Professional Documents
Culture Documents
We are writing our own synthesis prompts. You will choose the subject, research the topic, and
choose excerpts that could be used to respond to the prompt (citing them in MLA format!),
and then actually write the essay response! :)
Guidelines:
1. Choose a topic. (I have more examples to share!) Choose a topic that you are interested in, that you have
an opinion about, that you want to write about.
2. RESEARCH! You will have a brief presentation in the library to get you started. Print your sources as you
find things that are useful. Print/create a document for Works Cited as you go - its easier to do this as you
work rather than to go back and find everything again. Trust me.
3. Create a Works Cited page. Make corrections as necessary.
4. Read/study your chosen sources. Take notes on the grids provided. Write an article review for each. (see
guidelines on reverse)
5. Write your actual prompt and format your source excerpts accordingly. You want your official, final packet
to look like an AP synthesis essay.
6. Write your example essay. You should aim for a 5+ score.
Requirements:
1. A total of at least 6 sources for your question. At least 4 should be scholarly articles with an article review.
Your 5th and 6th sources can be cartoons, graphs, excerpts from novels, etc. You dont have to do a
review for those, but you do need to write the MLA citation for them (on the actual article AND a Works
Cited page). (if you choose to use all 6 scholarly articles, you only have to do the full review for 4 of them.
The other two should still include your notes and an MLA citation. A cartoon may not have much in the way
of notes but you can still write a citation for it.)
2. Works Cited - You will have your MLA citation at the top of each review but you also need to create a
Works Cited page. You will go through several drafts with Ms. Lemon. This will greatly benefit you in
college.
3. A prompt. Write your prompt the same way the AP prompts are written. Write introductions for each source.
4. Put everything (your prompt page and the source excerpts) together in one document and print two copies.
So, the first page should be the prompt page and the rest are the parts of each source that you want the
writer to consider when answering the prompt. (the MLA citation at the top, intro info, excerpt)
5. Your answer to the prompt. Preferably typed. Your answer should be pretty good (5+) considering you
chose the topic and the sources!
You will turn all this in (organized neatly in a folder), including the full sources printed
and your notes for them. Stay organized throughout this process and meet deadlines.
Schedule:
Thursday 2/12 - Basics of research presentation - THIS is a VERY important day to be IN CLASS.
Friday 2/13 - DUE: topic choice - discuss with Mrs. Hildreth for approval
Tuesday 2/17 and Wednesday 2/18 - Lab work day! (and a synthesis conversation)
Friday 2/20 - Sources due AND Draft of Works Cited
Monday 2/23 - DUE draft of prompt intro page
Tuesday 2/24 - notes from sources due
Wednesday 2/25 - entire prompt draft due - review with Mrs. Hildreth
Thursday 2/26 - last lab work day - write your sample essays, polish everything. Print 2 copies.
Friday 2/27 - In class - essay presentations. You will turn everything in today... folder with printed
sources, notes, article reviews, AND your prompt packet (2 copies).