Create your own synthesis question

Synthesis project 

Synthesis Rubric 

Sample Final Synthesis Paper 

Post Office Synthesis Intro & Body Paragraph

If you were working with a partner pair - I will give you time on Monday to finish this.

Post office Prompt 

Sample Papers 

Introduction 

• give background to the problem (changing world) 
• role of the post office in your opinion 
• Thesis - should the post office be restructured and if so, how?

    Possible Thesis: While we should remember _______________, it is important to __________(answer to question) and how / why ________ (solutions/ reasons)

Body Paragraph 1 

• Reason 1 
• Evidence to support (Doc A, B, C, etc) 
• Explanation of how / why your suggestion is important (Big ideas: value, unity, economic development) 
• Further evidence to support your point OR evidence that goes against your point (Docs) 
• Explain / Justify your rationale - what does the evidence give individuals / society / business? 
• Conclude - why is your solution essential? 

Sample Body Paragraph 

The world cannot ignore the demands of a changing world and with it our need to advance our communication. It is impossible to maintain the symbol of the post office unless, the USPS is restructured at a technological level. (Reason 1). O'Keefe informs us that 3.8 billion dollars are being lost with the down sizing of mail usage. (Source C) This is a reality that cannot be ignored if we want to preserve the postal system in any sense (Problem / Evidence). Essentially, the post office needs to walk into the modern age and use digital communication to enhance it's services and attract more customers. Perhaps it is time to look beyond email, but broadband service to which would, as Stone argues "define the Postal Service as a communications-delivery service, rather than just a team of letter carriers" (Source A). This is not a merely a replacement, but an expansion of the role of the post office. Source A reminds us that "most people are e-mailing" and we need to maintain the current trend of communication. We can celebrate our advancements by taking a selfie with our local post master! On the other hand, Kevin Cullen gently reminds the public that we do not want to replace the tradition of the letter and the paper (source F), but it is possible to hold onto these relics while reinventing ourselves (businesses) for the modern world. In fact, it is essential. If we want to preserve the historical integrity of the mail system in any fashion, then embracing the current communication trend of the modern world is essential to preserving a respectful and legitimate business in today's world. Yes the postal system is history, but it will be gone if it does not embrace technological developments. 

Post Office synthesis outline

Outline your reasons (3 problems, solutions, explanations of why this is important) see chart below

Organizing for a synthesis paper

Choose a position:

Yes we should restructure Choose 3 problems, solutions, & reasons why

What problems are presented?	What solutions exist? (Evidence that leads you to this) What might complicate the solution? (source)	Why is this important? (What will the solution create, foster, develop, preserve?)
Problem: 3.8 billion dollars is being lost in revenue due to mail volume decreasing	Increase mail volume by expanding services technologically -          Need to expand through e-services (source A) -          Expand does not destroy the post office’s identity, an image we are reminded of in a photo of one of the last individual post office’s (source G) but it does add to it	-          We have to preserve the U.S. -          Foster economy -
Or No – we shouldn’t restructure the post office Explain 3 reasons, justifications, & why
What exists that we want to preserve?	What solutions exist? (Evidence that leads you to this) What might complicate the solution? (source)	Why is this important? (What will the solution create, foster, develop, preserve?)
Preserve: the symbol of the U.S. post office – it represents progress – don’t change it	-          Cullen (Source F) argues we need to keep the “handwritten letter”	-          It gives the organization more value, more important than speed and progress -          It is tradition

Argument Thesis Practice

Choose 7 prompts

Write 7 thesis statements and briefly identify the reason and evidence you would use to support

argument thesis practice 

Due Monday - April 14 on google docs. see assignment for further directions.