1. Mrs. W. Scruggs’s Research Project for Synthesis Essay
AP English Language and Composition
Researched Synthesis Project (Research Paper)
Introduction to our project:
Since 2007, the AP Language and Composition Exam has required that students
demonstrate an understanding of and ability to apply research and synthesis skills by writing a
synthesis essay. This is an essay in which you establish YOUR OPINION BASED ON
AVAILABLE RESEARCH on a controversial topic. You will make an original claim and enter
into a “conversation” with researched sources. Rather than teaching the research paper and
synthesis essay separately, I think if you understand how to engage in the research process, then
synthesize the sources you find, then write the paper, you should have a much better
understanding of this essay on the AP Exam.
Task:
You will research a controversial topic, then using the template provide you will create a
full synthesis prompt on your topic. You will provide the sources with citations, and all will be
electronically submitted in the proper format. You will then write your paper based on your
prompt. The essay response itself must cite at least three of your sources and be three to five
pages typed double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman. All of components will be uploaded
into Googledocs and shared with me at jbhsjollyroger@gmail.com.
What to do:
1. Pick your topic. You may use one of the ones on the list, or you may propose your own.
If it is not on my list, you must have my approval before proceeding.
2. Submit your topic idea to the blog by _March 15, 2013 end of class.
3. Find 7 sources, one of which must be a visual such as a pie chart, photograph, or editorial
cartoon that reflects various opinions or information on the topic. All of the sources must
not represent one side of the issue. Both sides of an issue must be reflected in your
sources and you should have a balanced number of each. All sources may be electronic,
but they may not be search engines, personal blogs/wikis/social media, and must be from
a .gov, .edu., or .org site unless it’s the website of a newspaper or scholarly journal.
4. You must submit each of your sources with MLA heading exactly like a real AP Exam
source as provided in the sample. All 7 sources must be on one word document, but each
source should be on its own page. You will upload these into googledocs and then share
with jbhsjollyroger@gmail.com by _March 19, 2013 11:59 p.m.
5. You will write and post to the blog an AP-format synthesis prompt (following the
template) for your topic with sources listed by __March 21, 2013.
6. You will then post in the blog your rough draft in response to your prompt by March
24, 2013 @ 11:59 p.m.__
7. After commenting on two peers’ working drafts and receiving feedback on yours. You
will write your final draft of your essay in MLA format. After peer editing, you will
upload into googledocs and share with jbhsjollyroger@gmail.com your final paper,
prompt, sources, and all required elements by March 28, 2013 @ 11. 59 p.m.

2. Use this prompt template!!
AP English Language and Composition
Reading Time: 15 minutes
Suggested Writing Time: 40 minutes
[Introduce your topic and frame your discourse. Clearly explain the issue, define any key terms,
provide any pertinent background information, and invite discussion on all sides of the issue.
This section should be one or two paragraphs in length, depending on your topic.]
Carefully read the following seven sources, including the introductory information for each
source. Then synthesize information from all of the sources (only for our research project:
3 minimum on regular synthesis essay) and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed
essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies the claim that [insert your claim here] Or that
develops a position on the most important considerations [insert the organization here] face
when developing [insert “what” and “what for” here].
Make sure that your argument is central; use the sources to illustrate and support your reasoning.
Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from,
whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. You may cite the sources as Source
A, Source B, etc., or by using the descriptions in parentheses.
Source A (Author’s last name)
Source B (Author’s last name)
Source C (Author’s last name)
Source D (Author’s last name)
Source E (cartoon or image)
Source F (Author’s last name)
Source G (Author’s last name)
From: http://www.birmingham.k12.mi.us/NR/rdonlyres/FAE5E37A-3C02-442A-9D48-61BF2FF5796C/0/SynthesisPromptTemplate.doc

3. Use this template for each source. Make sure you have the
MLA citation of the source at the top, then include the
article, etc. below.
Source A
Author (last name, first name). “Title of Article.” Name of Site. Date of Posting/Revision.
Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sometimes found in
copyright statements). <electronic address>
[A sentence or two in italics introducing the source material]
[Paste selected source content here]

