Purpose
To help you organize your sources, find patterns among the sources, and develop fresh ideas to join in the conversation with your sources. The best method to do this challenging work is to use a tool, such as a synthesis grid Download synthesis gridor post-it notes on a large board Download post-it notes on a large board.
Task
Carefully reread all four sources from one of the two packets [either the artificial intelligence packet or the food packet].
As you reread, analyze and annotate all four of the required sources to identify areas that you find interesting
Use either a blank synthesis grid template Download blank synthesis grid templateor post-it notes on a large board to find patterns among the sources, then write out specific quotes from the sources [note: you are looking for the sources to discuss similar ideas; the sources may or may not agree with each other, that does not matter. What does matter is that you find areas of common ideas among the sources]
Be sure to use direct quotes with page numbers [if the source has them] for each entry in the grid or on a post-it. By doing this step, you will save time later when you write your paper because you won’t have to return to the original source to use a quote or paraphrase
Once you’ve identified patterns and have mapped them on a grid or a large board, then critically think about how you can contribute a fresh idea to each set of patterns in order for you to join in the ongoing conversations with the sources
Finally, when you’ve developed your fresh ideas among the different pattern sets that you’ve mapped out, take all your ideas and think about an overarching idea that includes them all. This overarching idea will become your main idea or working thesis for your paper.
Criteria
When I review your tool to offer feedback, I’ll be looking for three things:
clear patterns that you’ve identified among the sources
fresh ideas that you have developed for each of the pattern sets which allow you to add a different and relevant perspective to the ongoing conversation among the sources
an overarching idea [working thesis] developed from the fresh ideas in your pattern sets
