• Unit 3: Reading to Write

    This unit connects the punctuation and writing clarity skills you gained in Unit 1 to the vocabulary and reading strategies you practiced in Unit 2. Now that you're able to read about concepts that interest you, you'll want to clearly and correctly present those ideas to others through your writing. In this unit, you'll learn how to synthesize, or bring together, the knowledge you already have on a topic with the things you learn in your program of study. You'll then write about that synthesis using grammatically correct and clear sentences. At the end of this unit, you'll be able to clearly explain what you know about a topic and what you still want to learn.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 5 hours.

    • Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

      • demonstrate comprehension by mapping an article for concept organization; and 
      • demonstrate the ability to write critically through a college-level essay.
    • Synthesis Page

      You just finished reading a long article for a class. Now what? After you're sure you understand the vocabulary and concepts, it's time to pull it together with what you already know. Combining ideas like this is called synthesis. Think about what you already know about the topic of the article, and then think about what the article taught you. How does that help you create new ideas? What can you now figure out after pulling different ideas together? Watch this video on synthesizing to see how you can combine ideas to make new ideas.

    • Handout: Synthesizing What You Read File

      This is a printable handout that summarizes what you just read.

    • Writing About My Synthesis Page

      The final step after you've read an article, understood new concepts, and synthesized them is to share your new ideas. It can be helpful to keep track of your thoughts with a synthesis matrix. Watch this video on writing about your synthesis, and then complete the synthesis matrix activity.

    • Handout: Blank Synthesis Matrix File

      This is a printable sample of a synthesis matrix. As you move further along in your studies, you can use a matrix like this to help you organize research and the different ideas discussed in your field.

    • Synthesis Essay Example and Rubric Page

      In the next section, you will write a synthesis essay in which you will include your ideas on a topic. Here, you will find a sample synthesis essay that will guide you and the rubric that will point out the elements considered in assessing your essay. Carefully examine the information on this page prior to writing your essay. 


    • Create a Synthesis Quiz

      This unit walked you through how to set up and use a synthesis matrix. This will be helpful when organizing your ideas and remembering what was stated in an article. But, what do you do after you've completed the matrix? Now you write!

      This activity does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!

    • Unit 3 Assessment

      • Unit 3 Assessment Quiz
        Receive a grade

        Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.

        • This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
        • You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
        • You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.