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Lesson 3

Synthesize Analysis

We will synthesize our understanding across multiple sources and organize our notes by topic and theme. We will review and revise our Central Research Questions to account for our new understanding and information from sources.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I compare, contrast, evaluate, and synthesize evidence from a variety of sources to make claims?

  • Can I closely read and prepare myself to discuss complex ideas meaningfully with my research team?

Texts

There are no texts for this Lesson.

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Discuss – Write

We will synthesize all of our research findings, tracing connections among the information from each of our four key sources, our supplementary sources, our personal impressions, and the ideas and questions our team has generated.

Each member of your team has closely read your key texts and annotated each text individually. Now, analyze all of your texts together, review the claims you created for homework, and respond to the following questions:

  1. What important information, relevant to your inquiry question or research problem, appears in multiple sources?

  2. How does this information relate to your inquiry paths, inquiry questions, and the Central Research Question?

  3. What are the four most interesting, relevant claims made in the sources that address or help answer your Central Research Question that members of your team have found from your sources?

  4. What are the top three points of debate, contention, or disagreement about your inquiry questions that you have found among your sources?

Activity 2: Discuss – Write

Using our Research Frame Tools, our team will review our inquiry paths and questions and establish which steps to take as we move forward with our research.

As a team, discuss the following questions to determine what kind of revisions or refinements you might need to make to your Research Frame Tool.

  1. What are the three most important things you have learned about our Central Research Question?

  2. Do you need to adjust or change your Central Research Question? Why or why not?

  3. Do you need to adjust or change your inquiry paths and inquiry questions? Why or why not?

  4. Which inquiry question best summarizes each inquiry path? What are the primary, or most important, inquiry questions for each inquiry path?

Reasons to keep your team’s Central Research Question or problem statement the way it is:

  • As you find evidence in your different sources, the claims and conclusions that you form to answer your question are compelling, persuasive, and thought-provoking.

  • You are learning and compiling a large amount of new information as you closely read sources to answer your question.

Reasons to rework and rephrase your Central Research Question:

  • As you find the evidence to make claims about your problem or question, your claims do not address the aspects of the issue that you find most relevant, interesting, or important.

  • A major consideration and concern within your topic is left out of your question.

Use the following question to determine a plan:

  1. Where are there gaps in your research? What steps can you take to fill in the missing details?