Synthesizing and summarizing are strategies that researchers use in research and writing
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When the researcher writes a literature review, the researcher needs to describe the topic in a broader spectrum that will illuminate the research, identify the gap, and include the historical background leading to the creation of the logical support for the study (D’Urso, 2020). D’Urso (2020) also describes synthesis as using higher level thinking with integration of more than one source using a combination of the writer’s own words and compares and contrasts the findings. A summary is not as in depth as the synthesis because it uses lower level thinking. The writer will highlight the main ideas and includes his or her own recount of information from one source (D’Urso, 2020).The development of the synthesis is critical to the literature review. Synthesis improves the quality of literature review by integrating the analyses —and evaluation of the sources identified. It combines information from the sources used by comparing and contrasting, explaining the findings, and a conclusion (D’Urso, 2020). A summary can become a synthesis if the writer elaborates in depth by cross-referencing ideas, communicating clearly what the authors are inferring, and owning the paper by having voice (Bowling Green State University, 2011).
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Synthesizing and summarizing are strategies that researchers use in research and writing. These skills are of extreme importance because they both assist in helping learners understand what they are reading. Although summarizing and synthesizing are similar, they differ, as they have different purposes, processes, and results (Eaton, 2011). Synthesizing is an advanced reading technique that encourages the reader and researcher to highlight important parts of information and draw their conclusions from the data (Eaton, 2011). Synthesizing also allows the reader to contrast and compare data from different sources. It is a higher-order thinking skill that needs modeling, practice, and instruction. To improve the literature review quality, the learner brings the background knowledge and evolving understanding of texts to create an original interpretation of the text (Shehab & Nussbaum, 2015). This skill pushes the researcher to develop more insight into a particular topic of study. Cooper (2015) reveals as research across all fields continues to grow, research synthesis has become more critical today than at any other time in history. Therefore, researchers should utilize synthesis rather than a summary. It will help enhance the researcher’s knowledge on the topic and develop his/her scholarly voice.
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The three items that I found in my junk drawer were a pen, a paperclip, and a battery. All of these items are used daily around my house for various purposes and tasks.A pen is utilized to write information down and paying my bills. A pen assists me in remembering what groceries to buy and completing my homework. I also use a pen when I am writing out my monthly house bills such as our dues for our homeowner’s association. Pens are one of those everyday items that we are always looking for or have multiple of at the ready.A paperclip is used to hold multiple pieces of paper, mail, or other important documents together. We use paperclips at work and for school daily. This item also helps to promote organization and decrease clutter by keeping multiple small pieces of paper, such as receipts together for larger tasks, such as budgeting and taxes.The last item is a battery. Batteries come in various shapes and sizes. These items allow us to operate everyday items that are used in homes, offices, and cars everywhere. Batteries help us to control our televisions from our sofas, keep our children entertained by operating their toys, and provides transportation for cars, motorcycles, buses, etc.This task provided some clarity and understanding to what synthesizing is and why it is relevant. It is not enough to simply know what something is. It is more important to understand why something is important backed up by additional context and information. D’Urso (2020) states that a synthesis is the act of brining different elements of information together that aid in contributing to basic knowledge on a topic. By providing additional context to the uses and functions of the three items, their relevance and importance were made more obvious and provided insight and different perspectives for these items.
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I currently live with my in-laws and no longer have a designated junk drawer so I went with my car to represent my junk drawer. Items found at random are listed below:* Water bottle* Golf tee* Band-AidSummarization:As I no longer live in my own house and currently live with my in-laws, I found three items within my car that would represent our junk drawer. These three items were a water bottle, a golf tee, and a band-aid (unused). These three items serve as necessities within our car, as the water bottle is used for hydration, the golf tee to support our habit of golfing, and a band-aid for any accidents that may occur in the future. The items may be considered junk to others, but they serve a valuable purpose to my husband and me.Compare & Contrast:The three items found within my car representing my junk drawer include a water bottle, a golf tee, and a Band-Aid. All items are considered necessary when faced with an emergency. The golf tee and water bottle support outdoor and endurance activities, whereas the bottle, provides similar support but only when one of those activities goes wrong. The water bottle holds liquids, the golf-tee holds a golf ball, and the band-aid stops the act of bleeding while controlling the blood within a cut. Each of these items is also made of plastic but serves different physical purposes.
Synthesis:
Not all items within a junk drawer serve the same purpose. At times, these items are seen as obsolete or given no designated place for holding. While seen in this light, junk drawer items can serve as supportive items when needed in times of emergency. A water bottle, golf tee, and band-aid, seen as miscellaneous items, provide support to an individual in need during crucial times. Although different, a water bottle can hydrate an individual, a golf-tee can come in handy when playing golf, and a band-aid can support an individual who is in pain. All of these items provide support to individuals in need during a designated activity.
Reflection:
Synthesizing was very difficult and demanding with these three items. I felt like I was under pressure to find a common theme among the three items, even though each was selected at random. I still find synthesizing challenging, as I find myself trying to navigate the process independently, learning from experiences as a novice doctoral student (Akinkugbe, 2020). Summarizing and comparison assist with synthesizing, as one must understand what each item represents and how they are similar to establish common themes. I believe my initial questions that still linger concerning synthesis revolve around how to take what I have read and apply it to my synthesis. I enjoyed the reading research assignment and would like to see something of this nature to lay out how we should work through a synthesis paper.
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