Comprehension Strategy:Comprehension Strategy:Synthesizing InformationSynthesizing Information

Good readers summarize stories infused with their own thoughts. Good readers summarize stories infused with their own thoughts.

Catherine WishartLiteracy Coach

Copyright © 2009. All rights reserved.

““Synthesis is the process of Synthesis is the process of ordering, recalling, retelling, and ordering, recalling, retelling, and

recreating into a coherent whole” recreating into a coherent whole” (Zimmermann and Hutchins, 2003, p. 130).

Synthesis Is More Than a Simple Synthesis Is More Than a Simple SummarySummary• Synthesis involves telling the highlights of the Synthesis involves telling the highlights of the

story or article.story or article.• Synthesis also involves explaining what the story Synthesis also involves explaining what the story

or article means to you.or article means to you.– How does it relate to your own life? (Text-to-self)How does it relate to your own life? (Text-to-self)– How does it relate to other readings? (Text-to-text)How does it relate to other readings? (Text-to-text)– How does it reflect on the world? (Text-to-world)How does it reflect on the world? (Text-to-world)

• Synthesis is a creative process that involves Synthesis is a creative process that involves combining the keys of comprehension into a combining the keys of comprehension into a focused idea that has personal meaning for you, focused idea that has personal meaning for you, the reader.the reader.

Which Keys Do I Use When I Which Keys Do I Use When I Synthesize?Synthesize?

Synthesize Synthesize InformationInformation

Make Make MentalMentalImagesImages Ask Ask

QuestionsQuestions

MakeMakeInferencesInferences

Determine Determine ImportanceImportance

BuildBuildBackground Background KnowledgeKnowledge

Fix-up Fix-up strategiesstrategies

When Readers SynthesizeWhen Readers Synthesize

• Good readers interweave their own thoughts Good readers interweave their own thoughts to form a comprehensive perspective.to form a comprehensive perspective.

• Good readers think about all the parts of their Good readers think about all the parts of their comprehension of a story or article and blend comprehension of a story or article and blend these thoughts into an overall impression.these thoughts into an overall impression.

• Good readers determine what the personal Good readers determine what the personal conversation between the reader and the conversation between the reader and the author should be.author should be.

What Readers Say About SynthesizingWhat Readers Say About Synthesizing

• ““As you collect information from your book, you As you collect information from your book, you need to notice your changing thoughts.”need to notice your changing thoughts.”

• ““Synthesizing helps you pick out big details and Synthesizing helps you pick out big details and respond to the story.”respond to the story.”

• ““Synthesizing helps you create a brand-new Synthesizing helps you create a brand-new world in your mind.”world in your mind.”

• It’s your thinking and background knowledge It’s your thinking and background knowledge added to the summary. It helps you understand added to the summary. It helps you understand more about the book.” more about the book.”

• (Zimmermann and Hutchins, 2003, p. 133).

How Do Good Readers Synthesize?How Do Good Readers Synthesize?• What is the author trying to do in this story?What is the author trying to do in this story?• Are there any questions that you ask yourself when Are there any questions that you ask yourself when

you read the story?you read the story?• What background knowledge do you link to the What background knowledge do you link to the

story?story?• What are the main ideas? The important details?What are the main ideas? The important details?• Be prepared to discuss the story in class. Be prepared to discuss the story in class.

Guiding Questions to Aid SynthesizingGuiding Questions to Aid Synthesizing

• What do I think the author believes? What What do I think the author believes? What information does the author provide that shows information does the author provide that shows me what the author is thinking?me what the author is thinking?

• What does this summary mean to me? What What does this summary mean to me? What else have I read that is like this text?else have I read that is like this text?

• Has reading this passage changed my mind Has reading this passage changed my mind about this topic? Why or why not?about this topic? Why or why not?

• What does this text remind me of? Does this What does this text remind me of? Does this story make me think differently about things story make me think differently about things that have happened in my own life? How?that have happened in my own life? How?

Synthesizing is like baking a cake. You gather Synthesizing is like baking a cake. You gather all the ingredients that make up a whole cake. all the ingredients that make up a whole cake. The eggs are just eggs, the flour is just flour, The eggs are just eggs, the flour is just flour, and the sugar is only sugar. But when you mix and the sugar is only sugar. But when you mix

it all together and add your own special it all together and add your own special touches, these details add up to a wonderful touches, these details add up to a wonderful whole torte of your own creation. The more whole torte of your own creation. The more

experience you have baking, the more experience you have baking, the more delightful your creation will be. The more delightful your creation will be. The more

questions you ask on how to bake, the better questions you ask on how to bake, the better the results will be. The more you can envision the results will be. The more you can envision

your final product, the more perfect your your final product, the more perfect your pastry will turn out.pastry will turn out.