Primary literature synthesis
Utilizing primary literature to support science writing
Due: 3 Fridays throughout the term (see syllabus, assignment chart or calendar)
Points: 20
Purpose: To be effective in the field of natural resources and to advance management theory,
you need to challenge existing dogma, question data collection and analysis methods, and
critically evaluate information that is presented to you. This exercise will help you to use writing
to express and reinforce critical evaluation skills by synthesizing new ideas from information you
have been presented. Blending previously accepted research into new theories is one of the
necessary skills for authorship of publishable works.
Approach: Students will submit a synthesis utilizing the previous two week’s articles as
supporting citation.
What is a synthesis?: Many students struggle with this assignment due to a poor understanding
of scientific synthesis. In writing, synthesis creates something new based on several existing
sources. In scientific synthesis, opinions and biases are not accepted and statements in the
discussion of a topic must be supported through citation of peer reviewed literature. The
process of synthesizing requires researching, gathering, analyzing and integrating different
information sources to develop something new.
Think of the synthesis assignment as a discussion or argument essay on a broader fisheries
science issue that supports points made using the articles provided. Keep in mind that synthesis
moves beyond simple summarizing and compare/contrast writing. Make your own statement
and cite a source that supports it. Strong synthesis requires critical thinking to transform and
apply the information, inference to connect the individual sources, and existing knowledge to
build upon by critically evaluating and then incorporating the information contained in the articles
provided. For this assignment, synthesis is the practice of developing original statements and
citing a supporting source.
Synthesis requirements: Your synthesis should focus on a broad fisheries science issue and
use at least the 2 assigned articles. Incorporating properly cited information from additional peer
review articles can strengthen your synthesis. Sometimes it is possible to focus on a topic
beyond the superficial disagreement or on a specific aspect of the controversy. Use context to
communicate points while avoiding opinions, first person, direct quotations, or blunt statements
that draw the reader’s attention to a specific article.
For a strong synthesis be sure to:
Read the articles carefully and think about the points, merits and flaws to develop a unifying
topic. Write about that topic using the two papers as supporting citations (not direct examples).
Expand beyond the obvious topic by generating new content, and avoid repeating the specific
details provided by the authors.
Draw from additional sources to support statements if needed, and distill information into an
unbiased explanation of your central argument.
Make your points clearly and concisely rather than stretching or adding details to get to 2 pages.
Many strong syntheses are about 1 page in length.
For any one sentence in your synthesis ask: “Is this a summary statement about one of the
papers?” If the answer is yes, you are not synthesizing.
For any one statement in your synthesis ask: “Am I comparing these two papers?” If the answer
is yes, it likely shouldn’t be in the synthesis.
Always avoid:
Restating the summaries or summarizing papers all.
Comparing and/or contrasting the papers. You shouldn’t be focusing on the 2 articles, but the
broader topic.
Restating points from the article (with limited exceptions).
Expectations and grading: Each synthesis should be a maximum of two pages including the
references. Continue to follow the general writing instructions for formal scientific writing as
described in the Assignment Guides.
A theoretical example:
A former student suggested a theoretical example might help some students fully grasp this
complex assignment:
Let’s say the two assigned papers discuss salmon hatcheries. Paper A describes the practical
need for the continued operation of hatcheries by reporting the population levels with and
without supplementation. Paper B recommends the immediate halt to hatchery funding citing
decreased fitness of wild population stocks through interbreeding. Your synthesis could be an
economic argument on the cost-benefit of these facilities, citing both papers A and B as well as
other sources.
Additional examples may be provided, but require additional reading to be of value.