Synthesis Examples - KsuWeb - Kennesaw State University

Synthesis Examples and Citation Reminders
ENGLISH 1101/12, 13, 14 PROF. HAGIN KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY SPRING 2011
Here is an excerpt from …
an ABC News Article (“College Attacks Lead to Security Questions”):
Behind the idyllic college campus quads and
serene brochures sent out to prospective
students, there may be some more disturbing
images that the country’s colleges don’t want
you to see. College administrators note that the
crime rate is lower at American universities than
in the nation’s cities. But that doesn’t mean the
country’s 17 million students are not at risk.
And here is an excerpt from …
a Scientific Research Study (Amy Thompson, et al.):
The findings of our study reinforce the fact that
firearm-related events continue to be a problem
on college campuses as 1 in 4 campus police
chiefs reported having experienced some form
of firearm event on their campus within the last
year (e.g., carrying a firearm on campus, firearm
stored in the residence hall, or an actual
The latest statistics show there were more than
35,000 reported crimes on U.S. college
campuses in just one year. There are crimes like
purse-snatching in broad daylight, car break-ins
and shoplifting at the school store. But as
“Primetime Live” discovered, there are also
cases of horrifying crimes committed on
campus.
shooting). Fortunately, the vast majority of
college campuses have policies that prohibit
firearms on campus and most campus police
chiefs recognize that allowing college students
to carry concealed firearms on campus would
not prevent firearm violence on campuses.
Paragraph Example (Synthesizing Quotes and Paraphrases):
Seventeen million college students mingle and gather on campuses across this
nation, and most of them remain unaware of the risks of becoming the next victim of a
campus shooting (“College” 1). Incidents at the University of Texas, Kent State, and —
most recently — Virginia Tech remind us that the risk is real … and often unexpected.
“[I]dyllic” in appearance, certainly, but college campuses very well may be ripe
territory for terrorism (“College” 1). Although “the crime rate is lower at American
universities than in the nation’s cities” (“College” 1), about twenty-five percent of
college police chiefs “[have] experienced [a] firearm event on their campus” in 2009
(Thompson 252). That equates to “more than 35,000 reported crimes on U.S. college
campuses” in any given year (“College” 1). Even though the city of Kennesaw, Georgia,
requires firearm ownership for all city residents, this law does not apply to the
Kennesaw State University campus. However, even if it did, campus police
acknowledge that permitting concealed weapons on our campus would not eliminate
firearm violence at KSU (Thompson 252). Given these realities, we students need to be
vigilant and proactive in identifying trademark behavior that may uncover a potential
campus shooter.

Highlighted Examples
Synthesis Examples 2
This page contains the same example as on the previous page, but highlighted to
reveal the locations of the quotes and paraphrases used:
The ABC News Article (“College Attacks Lead to Security Questions”):
Behind the idyllic college campus quads and
serene brochures sent out to prospective
students, there may be some more disturbing
images that the country’s colleges don’t want
you to see. College administrators note that the
crime rate is lower at American universities than
in the nation’s cities. But that doesn’t mean the
country’s 17 million students are not at risk.
The Scientific Research Study (Amy Thompson, et al.):
The findings of our study reinforce the fact that
firearm-related events continue to be a problem
on college campuses as 1 in 4 campus police
chiefs reported having experienced some form
of firearm event on their campus within the last
year (e.g., carrying a firearm on campus, firearm
stored in the residence hall, or an actual
The latest statistics show there were more than
35,000 reported crimes on U.S. college
campuses in just one year. There are crimes like
purse-snatching in broad daylight, car break-ins
and shoplifting at the school store. But as
“Primetime Live” discovered, there are also
cases of horrifying crimes committed on
campus.
shooting). Fortunately, the vast majority of
college campuses have policies that prohibit
firearms on campus and most campus police
chiefs recognize that allowing college students
to carry concealed firearms on campus would
not prevent firearm violence on campuses.
Synthesis Example (Quotes and Paraphrases Highlighted):
Seventeen million college students mingle and gather on campuses across this
nation, and most of them remain unaware of the risks of becoming the next victim of a
campus shooting (“College” 1). Incidents at the University of Texas, Kent State, and —
most recently — Virginia Tech remind us that the risk is real … and often unexpected.
“[I]dyllic” in appearance, certainly, but college campuses very well may be ripe
territory for terrorism (“College” 1). Although “the crime rate is lower at American
universities than in the nation’s cities” (“College” 1), about twenty-five percent of
college police chiefs “[have] experienced [a] firearm event on their campus” in 2009
(Thompson 252). That equates to “more than 35,000 reported crimes on U.S. college
campuses” in any given year (“College” 1). Even though the city of Kennesaw, Georgia,
requires firearm ownership for all city residents, this law does not apply to the
Kennesaw State University campus. However, even if it did, campus police
acknowledge that permitting concealed weapons on our campus would not eliminate
firearm violence at KSU (Thompson 252). Given these realities, we students need to be
vigilant and proactive in identifying trademark behavior that may uncover a potential
campus shooter.

