Synthesis requires critical reading and thinking in order to compare different material as well as highlight similarities, differences, and connections. When you synthesize information effectively, you present new ideas based on interpretations of other evidence or arguments. Synthesis goes beyond analysis. Synthesis involves looking at multiple sources while analysis focuses on one source.
Synthesis can exist at the local level (paragraph) and at the global level (paper). At the local level, synthesis occurs when you connect individual pieces of evidence from multiple sources to support a paragraph's main idea and advance a paper's thesis statement. At the global level, synthesis occurs when you connect ideas across paragraphs or sections to create a new narrative. A common example where global synthesis occurs is in a literature review.
The following resources provide additional information about synthesis of information:
Information on this page has been adapted from "Synthesis - Using Evidence - Academic Guides at Walden University" found at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/evidence/synthesis.