PIV-C:\capstone\synth.htm
CJS 447
The Required Paper for this class is a Synthesis Paper.
What we are attempting to accomplish, with this paper, is to produce and introduce a new idea which has been distilled from old or prior concepts [ideas] to combine it with new thinking into a novel way of doing [performing] something. An example might be, from the scientific world, burning hydrogen [h] and oxygen [o] to produce a new product, water[H2O]. In a sense, that is our purpose here.
Synthesis papers will require you to merge research material from contrasting viewpoints that often contradict and sometimes oppose each other. Your task is to strive to understand the thesis of each viewpoint, weigh each against the other, and finally provide a new synthesis that incorporates the best of both to provide a more inclusive and persuasive vision. Synthesis papers are your interpretation of the subject matter and are not always as formal as research papers. For documenting your paper, use the MLA style.
Synthesis Papers - combine two or more of the types listed BELOW.
......................• Reaction Papers - which require you to analyze and react to presented material.
......................• Position Papers - which require you to make an argument about an issue.
......................• Research Papers - which require you to collect information about a topic.
There are some ways to measure if your paper, by its title or by its abstract content is, or will be, a synthesis paper. A paper which identifies and looks at a problem is not a synthesis paper. One which describes or gives an historical perspective is not an example of synthesis. Similarly, a paper which offers a descriptive overview or review of a topic does not qualify as a synthesis paper. Synthesis papers go beyond analysis, and exceed mere description, forward to synthesis. A synthesis paper should create something new and novel, ideally. You will have to use your higher order thinking to produce a paper pointing the toward the direction of developing a new concept synthesized from analysis-type papers or sources. Synthesis involves developing new concepts, new constructs and original ideas spawned from analysis of existing practice and can be coupled with new ideas, which, perhaps, and ideally, no one has thought of your concept or idea before now.
A paper which answers or addresses some of the following could be a synthesis paper.
Answers the question of what changes would you make to the system, process, or way of delivering services, etc., that would be novel but would combine some of the old way into the new way.
Answers the question of how would you improve ___________ to create a better method of doing _____________.
Can you invent a new way of doing ________________?
How would you adapt ________________ to create a new, different, or better ___________?
This method has problems; and the other way[s] has [have] problem[s]. Creatively, how do we devise a different method, building on the present methods? What could be combined from ___________ and __________ to improve the system, method, way of delivering services, dealing with the public, correcting juveniles, correcting adults, etc.
Since the old ways do not work well any more, here is the new paradigm for the future.
Can you construct a model which will build on past knowledge which will work better in the future?
Considering how _____ had been done in the past and near present, how would you do _______ if you could decide exactly how to do _______.
Some of the "buzz" words for a synthesis paper title could include one or more of the following: