College Board Synthesis Essays
2007 Advertising
Based on 6 sources, all about advertising. Develop a position on the effects of advertising and synthesize at least three of the sources for support.
2007B Museum Artifacts
Based on 6 sources concerning museum artifacts and decisions made to include a particular piece of art or an artifact. Develop a position on the most important considerations facing the person responsible for securing a new work of art or an artifact for a museum. Synthesize at least three of the sources for support.
2008 The Penny
Based on 7 sources concerning the elimination of the penny as the smallest American denomination. Develop a position on whether or not the penny should be eliminated and synthesize at least three of the sources for support.
2008B Natiuonal School Curriculum
Based on 6 sources concerning a defined national school curriculum. Develop a position on whether or not there should be specific texts that all students of high school English should read. Synthesize at least three of the sources for support.
2009 Space Exploration
Based on 8 sources concerning space exploration. Develop a position about what issues should be considered most important in making decisions about space exploration and synthesize at least three of the sources for support.
2009B Individuality vs. Conformity in Public Schools
Based on 7 sources concerning public education. Choose an issue related to the tension in schools between individuality and conformity. Write an essay in which you use this issue to argue the extent to which schools should support individuality or conformity. Synthesize at least three of the sources for support.
2010 Information Technology
Based on 6 sources concerning information technology. Our daily lives seem to be saturated with television, computers, cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and MP3 players, etc. In an essay that synthesizes at least three of the sources for support, evaluate the most important factors that a school should consider before using particular technologies in curriculum and instruction.
2010B Daylight Savings Time
Based on 6 sources concerning daylight savings time. Synthesize at least three of the sources into an essay that evaluates daylight saving time and offers a recommendation about its continued use.
2011 Locavores
Based on 7 sources concerning locavores, people who have decided to eat locally grown or produced products as much as possible, for sustainability and nutrition. Imagine that a community is considering organizing a locavore movement. In an essay that synthesizes at least three of the sources identify the key issues associated with the locavore movement and examine their implications for the community.
2011B Green Living
Based on 6 sources concerning green living (practices that promote the conservation and wise use of natural resources). Synthesize at least three of the sources into an essay that develops a position on the extent to which government should be responsible for fostering green practices.
2012 Unites States Postal Service
Based on 8 sources concerning the US Postal Service. Synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay that argues a clear position on whether the USPS should be restructured to meet the needs of a changing world, and if so, how.
2013 Memorialization
The need to memorialize events or people is complex; in some cases, monuments honor moments of great achievement, while in other cases, monuments pay homage to deep sacrifice. A monument’s size, location, and materials are all considerations in planning and creating a memorial to the past.
Based on 7 sources concerning memorialization. Synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate into an essay that examines the factors a group or agency should consider in memorializing an event or person and in creating a monument.
2014 Value of a College Education
Many recent college graduates have faced record levels of unemployment. This situation has led people to question what they value about higher education. Some high school students and their parents are wondering if a college education is worth the cost. Others, however, believe that a college education prepares students for more than just a job or career.
Based on 6 sources concerning the value of a college education, Synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay that evaluates whether college is worth its cost.
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