Analysis
This page provides a sentence-by-sentence breakdown of proper synthesis:
1. Paraphrasing
Synthesis Examples 3
Seventeen million college students mingle and gather on campuses
across this nation, and most of them remain unaware of the risks of
becoming the next victim of a campus shooting (“College” 1).
Excerpt from “College Attacks Lead to Security Questions”:
But that doesn’t mean the country’s 17 million students are not at risk.
2. Common Knowledge / Original Thoughts
Incidents at the University of Texas, Kent State, and — most recently —
Virginia Tech remind us that the risk is real … and often unexpected.
3. Quoting, Editing with Brackets, and Paraphrasing
“[I]dyllic” in appearance, certainly, but college campuses very well may
be ripe territory for terrorism (“College” 1).
Excerpt from “College Attacks Lead to Security Questions”:
Behind the idyllic college campus quads and serene brochures sent out to
prospective students, there may be some more disturbing images that the
country’s colleges don’t want you to see.

4. Quoting, Editing with Brackets, Paraphrasing, and Double Citing
Synthesis Examples 4
Although “the crime rate is lower at American universities than in the
nation’s cities” (“College” 1), about twenty-five percent of college police
chiefs “[have] experienced [a] firearm event on their campus” in 2009
(Thompson 252).
Excerpt from “College Attacks Lead to Security Questions”:
College administrators note that the crime rate is lower at American universities
than in the nation’s cities.
Excerpt from Amy Thompson, et al.:
The findings of our study reinforce the fact that firearm-related events continue to
be a problem on college campuses as 1 in 4 campus police chiefs reported
having experienced some form of firearm event on their campus within the last
year (e.g., carrying a firearm on campus, firearm stored in the residence hall, or an
actual shooting).
5. Quoting and Paraphrasing
That equates to “more than 35,000 reported crimes on U.S. college
campuses” in any given year (“College” 1).
Excerpt from “College Attacks Lead to Security Questions”:
The latest statistics show there were more than 35,000 reported crimes on U.S.
college campuses in just one year.
6. Common Knowledge
Even though the city of Kennesaw, Georgia, requires firearm ownership
for all city residents, this law does not apply to the Kennesaw State
University campus.

7. Paraphrasing
Synthesis Examples 5
However, even if it did, campus police acknowledge that permitting
concealed weapons on our campus would not eliminate firearm violence
at KSU (Thompson 252).
Excerpt from Amy Thompson, et al.:
Fortunately, the vast majority of college campuses have policies that prohibit
firearms on campus and most campus police chiefs recognize that allowing
college students to carry concealed firearms on campus would not prevent firearm
violence on campuses.
8. Thesis (Original Thought)
Given these realities, we students need to be vigilant and proactive in
identifying trademark behavior that may uncover a potential campus
shooter.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Works Cited
“College Attacks Lead to Security Questions.” ABC News. ABC News Internet
Ventures, 18 November 2005. Web. 26 October 2010.
Thompson, Amy, et al. “Reducing Firearm-related Violence on College Campuses —
Police Chiefs’ Perceptions and Practices.” Journal of American College Health 58.3
(November/December 2009): 247-254. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26
October 2010.
Hagin 7

Synthesis Examples 6
Example Highlighting the In-Text Citations, Internal
Punctuation, and the Works Cited Page
This page shows how the word inside the parenthetical citation matches the first
word of a Works Cited Page entry, and that all listed entries are used in the essay.
Notice also the precise placement of the punctuation marks.
Seventeen million college students mingle and gather on campuses across this
nation, and most of them remain unaware of the risks of becoming the next victim of a
campus shooting (“College” 1). Incidents at the University of Texas, Kent State, and —
most recently — Virginia Tech remind us that the risk is real … and often unexpected.
“[I]dyllic” in appearance, certainly, but college campuses very well may be ripe
territory for terrorism (“College” 1). Although “the crime rate is lower at American
universities than in the nation’s cities” (“College” 1), about twenty-five percent of
college police chiefs “[have] experienced [a] firearm event on their campus” in 2009
(Thompson 252). That equates to “more than 35,000 reported crimes on U.S. college
campuses” in any given year (“College” 1). Even though the city of Kennesaw,
Georgia, requires firearm ownership for all city residents, this law does not apply to the
Kennesaw State University campus. However, even if it did, campus police
acknowledge that permitting concealed weapons on our campus would not eliminate
firearm violence at KSU (Thompson 252). Given these realities, we students need to be
vigilant and proactive in identifying trademark behavior that may uncover a potential
campus shooter.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Works Cited
“College Attacks Lead to Security Questions.” ABC News. ABC News Internet
Ventures, 18 November 2005. Web. 26 October 2010.
Thompson, Amy, et al. “Reducing Firearm-related Violence on College Campuses —
Police Chiefs’ Perceptions and Practices.” Journal of American College Health 58.3
(November/December 2009): 247-254. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26
October 2010.
Hagin 7