Reading Synthesis

Paper details:

Your title page will be on a separate page and contain the following information:
Reading Synthesis Template (or an appropriately descriptive alternative)

Section 1: Article Summaries
1. Reference entry for article 1 (use APA style)
A. Direct quote that identifies the research question/thesis statement (use proper in-text citation). You may not quote from the article
abstract. The quote will be found in the introduction to the article.
B. Provide a 50 word summary of the information provided in the introduction to justify asking the research question/thesis statement. Do
not quote the information you rely on to identify the research question/thesis statement. The only direct quote will be the actual research
question/thesis statement. Parts 1A and 1B will be presented in a single paragraph.
C. Description of the methodology employed to answer the research question or thesis statement. Your description should identify the
primary variables or concepts of interest. The description should be no more than 35 words. Section C constitutes a single paragraph.
D. Summarize the two most important findings of the research or the two most important points that support the thesis statement. Your
summary should be no more than 50 words. Section D will be a single paragraph.

2. Reference entry for article 2 (use APA style)
A. Direct quote that identifies the research question/thesis statement (use proper in-text citation). You may not quote from the article
abstract. The quote will be found in the introduction to the article.
B. Provide a 50 word summary of the information provided in the introduction to justify asking the research question/thesis statement. Do
not quote the information you rely on to identify the research question/thesis statement. The only direct quote will be the actual research
question/thesis statement. Parts 2A and 2B will be presented in a single paragraph.
C. Description of the methodology employed to answer the research question or thesis statement. Your description should identify the
primary variables or concepts of interest. The description should be no more than 35 words. Section C constitutes a single paragraph.
D. Summarize the two most important findings of the research or the two most important points that support the thesis statement. Your
summary should be no more than 50 words. Section D will be a single paragraph.

The reference entries will serve as the only headings for section 1 of the paper. Following each reference entry will be your summary and analysis as outlined in points A-D. Do not refer to these sections by their respective letter. Start a new paragraph for each point. The first sentence in each
paragraph will serve as the topic sentence for the paragraph. Do not start a new page for the second article review. The second review may start immediately after point 1D ends.

Section 2: Synthesis (Use this or an appropriate alternative as a heading for this segment of your paper.)
Use the synthesis section to show how the two articles help us better understand a current event, or something else (perhaps from your job or organization) that you find interesting or relevant. The important point is that you clearly identify and describe in your synthesis the “something” that you are explaining using the main ideas from each article. Your synthesis should not rely on direct quotes. However, you should use in-text citations to appropriately reference the evidence you use from the articles to support your synthesis. Your synthesis should not exceed 200 words.

Additional Comments:
1. You will not find the format for this paper in the APA Publication Manual. This paper is an example of the type of writing you will be asked to do in the MPA program. Most of the time instructors will require your paper follow the APA format. Sometimes the assignment will follow a hybrid format like the one described here. When you encounter a hybrid model, follow the format described in the template. Follow the APA guidelines when the template does not provide you specific guidance.
2. The reading synthesis is single spaced.
3. You do not need