76-101

EVALUATING SYNTHESIS-ANALYSIS PAPERS: How to evaluate an synthesis-analysis paper: for each 
of the following criteria, choose an appropriate response from the Agree-Disagree scale and put its 
corresponding number in the criterion’s Score column blank:

Strongly disagree      Disagree          Agree            Strongly Agre 
     |                    |               |                     |   
     |                    |               |                     |   
     0                    1               2                     3

I. REASONING AND CONTENT :
The paper . . . 
1. includes an introduction that identifies a issue/problem and argues for  
its existence & significance (by, for example, presenting a problem 
case or a history of a debate and stating why it is important to resolve 
the issue)
____
2. analyzes the five texts we have read 
____
3. categorizes the positions represented by the 5 texts into 2 or 3 
appropriately defined & named approaches (see explanation & 
examples in KGN chapt. 12)
____
4. characterizes each approach and the positions within that approach in 
terms of their strengths and weaknesses relative to how they address 
the issue/problem and supports these characterizations by providing 
appropriate criteria, reasons, and/or counterexamples.  (That is, the 
paper goes beyond merely claiming that position is weak or strong in 
some respect to explaining why.  See the section “Commonly Held 
Criteria” in KGN on page 45.)
____
5. uses textual evidence  (quotes or close paraphrases w/reference 
notation) accurately and in ways that support its most important 
claims. 
____
6. concludes with a summary of the coherent view of the issue/problem 
that the “tour” should lead readers to.
____

II. ORGANIZATION:
The paper . . .

1. Is focused and appropriate in tone, displaying a sense of purpose and 
audience
____
2. exhibits a clear pattern of organization which emphasizes important 
points (e.g., intro…analyses (ordered by chronology, idiosyncrasy, 
merit, or other principle)…conclusion) and maintains coherence 
through good transitions (e.g., forecasting, etc.).
____
3. is appropriate in tone (i.e., it is objective and respectful, not “talkie” or 
“faultfinding”).
____

III. EXPRESSION
The paper’s …
1. diction, grammar, & spelling conform to standard, idiomatic, written 
American English
____