How can you integrate your voice into literature synthesis?

1 Define your purpose and position

Before you start synthesizing the literature, you need to have a clear idea of why you are doing it and what you want to achieve. What is your research question or problem? What is your main argument or claim? How does your synthesis relate to the broader context and significance of your topic? These questions will help you establish your purpose and position, which will guide your selection, evaluation, and organization of the sources. Your purpose and position will also help you articulate your voice, as they reflect your stance, perspective, and contribution to the field.

2 Use synthesis verbs and phrases

One way to integrate your voice into literature synthesis is to use verbs and phrases that indicate how you are relating the sources to each other and to your argument. For example, you can use verbs such as compare, contrast, agree, disagree, support, challenge, explain, illustrate, etc., to show how the sources are similar or different, consistent or inconsistent, relevant or irrelevant, etc., to your point. You can also use phrases such as according to, in contrast to, in relation to, in response to, etc., to show how you are positioning yourself and your sources in the conversation.

3 Evaluate and critique the sources

Another way to integrate your voice into literature synthesis is to evaluate and critique the sources, rather than just summarizing or paraphrasing them. Evaluation and critique involve making judgments about the quality, validity, reliability, credibility, and usefulness of the sources, based on your criteria and standards. You can also point out the strengths, weaknesses, limitations, gaps, biases, assumptions, implications, and contributions of the sources, and how they affect your argument and the field. By doing this, you are demonstrating your critical thinking skills and showing your voice as an analyst and a critic.

4 Acknowledge and address counterarguments

A third way to integrate your voice into literature synthesis is to acknowledge and address counterarguments, or alternative views or interpretations that challenge or contradict your argument. By doing this, you are showing that you are aware of the complexity and diversity of the literature, and that you are willing to engage with different perspectives and evidence. You can also use counterarguments as an opportunity to strengthen your argument, by refuting, rebutting, or qualifying them, or by showing how they support or complement your point. By doing this, you are demonstrating your voice as a debater and a persuader.

5 Synthesize, don't summarize

A final way to integrate your voice into literature synthesis is to synthesize, not summarize, the sources. Synthesis means creating a new whole from the parts, or showing how the sources relate to each other and to your argument, in a coherent and logical way. Summary means restating the main points or ideas of the sources, without showing how they connect or why they matter. Synthesis requires you to interpret, analyze, and synthesize the sources, and to express your own voice, perspective, and contribution. Summary requires you to report, describe, and paraphrase the sources, and to hide your own voice, perspective, and contribution.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?