Synthesis Essay Examples & Guide

The argumentative essay may have given a great introduction into the world of coming up with a great structure and content to convince others about an idea or an opinion. However, the next step is all about coming up with a great synthesis essay examples. Even though it may seem quite intimidating at first, there are several ways to come up with a great essay in this category.

Synthesis Essay Explanation

Before jumping into a synthesis essay, it is important to know about this type of content. In many ways, it is similar to an argumentative essay but the biggest difference crops up with regard to the availability of sources to reinforce an argument. In the case of a synthesis essay, it is provided by the instructor. As a result, it can appear to be a little easier but it comes with its own challenges. The primary requirement of a synthesis essay is to come up with a robust position while also going in-depth to look at the various relationship that exists between sources.

Structure and Things to Remember in Synthesis Essay

Every examples of synthesis essay should follow a structure in order to convey the message in the most efficient manner. Just as with every other content, the example leads to begin with an introduction. The introduction should not be more than a single statement and it should provide a summary of the synthesis.

The body of the essay needs to be organised by points, similarities, theme, or the topic. This organisation has to be done based on the patterns that may appear in the content. Once again, the body of the essay should begin with information about the paragraph’s topic. It is essential that contents from more than a single source are used. If there are differences between sources, it is recommended that the paper shows information about the differences or similarities in an informative manner. The body should also come with content that is fair, as a biased content can significantly weaken any synthesis essay example.

Once the paper has been completed, the conclusion gives the final touches by providing suggestions or further comments. If the writer is preparing a background synthesis, it is recommended to come with an interpretation of the position. Now, the paper is ready for proofreading and a final polishing.

Examples of Synthesis Essay

The various sections of the synthesis essay need to be carried over in the best possible manner and it is best explained through synthesis essay examples. For this purpose, we would be taking two examples – ‘How does a Small Shop Survive in this Global-Era?’ and ‘Do Adults Feel Threatened by Teenagers?’.

Synthesis Essay Example #1

How does a Small Shop Survive in this Global-Era?

Globalisation has resulted in a growing number of smaller shops paving way for mega shopping destinations. Walmart is one of the fine examples, as their existence has resulted in many small shops going out of business. However, is this really the truth?

Walmart had just over 2500 stores in 1994 and it was expected to do a business of around $ 67 billion. Today, the number has swelled to more than 5000 just in the United States alone with a furthermore available around the world. The main argument in favour of Walmart is that it provides employment to a large number of people, while the small and medium towns also benefit from a reduced number of trips to the local shop. As a result, there has been a tremendous welcome towards such supermarkets in general.

The majority of the concerns directed at Walmart or similar stores have been largely focused on one aspect – change of existing retail structure. The protesters clearly do not like the change happening and this has resulted in growing action against the mega super stores around the world. Yet, they continue to grow at a rapid pace. The change brought about by such super stores is largely focused on bringing huge consumerism tendency, homogenising the identity of the community, and landscape paving.

Over the years, it has been seen that the huge superstores generate an additional $1.7 million each year compared to the aggregate managed by a local store. Even though this may seem like a substantial sum of money, it needs to be pointed out that the money spent at a local store remains within the town and manages to go around a number of times. However, the money spent at a Walmart is directed straight to the headquarters. This comes at a huge cost for a Walmart store located in a developing nation like India. This results in lower mortgage levels at the local bank and fewer circulation of money as a direct result.

Walmart may directly create around 250 jobs for every new store, but it is estimated that the net outcome from a net outcome from a Walmart store will be only around eight jobs considering the losses in other industries. Furthermore, these jobs are not a direct equivalent since there is a good possibility of a local storeowner becoming a manager at Walmart – they have effectively made a transition from being an employer to an employee. In such a perspective, it appears that the big supermarkets are actually stripping the local community and taking away the economy and culture.

Despite such points being thrown up against Walmart, it does not help make a substantial difference since the protests have come a little too late. The mindset of people has changed in such a way that preferences being given to big supermarkets, which is able to offer a much more competitive price. People are simply not going to switch back to a local store and do away with the convenience of travelling less in order to shop at Walmart.

It is high time that advocates of local businesses – and the businesses themselves – start changing the model to adapt to the new set of requirements. It should be remembered that such businesses cannot directly compete with the big superstores and they need to find a way to fit into the scale. The alternative way of going about the business is effective when it comes to surviving against the mega stores. As is always the case, it is about the survival of the fittest. Those who are unable to adapt to the change will be able to survive, while those relying on the outdated systems will end up going extinct.

