Synthesis Essay

Write a four- to five-page (1,000 to 1,500 words) synthesis essay that summarizes and analyzes three articles about the value of a college education:

“Down with the Four-Year College Degree!” by Charles Murray
“College Is a Waste of Time” by Dale Stephens
“Is College Worth It?” from The Economist

Your essay will analyze these articles by breaking them down into parts to see their relationships and synthesize them by reassembling or reframing them into a new perspective of your own.

Your essay must address a synthesis question that you formulate yourself and present an original thesis about the articles. You must analyze the views expressed in each article regarding your synthesis question, including a brief and accurate summary of each article. You must also synthesize the different views on the synthesis question and articulate your own new perspective on it.

Your essay should include in-text citations and a list of Works Cited – all in proper MLA format.

You will write five Writing Exercises that will help you generate ideas for your synthesis essay.


Draft Due: November 21

Bring THREE copies of your essay to class for Peer Reviews.

Revision Due: December 5

Bring your Revised Draft, your Initial Draft with my comments on it, and all the Peer Reviews you received, and your five Writing Exercises to class in a folder with your name on the front cover.