Speed Synthesis

Transitional Words/Phrases

Topic sentence: Headphone critics agree that earbuds, or the accessory that usually comes free with your new smart device, are not good quality.

Transition phrase: Source A says, when you listen to your iPod through those free earbuds, "what you're hearing is a poor reproduction of the original...” (A).

Speed Synthesis

What is "synthesis" again?

Synthesis comes from the Greek meaning “to put together,” and occurs when two or more things are combined to create something new, like an idea or a new piece of writing.

For this activity, your groups will combine material from several sources to create a new "report."

Continuing line of reasoning: Source B even goes so far as to say that “The free earbuds that came with your smartphone are probably the worst audio you can get” (B).

EXAMPLE

Final questions?

Your group must illustrate the ways in which the sources agree and disagree by providing topic sentences and transitional words and phrases so readers can see those relationships. The group that most effectively establish focus on the literature, beginning with paragraph introduction, and maintain it through to the paragraph’s end, gets the point for that round. The group with the most points at the end wins 10 extra credit points.

Questions?

Transition phrase: Yet, it is unclear why more music listeners don't replace their free earbuds with something better.

Headphone critics agree that earbuds, or the accessory that usually comes free with your new smart device, are not good quality. Source A says, when you listen to your iPod through those free earbuds, "what you're hearing is a poor reproduction of the original...” (A). Source B even goes so far as to say that “The free earbuds that came with your smartphone are probably the worst audio you can get” (B). Yet, it is unclear why more music listeners don't replace their free earbuds with something better. On the one hand, source A believes, “If you're not accustomed to listening to such detailed music, you might not realize there's a difference” (A). While on the other hand, source B contradicts this sentiment by stating, "Everyone can hear a difference between good...headphones, and bad...headphones” (B). Of course, both sources only speculate the ability of the listener, which suggests there may be another reason that listeners don't replace their free earbuds.

•  Get into 4 groups
•  Each round will begin with a new topic & sources for your group to synthesize
•  One group will sit out a round to act as judge; group 1 will be the judge during round 1, group2 will be the judge during round 2, and so on
•  Groups who are synthesizing the material should work on identifying the connections/ contradictions between the sources
•  Once you have done this, select the best transition phrases to incorporate the quotes into a short paragraph
•  Judges: while groups are composing paragraphs, you may want to decide how you will select the winner (i.e. will you take notes and give them a scale rating?; take a vote at the end in which majority rules; or, does it have to be a unanimous decision)
•  Groups, you will select a speaker to read your paragraph out loud (you cannot have the same speaker for two rounds in a row)
•  After all of the groups have read, the judges will take a moment to deliberate and will give the point to the best synthesis
•  Each group will have 3 minutes to prepare and 1 minute to present
•  Judges will have 30 seconds to award a point

Changing line of reasoning: On the one hand, source A believes, “If you're not accustomed to listening to such detailed music, you might not realize there's a difference” (A).

Put them together

&

make something new

?

?

!

TOPIC: The difference between “high” and “low” quality headphones.

1. “[with] the earbuds that come free with your iPod...what you're hearing is a poor reproduction of the original. It may be satisfying for some, but once you know what you're missing, it's almost unbearable.” (A)

2. “If you're not accustomed to listening to such detailed music, you might not realize there's a difference.” (A)

3. “Everyone can hear a difference between good speakers or headphones, and bad speakers or headphones.” (B)

4. “The free earbuds that came with your smartphone are probably the worst audio you can get.” (B)

?

Get into your groups and await your topic & sources.

For continuing a common line of reasoning:

-consequently -clearly, then -furthermore -additionally -and

-in addition -moreover -because -besides that

-in the same way -following this further -also -pursuing this further

-in the light of the... -it is easy to see that…

To change the line of reasoning (contrast):

-however -on the other hand -but -yet -nevertheless -on the contrary

For opening a paragraph initially or for general use:

-admittedly -assuredly -certainly -granted -no doubt -nobody denies

For the final points of a paragraph or essay:

-finally -lastly -therefore -this -hence -in final analysis -in conclusion -in final consideration -indeed

To restate a point within a paragraph in another way or in a more exacting way:

-in other words -point in fact -specifically

Rules

Changing/showing contrast: While on the other hand, source B contradicts this sentiment by stating, "Everyone can hear a difference between good...headphones, and bad...headphones” (B).

Group 1, don't forget,

you will act as judge during this first round.

Conclusion: Of course, both sources only speculate the ability of the listener, which suggests there may be another reason that listeners don't replace their free earbuds.