Synthesis Activity
America

BY CLAUDE MCKAY

Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,

And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth,

Stealing my breath of life, I will confess

I love this cultured hell that tests my youth.

Her vigor flows like tides into my blood,

Giving me strength erect against her hate,

Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood.

Yet, as a rebel fronts a king in state,

I stand within her walls with not a shred

Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer.

Darkly I gaze into the days ahead,

And see her might and granite wonders there,

Beneath the touch of Time’s unerring hand,

Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand.

The New Colossus

BY EMMA LAZARUS

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Notes:

Notes:

HOMEWORK #1 SYNTHESIS EXERCISE:

1. Split a piece of paper into four columns. Label them across the top thus:

· What I believe/know… (this is what you will claim/prove)

· Quote from source #1

· Quote from source #2

· Synthesis (how the sources TOGETHER support your claim)

2. Under the first column, identify a main point that you’d like to make about the topic of the readings. Explain in 2-3 sentences what it is that you know about the main point. Take a stance on the issue presented by the readings!

3. Under the second and third columns record quotes (ONE FROM EACH SOURCE YOU CHOSE) that you think either support that stance or disagree with it. These two quotes should “speak” to or against each other in relation to the main point. BOTH quotes will be used in your main point paragraph, so the more you can discuss how they work together (or against each other) to support your main point, the better!

4. In the final column, explain 3-5 sentences how the two quotes are related: would the authors agree on the main point you’ve created? Why or why not? In what ways do they disagree? Agree? Describe how these two texts helped to create the main point that you’ve attempted to create—NOTE: They do NOT have to agree with your main point. In fact, in some ways it’s easier to synthesize information if they do NOT agree. The more information that you can put in this column, easier your essay will be to write!

5. Repeat twice more—once for each additional main point—for a total of three main points.