27 Jan ENG 105: Composition I Learning Unit 9: Assignment
Sample Synthesis Essay Assignment
Instructions: Read the sample student essay carefully and answer the Response Questions. Before
completing this assignment, be sure to carefully read (or listen to) all of the lectures pertaining to the
Synthesis Essay. In addition, review the Synthesis Essay assignment instructions and reading
requirements.
Response Questions: Answer the following questions pertaining to the Sample Student Synthesis Essay.
1. How effective is the introduction? Why?
2. What is the student’s thesis statement? Write it here.
3. Does the student remain objective? In other words, does the student avoid making her
opinion known? If so, how does she achieve a neutral stance?
4. Please list the student’s main points (to support the thesis). To determine the student’s main
points, look for the topic sentence in each body paragraph.
5. What stood out to you as particularly good about the student’s essay?
6. How do you think the essay could be improved?
© Kara Wilson and Indian Hills Community College