One of the few ways in which local businesses can thrive is by learning about the requirements of the community and focusing on such areas. It is highly unlikely that big supermarkets will be able to meet the demands in the almost every section or some sections may not be serviced adequately. In such aspects, there is a significant scope for growth. One of the effective ways of protesting against the giants of corporate is by clinging on to the business even amidst extension. Then, the blind ways of the corporate will change and may focus on the community.

There are cases where local businesses criticise the people who decide to buy at big supermarkets. It is seen that such people are not focusing on improving the small-town life. However, they are just going with big supermarkets who are much more efficient at providing small merchandise to the public. This happens to be capitalism at its most simple form. As a result, it is difficult to fight against such big corporate and come out successful. People today are accustomed to the comfort that they receive while shopping across supermarket chains, which have a familiar feeling at all locations. Furthermore, the advertising budgets of such supermarkets are also several fold higher than a local business.

Hence, the future of a local business is almost completely dependent on identifying the area where the supermarket is found lacking. The big chains simply do not have the time or understanding of the local requirements and this is where the local shop can step in. In the future, this may become the only alternative for the local business.

Synthesis Essay Example #2

Let us take a look at the second synthesis essay example.

Do Adults Feel Threatened by Teenagers?

It is often seen that a teenager criticises an adult for ‘not understanding’ a particular situation. This has been going on for several generations and it is not subject to the current generation alone. The struggle between adults and youth is unlikely to end anytime soon. Kids are often stereotyped by adults, who judge them on the basis of the dressing style, and this is often one of the primary reasons behind the widening gap between the two generations.

Author Thomas Hine in his “Goths in Tomorrowland” claims that adults have been taking the youth away from older sections of the community and this has resulted in the teenagers maintaining the same gap. In many ways, the adults display a fear about teenagers and this is likened to the fear of an unknown entity. Adults feel that the youth of today have not been able to understand the culture, while the youth also hold a grudge against the adults over the lack of involvement in the adult society.

The misunderstanding between the two generations has been a key factor behind the growing gap. Most of the teenagers end up spending a significant part of the younger life-seeking people who can understand their mind. In the search of this period, many even give up due to the lack of knowledge. Adults also do not tend to bridge the gap as they are of the opinion that kids do not understand them. One of the common reasons for the continued gap is the lack of effort from large section of the adults into bringing together young people to the world. Many of them make a mistake of disregarding youngsters from key decisions largely because of the differences in dress code.

The closed-minded nature of the adults is not the only reason to blame, as young people also make the mistake of putting themselves as immature and irresponsible. Adults are of the opinion that young people are only taking into the rock and metal heads. The expression through clothes happens to be quite a powerful medium in widening the gap between the two factions. However, is that the reason for gothic-dressed youngsters becoming adults is extremely scary? Or being feared at the prospect of becoming the adults with the existing disadvantages that scares them most?

Youngsters also try to quickly assert themselves and this ends up frightening the adults. The body alterations are simply not doing the sufficient best in order to show to the adults that such weird creatures are close to becoming adults themselves. The body alterations in the producing more restrictions and respect and have been counter-productive.

Even though youngsters may feel that they are showing off their ability to come up with an own identity, it has become counter-productive to the efforts of becoming important in the eyes of adults. Even though others make the mistake of not giving a free reign to youngsters straightaway, the problem rests within both sides. In the end, the youth of today are being pressurised into keeping the emotions in check and not being able to come out with the free opinions. Youngsters are now guarding the psychic space more closely than ever before, as adults are starting to control every aspect of the life.

The inability to come up with opinions is a major differentiating element between the youth of today and the adults. The former have been restricted to speaking their mind and this is creating a ‘Teenage Wasteland’ according to Donna Gaines. Adults are holding youth responsible for everything that they say and this is sometimes not possible to restrict – given the lack of experience. This has the potential to come up in the wrong possible way, as youngsters are starting to share the dark and deep secrets with many today. The rise of social networking has allowed this possibility, but youth should be taught to keep such secrets to themselves and only share it with those who are capable of understanding the same.

The misunderstanding game being played between youth and adults has been going on for a long period of time. They are being considered as two sections of the society and it is highly unlikely that this action will change the situation in the next couple of decades. Adults fail to understand the mind-set of teenagers and vice versa. However, it is difficult to blame both sides, as neither are making the effort to understand each other. While adults make the mistake of not accepting the youngsters within the own mind, the youth are not ready to step into the world of the adults. This vicious cycle does not appear to have an end in sight. It is best that adults live their own life while letting youth to have their own. At the same time, it is important to protect the children from harmful sections of the world.

Conclusion

The above two examples and our explanations of what a synthesis essay is should help you greatly on your journey to producing fantastic essays that will impress your professors. It’s up to you to do the work, now that you have all the information necessary to improve your writing skills.