Purpose: To understand the complexity and nuance of multiple arguments on the same topic and
create your own argument within a preexisting academic conversation.
Instruction: The essay should be 5-6 full pages (this does not include the required work’s cited
page). Write a synthesis based on two texts that you plan on addressing in your research project.
Ideally, these sources will be chosen from the working bibliography in your research proposal,
though that is not required.
Your job is to formulate a central claim that grows from your reading and interaction with the works
you have chosen. While your paper will (and should) involve some summary, it is very important
that you do not view this as merely a comparison and contrast between sources. This may be a
good way to get started, but the final paper will be argument driven. That argument should guide
the paper throughout and will determine what information (beyond the primary arguments) is
relevant from the two pieces—how does an understanding of the texts similarities and differences
produce an argument? You will avoid inserting any information from outside of the two texts.
When choosing the texts, be sure to pick at least one that provides a theoretical framework with
which to do analysis and interpretive work—something
Sample Solution