Synthesis essay drafting — integrating multimedia sources (Wallace-Wells, Skloot, Klein)

Quick-share: name one multimedia source (video, infographic, interview, data visualization) that could strengthen your synthesis. Why?

• Affirm multimedia source choices
• Connect: multimedia adds source-type variety AND prepares for Symposium presentation

Today we draft synthesis body paragraphs and integrate multimedia sources. Multimedia sources include TED talks, news videos, podcasts, data visualizations, infographics, interviews, and primary-source documents. Wallace-Wells's 'The Uninhabitable Earth' integrates 20+ scientific sources in a single chapter — including data visualizations he describes in prose. Skloot's 'Henrietta Lacks' integrates scientific journals, medical records, family interviews, and historical archives — the breadth of source types is a model. Klein integrates policy documents, scientific data, and human-interest stories. For YOUR synthesis essay: try to include at least one multimedia source. This serves two purposes: source-type diversity (CRAAP+) AND preparation for your Symposium multimedia aid. To integrate a multimedia source in prose: SIGNAL PHRASE (Adichie's TED talk argues that...), PARAPHRASE OR QUOTE (with parenthetical citation), ANALYSIS (what does the multimedia evidence show?). MLA Works Cited template for VIDEO/MULTIMEDIA: Creator. 'Title.' Platform, date, URL. For INTERVIEW: Interviewee. Interview by Interviewer. Source, date.

• The signal phrase tells readers what kind of source this is — important for credibility judgment.

  model 'In her 2009 TED talk "The Danger of a Single Story," Adichie articulates the harm of incomplete narratives, arguing that when we hear only one story about a person or place, we risk a critical misunderstanding.' Notice: signal phrase identifies the source AND its type (TED talk); paraphrase captures the claim; signal verb 'articulates' is Tier-2.

  prompt Draft a signal-phrase sentence integrating Adichie's TED talk into a synthesis paragraph.
• This is real synthesis — sources conversing through the writer's argument.

  model 'While Adichie articulates the harm of single stories at the individual level, Coates extends this argument structurally, contending that incomplete national narratives sustain racial inequity.' Notice: ADICHIE'S argument + COATES'S argument + writer's synthesis ('extends'). This is they-say/I-say across two sources.

  prompt Draft a synthesis sentence linking Adichie's claim to Coates's argument.

• Pair-share: read your draft body paragraph aloud to a partner. Listen for synthesis vs. summary.
• Cold Call: name your multimedia source and its MLA Works Cited template.

M-8-F-WR-13-A Chart

MG-15 anchor with video/multimedia and interview templates highlighted. Print-ready 18x24.

M-8-F-WR-13-B Video Physical / non-image

5-minute video showing student opening with They-Say/I-Say Template 8 ('While Adichie articulates ___, Coates extends ___'), integrating quoted material with quote-sandwich + parenthetical, then closing the paragraph with synthesis claim. Multicultural classroom. Caption track on.

• Draft one synthesis body paragraph integrating ≥2 of your 3 sources. Use at least 1 They-Say/I-Say template (Template 8: synthesis across sources is ideal). Include parenthetical MLA in-text citations.

  scaffold MG-3 templates; MG-2 conversation map
• Compose the MLA 9th Works Cited entry for your multimedia source. Verify against MG-15.

  scaffold MG-15 6-source-type card

• Submit your synthesis body paragraph (≥2 sources, ≥1 They-Say/I-Say move, parenthetical MLA citations).
• Submit your multimedia Works Cited entry.

• Restate: synthesis is sources conversing through your argument; multimedia adds variety and prepares for Symposium
• Preview lesson 14: tier-2 vocabulary + Set 17 next 5 words

• Continue drafting synthesis essay body paragraphs. By next class, have 2 body paragraphs drafted.