ELC 550

SYNTHESIS OUTLINE

Programme / Group:

Group Members: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Topic:

Thesis Statement:
The thesis statement is the last sentence of paragraph 1 and provides the scope of the essay
which must be written in one sentence only.

Main Point 1: Write the main point in a complete sentence with the citation(s), and bold the
keywords.

a. Follow this template carefully when writing out your outline.

b. The font is Arial, 11, and the spacing format must be according to this
template.

c. Follow instructions that your lecturer gives in order to build discipline in the
total process of education.

Main Point 2: Write the main point in a complete sentence with the citation(s), and bold the
keywords (Author, year).

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 a. If your supporting details are from the article(s), you need to cite the
article(s), but if the supporting detail is your own idea, there is no citation.

b. You are required to combine as many citations as possible from the four
different articles and cite according to multiple citations format.

c. Please remember that multiple citations are written in alphabetical order,

based on author surname.

Main Point 3: Write the main point in a complete sentence with the citation(s), and bold the
keywords.

a. Citations can be written at the beginning or at the end of the sentence to add
variety in your writing.

b. At the beginning, Author(s) (year) is written at the beginning of the sentence,

followed by the paraphrased text.

c. When citation is at the end of the sentence, Author(s) and year are at the end
of the sentence in a bracket (Author, year).

Main Point 4: Write the main point in a complete sentence with the citation(s), and bold the
keywords.

a. Thesis statement, main points, and supporting details are written in complete
sentences, and not in phrases or imperatives.

b. The text in bold and underlined text are keywords and phrases extracted
from the source.

c. You are required to write in your original language by simplifying complex

ideas in the articles using synonyms, or chunking method.

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 Main Point 5: Write the main point in a complete sentence with the citation(s), and bold the
keywords.

a. You cannot copy and paste text from the articles as heavy penalty will be
imposed on plagiarised work.

b. There should be only one idea in each supporting detail, therefore, you
should not complicate your work and make it difficult for yourself and your
group members.

c. Synthesising is a vital academic writing skill, which you need to learn

meaningfully so that you are able to apply it in all other academic subjects.

 The outline and Synthesis essay must be written in students’ original language.

 Do not copy and paste text from the articles.

 Your Synthesis essay may contain four to five body paragraphs, and can be between
700 and 800 words.

 If you have five body paragraphs, your essay will have seven paragraphs (including
Introduction and Conclusion).

 Facts and opinions are written in the simple present tense.

 Don’t forget to write the References at the end of the Synthesis (Essay) in alphabetical
order.

Sample Introduction:

Suicide is an irrational desire to die. It is viewed as irrational because no matter how bad
a person’s life is, suicide should not be the solution. It is a permanent and devastating end (Nott
2013; Tracy 2016) to a temporary problem or challenge which can be overcome. The Centre for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that suicide is the third leading cause of death
among youths between 10 and 24 years of age (Rubenstein, 2009). Suicide is a symptom and
sign of serious depression, which is a treatable disorder, hence, as highlighted by Preventing
Youth Suicide (n. d.), committing suicide and taking one’s own life is not a rational alternative. In
every cause and case of teen suicide, there are preventive steps to avoid the negative effects of
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 teen suicide.

(132 words)

FULL ESSAY
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 Title:

In paragraph one, you introduce the topic in a general way. You may provide statistical

information or definition of keywords for readers to understand the topic clearly. If the essay topic

is on the effects and solutions of a particular issue, you may include a few causes in the

introductory paragraph as these are not included in the body paragraphs. Remember, there

should be no repetition of ideas in the introduction and the body paragraphs. The last sentence in

paragraph one is the thesis statement, which provides the scope of the essay. By reading your

thesis statement, the reader will know the scope of your essay.

Firstly, begin a new paragraph with a topic sentence which contains the main point.

Remember to use discourse markers for inter paragraph coherence. Expand the main point by

including three supporting details. You may elaborate each supporting detail by including more

information such as statistical data, elaboration and / or your own opinion or experience to make it

clear and interesting. Please remember that we do not repeat what is written in the introduction in

the body paragraphs. You are advised to write about 100 to 150 words for each body paragraph.

Please write in simple language and do not plagiarise the language from the four articles. In

academic writing, it is important to use jargon-free language and explain the meaning of any

technical term in simple language. Your essay must be in denotative language and free of

emotions too. Tie up each main point with a concluding sentence.

Firstly, begin a new paragraph with a topic sentence which contains the main point.

Remember to use discourse markers for inter paragraph coherence. Expand the main point by

including three supporting details. You may elaborate each supporting detail by including more

information such as statistical data, elaboration and / or your own opinion or experience to make it

clear and interesting. Please remember that we do not repeat what is written in the introduction in

the body paragraphs. You are advised to write about 100 to 150 words for each body paragraph.

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 Please write in simple language and do not plagiarise the language from the four articles. In

academic writing, it is important to use jargon-free language and explain the meaning of any

technical term in simple language. Your essay must be in denotative language and free of

emotions too. Tie up each main point with a concluding sentence.

Firstly, begin a new paragraph with a topic sentence which contains the main point.

Remember to use discourse markers for inter paragraph coherence. Expand the main point by

including three supporting details. You may elaborate each supporting detail by including more

information such as statistical data, elaboration and / or your own opinion or experience to make it

clear and interesting. Please remember that we do not repeat what is written in the introduction in

the body paragraphs. You are advised to write about 100 to 150 words for each body paragraph.

Please write in simple language and do not plagiarise the language from the four articles. In

academic writing, it is important to use jargon-free language and explain the meaning of any

technical term in simple language. Your essay must be in denotative language and free of

emotions too. Tie up each main point with a concluding sentence.

Firstly, begin a new paragraph with a topic sentence which contains the main point.

Remember to use discourse markers for inter paragraph coherence. Expand the main point by

including three supporting details. You may elaborate each supporting detail by including more

information such as statistical data, elaboration and / or your own opinion or experience to make it

clear and interesting. Please remember that we do not repeat what is written in the introduction in

the body paragraphs. You are advised to write about 100 to 150 words for each body paragraph.

Please write in simple language and do not plagiarise the language from the four articles. In

academic writing, it is important to use jargon-free language and explain the meaning of any

technical term in simple language. Your essay must be in denotative language and free of

emotions too. Tie up each main point with a concluding sentence.

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 Firstly, begin a new paragraph with a topic sentence which contains the main point.

Remember to use discourse markers for inter paragraph coherence. Expand the main point by

including three supporting details. You may elaborate each supporting detail by including more

information such as statistical data, elaboration and / or your own opinion or experience to make it

clear and interesting. Please remember that we do not repeat what is written in the introduction in

the body paragraphs. You are advised to write about 100 to 150 words for each body paragraph.

Please write in simple language and do not plagiarise the language from the four articles. In

academic writing, it is important to use jargon-free language and explain the meaning of any

technical term in simple language. Your essay must be in denotative language and free of

emotions too. Tie up each main point with a concluding sentence.

Finally, we end the essay with a concluding paragraph. This is a short paragraph which

sums up the main points of the essay, and recap its scope. We do not include any new point or

idea in this paragraph. We can end by posing a question to the readers or by making an impactful

statement. You may write between 70 to 100 words in the concluding paragraph.

References (in alphabetical order)

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