What constitutes a credible synthesis across two texts?

What constitutes a credible synthesis across two texts?

• A. Identifying a shared theme or evidence that supports both texts, not just summarizing independently.
• B. Only repeating one text's points.
• C. Focusing on the most dramatic claim.
• D. Ignoring any conflicting evidence.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how to synthesize across two texts. A credible synthesis brings together ideas from both sources to form a single, integrated claim rather than treating each text separately. It looks for a shared theme, issue, or piece of evidence that can bridge the texts and show how they relate. Then it weaves in evidence from both texts to support a cohesive point, explaining how the texts support, complicate, or extend each other. This requires evaluating similarities and differences and signaling a new understanding that emerges from considering both readings together, not just recapping one. If you only repeat one text or focus on the most dramatic claim, you miss the connecting work that ties the readings together. Ignoring conflicting evidence weakens the synthesis by leaving out tensions that your combined analysis should address.

The idea being tested is how to synthesize across two texts. A credible synthesis brings together ideas from both sources to form a single, integrated claim rather than treating each text separately. It looks for a shared theme, issue, or piece of evidence that can bridge the texts and show how they relate. Then it weaves in evidence from both texts to support a cohesive point, explaining how the texts support, complicate, or extend each other. This requires evaluating similarities and differences and signaling a new understanding that emerges from considering both readings together, not just recapping one. If you only repeat one text or focus on the most dramatic claim, you miss the connecting work that ties the readings together. Ignoring conflicting evidence weakens the synthesis by leaving out tensions that your combined analysis should address.