Developing a Thesis Statement 1:
Explanatory Syntheses & Argument Syntheses

 
 

 

I.  What are the principles for writing an explanatory synthesis?

 

An explanatory synthesis is like a map.  You are the cartographer who will create the map. You must decide the appropriate scope of your topic (borders), the most important features to be included (man-made places and natural objects), and the most important relationships between those features (roads).  You sketch a layout which will be of use as a general introduction to the topic. 

 

II. How do you write an explanatory synthesis? 

 

A.  Gather several articles on your topic.  Take notes; summarize each article.

 

B.  Re-read your notes: look for repetitions in the important features and important relationships governing your topic.

 

C.  Write a thesis, and then re-write it!

 

It might take several tries to develop a full thesis:

 

[important relationships A and B] To understand how beauty salons operate, we must understand not only the typical contract between the salon owner and individual stylist but also the three different kinds of relationships that the owner may form with the beauty product suppliers.

 

[important features D and C] To understand how beauty salons operate, we must understand the best-selling textbook American guidelines for styling hair and the beauty school educational system which trains students using this influential book.

 

[important relationships & features together] 

To understand how beauty salons operate, we must understand not only the typical contract between the salon owner and individual stylist and the three different kinds of relationships that the owner may form with the beauty product suppliers, but also the best-selling textbook American guidelines for styling hair and the beauty school educational system which trains students using this influential book.

 

 

III. What are the principles for writing an argument synthesis?

 

As with the explanatory synthesis, you select borders, key features, and important relationships. However, your primary purpose has changed. Instead of offering a general introduction, you are now making a specific argument. An argument synthesis is like a treasure map.  From among many features and relationships, you select only the features or relationships things that get you to your goal.  The goal is a new idea, something that only you can show your audience. 

 

 

IV. How do you write an argument synthesis? 

 

A.  Gather several articles on your topic.  Take notes; summarize each article.

 

B.  Re-read your notes: look for similarities in important features and important relationships.

 

C.  Write a thesis, then re-write it!  Again, it takes several tries to develop a full thesis.  Instead of just explaining our topic's general features, we now begin to argue for conclusions and actions.

 

 

Relationships A and B are the most important relationships to understand about my TOPIC.  Because of relationships A and B, we should conclude X about the TOPIC.

 

To understand how beauty salons operate, we must understand the typical contract between the individual stylist and the salon owner and also the different kinds of relationships that the salon owner may form with beauty product suppliers.  Because of these pressures, both owners and stylists may consider managing contracts and products to be more important than mastery of haircutting skills.

 

Relationships A and B are the most important relationships to understand about my TOPIC.  Because of relationships A and B, we should act in way Q.

 

To understand how beauty salons operate, we must understand the typical contract between the individual stylist and the salon owner and also the different kinds of relationships that the salon owner may form with beauty product suppliers.  Owners and stylists ought to receive training in the management of business relationships as well as training in haircutting skills.

 

Relationships A and B are the most important relationships to understand about my TOPIC.  Because of relationships A and B, we should conclude X about the TOPIC and act in way Q.

 

To understand how beauty salons operate, we must understand the typical contract between the individual stylist and the salon owner and also the different kinds of relationships that the salon owner may form with beauty product suppliers. Because of these pressures, both owners and stylists may consider managing contracts and products to be more important than mastery of haircutting skills.  To assist in these matters, owners and stylists ought to receive training in the management of business relationships as well as training in haircutting skills.

 

So far so good.  But there were also important features to discuss.  So we continue:

 

Important features C and D are the most important features to understand about my TOPIC. Because of important features C and D, we should conclude X about the TOPIC.

 

To understand how beauty salons operate, we must understand the principles of highly influential best-selling textbook American guidelines for styling hair as well as the beauty educational school system.  The reason why there is so little truly unique hairdressing in America is the rigid way in which the American guidelines are usually taught to aspiring stylists.

 

 

Important features C and D are the most important features to understand about my TOPIC. Because of important features C and D, we should act in way Q.

 

To understand how beauty salons operate, we must understand the principles of highly influential best-selling textbook American guidelines for styling hair as well as the beauty educational school system.  To open the field for truly unique hairdressing in America, we should invite top stylists from other countries to hold workshops at least once during a student's stay in beauty school.

 

Key features C and D are the most important features to understand about my TOPIC. Because of key features C and D, we should conclude X about the TOPIC and
act in way Q.”

 

To understand how beauty salons operate, we must understand the principles of highly influential best-selling textbook American guidelines for styling hair as well as the beauty educational school system.  The reason why there is so little truly unique hairdressing in America is the rigid way in which the American guidelines are usually taught to aspiring stylists. To open the field for truly unique hairdressing in America, we should invite top stylists from other countries to hold workshops at least once during a student's stay in beauty school.

 

 

You've seen the explanatory synthesis compared with the argument synthesis.  Now for the final effort!  Combining these thoughts, we get a truly robust thesis, including explanation and argument.

 

 

Relationships A and B are the most important relationships to understand about my TOPIC and key features C and D are the most important features to understand about my TOPIC. Because of relationships A and B and key features C and D, we should [conclude X about the TOPIC] and [act in way Q].

 

Beauty salons, apparently combining customer-oriented business operations with creative aesthetics, ought to offer a consistently great experience to customers.  Unfortunately, more than 80% of customers express dissatisfaction with their salon experience. (Jones 234)  To understand how beauty salons operate, we must to understand the typical contract between the individual stylist and the salon owner and also the different kinds of relationships that the salon owner may form with beauty product suppliers.  Furthermore, we must consider the standard training provided by the American guidelines for styling hair in the rigid beauty school educational system. In fact, salon owners may consider managing stylists and products more important than actual haircutting skills.  Moreover, creativity has already been trained out of the stylists during their school days.  To improve beauty salon experience for customers, three issues must be addressed:  first, clients should take care in seeking salons owners who consider actual haircutting skills as important as managing clients and products. Clients might consider interviewing owners to see what kind of training and re-training has been offered to stylists.  Second, owners and stylists ought to receive training in the management of business relationships as well as training in haircutting skills.  Third, to open the field for truly unique hairdressing in America, beauty schools should change the rigid way in which the American guidelines are taught.  In particular, they should invite top stylists from other countries to hold workshops at least once during a student’s stay in beauty school.

 

D.  Yup, this took a while to do.  It is necessarily an iterative process.  Expect to spend more time on your thesis than on any other part of the paper.