Prewriting Assignments for Descriptive Synthesis:

Activity One:

What are the major points each essay raises regarding the general topic of your synthesis? List at least three major points for each essay.

Activity Two:

Now, look at your listing of nine or so items (approximately three points from each essay). With this disorganized list of topics, you now need to employ some kind of organizational strategy. To help you do this, consider the following questions:

• What will be the major points you will make when you describe the topic to your readers?
• Will you simply list three characteristics of the general topic?
• Will you have subpoints that first describe the positives of the topic and then the negatives of the topic?
• Could you have a few points that establish some problems regarding the topic and then a few points that establish some solutions?

Activity Three:

Whatever content strategy you employ, try to think of at least three subtopics for the broad topic of your descriptive synthesis.  With those subtopics in mind, complete a rough outline that not only lists the subtopics, but some details that will be included in your discussion of each subtopic.

Sample outline:

Topic:  The effects of children's television and film on kids in the 1990s.

I.  Introduction
Open by describing a few examples of children's programs
Introduce how people feel differently on the quality of these shows
Thesis Statement

II.  Subtopic One:  Children's programming often is violent
Essay 1--Argues that violence in such shows causes agression
Essay 2--Produces findings that suggest that children today are more hostile than earlier in the century
Essay 3--Argues that children can distinguish between fantasy violence and real violence

III. Subtopic Two: Children's programming offers poor role models
Essay 1--Relationships in programs often too mature for target audience
Essay 2--Women are often portrayed as silly
Essay 3--Parents in shows are often the bad guys

IV. Subtopic Three: What can be done
Essay 1--Recommends turning off the TV completely
Essay 2--Believes that parents can select appropriate films and shows by watching these with their kids
Essay 3--Agrees with Essay 1 and recommends reading to children

V. Conclusion

Comp 2