Seeing the Conversation

More than Just Two Sides

There are over 5 billion people using the Internet worldwide. It’s unlikely that all of those people share the exact same view, or even one of two views. Comment sections, online communities, and other digital spaces are rife with different thoughts, opinions, and experiences that shape diverse perspectives on a single topic.

Encountering different points of view allows us to see how different lives are impacted by a single topic. For example, climate change can impact people differently based on where they live: someone living in the American southwest may have different concerns regarding climate change than someone living in the Arctic Circle.

Synthesis

Synthesis is a more formal way of establishing a conversation among different sources on a specific topic. When we synthesize a text, we look for where the sources agree on a topic, disagree, build upon one another, and pose questions that the others may answer.

Academic writing commonly asks writers to synthesize diverse sources on a topic. This does a few things: first, it lets the reader know you’ve done your research and are knowledgeable on the topic; second, it can help establish the context of your research question or argument (who/what are you responding to?); third, it sets the stage for you to enter the conversation.

Strategies for Synthesizing

An effective synthesis includes the following elements:

• A clear summary or paraphrase of sources you plan to synthesize
• A term or phrase that illustrates the connection you see among those sources
• A follow-up that emphasizes the significance of the connection you discussed and its relevance to your research question or thesis statement

Language for Agreement

Like with any other conversation, academic writing often shows agreement among writers and researchers.

Examples

The use of AI in the K12 classroom has sparked a dynamic debate among educators. A recent report from the American Psychological Association (2025) indicates that AI can be a helpful tool for teachers completing more mundane tasks. Similarly, researchers from the Rand Institute (2025) found that a sample of surveyed educators found that the use of AI allowed for more efficient lesson planning.

Concerns have been raised about the consequences algorithms can have on various communities in the United States. Frank Pasquale (2015) warns that the “black boxed” nature of algorithms pose a threat to both working and middle class Americans; Virginia Eubanks (2019) agrees, stressing that algorithms have the capability of keeping the working poor financially disenfranchised.

Language for Disagreement

Disagreement is usually the easiest to identify since it asks us to identify clear differences. Keep in mind that disagreements don’t always mean that perspectives are complete opposites, rather, a disagreement can be subtle.

Examples

The New Jersey Institute of Technology suggests that remote work can be advantageous because it invites a larger applicant pool for job openings. Conversely, Amanda Stevens (2021) warns that remote work can result in employees feeling greater isolation from their colleagues.

Saying Why It Matters

Closing out your synthesis effectively asks you as the writer to say why the instances of agreement, disagreement, and/or extension is important for understanding the topic and to clearly indicate how those areas give you space to voice your own ideas.

Agreement

The use of AI in the K12 classroom has sparked a dynamic debate among educators. A recent report from the American Psychological Association (2025) indicates that AI can be a helpful tool for teachers completing more mundane tasks. Similarly, researchers from the Rand Institute (2025) found that a sample of surveyed educators found that the use of AI allowed for more efficient lesson planning. This highlights the benefits AI can have in education as it can potentially provide educators more time for assessment and student engagement. 

Disagreement

The New Jersey Institute of Technology suggests that remote work can be advantageous because it invites a larger applicant pool for job openings. Conversely, Amanda Stevens (2021) warns that remote work can result in employees feeling greater isolation from their colleagues. The disconnect here suggests that while more individuals may have the ability to apply for more jobs, the jobs themselves may lead to preventable disconnect among employees.

More on Synthesis

• Synthesis and Literature Reviews by Emilie Zickel
• Phrases That Begin the Work of Synthesis by Melanie Gagich
• Synthesizing Sources from the Purdue Owl