing to Identify Gaps
Source A: "Meditation has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in adults, with MRI studies revealing changes in brain structure after eight weeks of practice."
Source B: "Mindfulness programs in schools have shown promising results for improving student focus and reducing behavioral issues."
✏️ Practice
Read the paired passages and answer the multiple-choice questions that follow.
Passage Set: The Future of Work
Passage 1: Automation and artificial intelligence will eliminate millions of jobs over the next two decades. A recent study predicts that 47% of current jobs are at high risk of automation. Unlike previous technological revolutions, this change will affect white-collar workers as much as blue-collar workers, displacing lawyers, accountants, and even doctors. Without massive retraining programs and social safety nets, we face unprecedented unemployment and social unrest.
Passage 2: Predictions about technology-driven unemployment have proven wrong throughout history. The industrial revolution, computerization, and the internet all sparked fears of mass joblessness that never materialized. Instead, technology consistently creates more jobs than it destroys. While specific jobs will certainly change, human adaptability and the economy's ability to generate new forms of work remain robust. Policymakers should focus on education and flexibility rather than fear-based protectionism.
1. Which statement best describes the relationship between the two passages?
A) Passage 1 provides evidence that Passage 2 then refutes
B) Both passages agree on the problem but propose different solutions
C) Passage 1 expresses concern that Passage 2 considers unfounded
D) Passage 2 provides historical context that supports Passage 1's conclusions
2. How would the author of Passage 2 most likely respond to the statistic cited in Passage 1?
A) By questioning the methodology of the study
B) By arguing that past predictions about job loss have been unreliable
C) By proposing government intervention to prevent job losses
D) By acknowledging the accuracy of the prediction while minimizing its importance
3. On which point would the authors of both passages most likely agree?
A) Technology will significantly change the nature of work
B) Government intervention is necessary to address employment changes
C) White-collar workers are at greater risk than blue-collar workers
D) Historical patterns accurately predict future employment trends
4. The author of Passage 1 would most likely criticize Passage 2 for:
A) Relying too heavily on statistical evidence
B) Underestimating how current technology differs from past innovations
C) Failing to acknowledge any benefits of automation
D) Overestimating the government's role in the economy
5. Which statement represents a valid synthesis of both passages?
A) Automation will definitely cause mass unemployment unless governments intervene
B) Historical optimism and current predictions both deserve consideration when planning for technological change
C) Technology has always improved employment outcomes and will continue to do so
D) Neither passage provides useful insight into future employment trends
6. Based on both passages, which policy approach would address concerns from both authors?
A) Banning automation in industries with high employment
B) Investing in education and retraining while monitoring employment trends
C) Implementing universal basic income immediately
D) Allowing market forces to determine outcomes without intervention
7. The phrase "fear-based protectionism" in Passage 2 most directly challenges which aspect of Passage 1?
A) The statistical claims about job losses
B) The urgency and alarm in the passage's tone
C) The focus on white-collar workers
D) The call for retraining programs
8. What key evidence does Passage 1 offer that Passage 2 does not directly address?
A) The timeline of predicted changes
B) The impact on professional workers specifically
C) The role of government policy
D) International comparisons of automation
9. A researcher writing about automation and employment should cite both passages because:
A) They provide identical information from different perspectives
B) Together they represent the full range of expert opinion
C) They demonstrate that prediction about technology is impossible
D) They present competing frameworks for understanding technological change
10. The synthesis of these passages suggests that responsible policymaking requires:
A) Choosing between optimistic and pessimistic predictions
B) Ignoring historical patterns in favor of current data
C) Balancing preparation for disruption with openness to opportunity
D) Waiting until outcomes become clear before taking action
View Answer Key
1. C - Passage 1 expresses alarm about automation; Passage 2 argues such concerns are historically unfounded.
2. B - Passage 2's core argument is that past predictions of technological unemployment have been wrong.
3. A - Both passages acknowledge technology will change work, though they differ on outcomes.
4. B - Passage 1 argues this technological change is different from past revolutions (affecting white-collar workers).
5. B - This synthesis acknowledges both perspectives without dismissing either.
6. B - Both authors support education/flexibility; this addresses Passage 1's concerns while aligning with Passage 2's approach.
7. B - "Fear-based protectionism" criticizes the alarmist tone of warnings like those in Passage 1.
8. B - Passage 1 specifically mentions lawyers, accountants, and doctors; Passage 2 speaks generally.
9. D - The passages offer different analytical frameworks, not just different opinions.
10. C - The synthesis of both views suggests preparing for potential problems while remaining adaptable.
✅ Check Your Understanding
Reflect on these conceptual questions to deepen your understanding of synthesis.
1. How is synthesis different from simple comparison?
View Response
Comparison identifies similarities and differences between texts, keeping each source separate. Synthesis goes further by integrating ideas to create new understanding. While comparison might note that "Author A says X and Author B says Y," synthesis would explain how X and Y together reveal something neither author stated alone—perhaps a larger pattern, a gap in current knowledge, or a more nuanced position.
2. Why might two sources that disagree still be useful to synthesize together?
View Response
Disagreeing sources often reveal the complexity of an issue better than agreeing sources. They help identify the key points of contention, the values at stake, and the evidence that each side finds most compelling. Synthesizing disagreement also helps you develop a more nuanced position that acknowledges multiple perspectives, which is essential for sophisticated academic writing.
3. What questions should you ask yourself when trying to synthesize multiple texts?
View Response
Key questions include: What larger conversation or debate are these texts participating in? Where do they agree, and what does their agreement establish? Where do they disagree, and what does that disagreement reveal about the complexity of the issue? What does each source contribute that the other lacks? What questions remain unanswered even after considering all sources? How can I use these sources together to support my own original argument?
4. How does synthesis help you become a better writer, not just a better reader?
View Response
Synthesis is the foundation of research-based writing. When you synthesize effectively, you move beyond summarizing what others have said to entering the scholarly conversation yourself. You learn to position your ideas in relation to existing work, use multiple sources as evidence for your own claims, and develop arguments that are both well-supported and original. This skill is essential for college essays, research papers, and professional writing.
🚀 Next Steps
- Review any concepts that felt challenging
- Move on to the next lesson when ready
- Return to practice problems periodically for review