4. Possible Topics for Contemporary Issues Project
1. Terrorism
2. Global Warming
3. Obesity in America
4. Education
5. Reality Shows
6. Animal Rights
7. Stem Cell Research
8. Driving Safety and technology
9. Immigration
10. Advertising and Body Image
11. National Health Insurance
12. Privacy
13. Art & Music
14. Social Security and Retirement
15. Illiteracy
16. Slave Trade
17. Cosmetic Surgery
18. Suburban Poverty
19. Appearance Bias
20. Comedy: Too Funny or Too Far?
21. Corporal Punishment in the Home
22. Virtual Government
23. Nature vs Nuture
24. Cheating
25. Alternative Fuel Sources
26. Video Game Violence
27. Youtube & Copyright
28. Organic Food / Food Sources
29. Pluto
30. Accepted Roles in Mainstream America
31. Technology
32. Darfur
33. HPV Vaccine
34. Autism
35. Veterans Affairs

5. MLA Documentation for Books
A book by one author
Last name, First name of author. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication:
Publishing Company, Year published.
A book by two or three authors
Last name, First name of first author, and First name and last name of second author.
The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published.
Last name, First name of first author, First name and last name of second author, and First name
and last
name of third author. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication:
Publishing Company, Year published.
A book by three or more authors
Last name, First name of one author, et al. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication:
Publishing Company, Year published.
A book with an anonymous author
The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published.
A book with one editor Abbreviation for editor
Last name, First name of editor, ed. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication:
Publishing Company, Year published.
A book with an author and an editor
Last name, First name of author. The Title of the Book Underlined. Ed. First and last
name of editor. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published.
An anthology or compilation (a book with several works)
Last name, First name of editor, ed. The Title of the Book Underlined. City of Publication:
Publishing Company, Year published.
A work in an anthology
Last name, First name of author. “Title of work in quotes.” Title of Anthology Underlined. Ed. First
and last name of editor. City of Publication: Publishing Company, Year published. Page numbers
without p. or pg.
MLA Documentation for Articles
An article in a reference book (encyclopedia) with an author at the end of article
Last name, First name of author. “Title of Article in Quotes exactly as you looked it up.”
The Title of Reference Book Underlined. Volume or edition like 1999 ed. or vol. 3.
An article in a reference book (encyclopedia) without an author at the end of article
“Title of Article in Quotes exactly as you looked it up.” The Title of Reference Book
Underlined. Volume or edition like 1999 ed. or vol. 3. Year published. 7

6. An article from a Monthly or Bimonthly Periodical (Magazine)
Last name, First name of author. “Title of Article in Quotes.” Title of the Periodical Underlined.
Month abbreviated. (Date of periodical written like this 15 Oct 2003): Page numbers without p. or
pg.
A signed article from a daily newspaper
Last name, First name of author. “Title of Article in Quotes.” Title of Newspaper Underlined. Date
of newspaper
written like 15 Oct. 2003/newspaper edition: Page numbers without p. or pg.
MLA Documentation for KISD Online Databases
ABC-CLIO American Government, American History, Ancient History, World Geography, and
World History
“California Gold Rush, 1849.” American History. ABC-CLIO. 2 Feb. 2004
<http://www.americanhistory.abcclio.com>.
Bloom’s Literary Reference Online
Brackett, Virginia. "The Abbott." Facts On File Companion to the British Novel: Beginnings through
the 19th
Century, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On
File, Inc.
16 Mar. 2007 <http://www.fofweb.com>.
Britannica Online
“Psychoneurosis.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 16 Jan. 2004 <http://school.eb.com>.
Gale Group - Book
“William Shakespeare.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2nd ed. 17 vols. Biography Resource Center.
Gale Group. 24 Feb. 2004 <http://galenet.galegroup.com>.
Gale Group – Magazine or Periodical
Gates, Anita. “Gone with the Wind.” New York Times. 5 Jul. 1998. p54. Expanded Academic. Gale
Group.
16. Jan 2004 <http://galenet.galegroup.com>.
Grolier Online
“Newton, Sir Issac (1642-1727).” The New Book of Popular Science. 2003. Grolier Online. 16 Feb.
2004
<http://go.grolier.com/>.
Magill On Literature
“John Steinbeck.” Magill On Literature. 16 Jan. 2004 <http://web.ebscohost.com>.
SIRS
Tuttleton, James W. “Steinbeck Remembered.” New Criterion. Mar. 1995. 22-28. SIRS Renaissance.
16 Jan. 2004
<http://www.sirs.com>.
World Book Online Reference Center
Perkins, Barbara M. "Steinbeck, John." World Book Online Reference Center. 2008. 7 Jan. 2008
<http://www.worldbookonline.com>. 8