Informational Text Synthesizing Sources: Main Ideas and Supporting Evidence

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Informational TextSynthesizing Sources Main
Ideas and Supporting Evidence
Feature Menu
Informational Texts Connecting to the
Literature Introducing the Informational
Texts Vocabulary Informational Reading Focus
Synthesizing Sources Synthesizing
Sources Assignment
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Connecting to the Literature
The death of Edgar Allan Poe, author of The Cask
of Amontillado, is shrouded in mystery. Most
scholars believe that Poe died as a result of
drinking too much alcohol. According to another
theory, Poe died of rabies, a disease people can
get when they are bitten or scratched by an
animal infected with the rabies virus. The
following four selections present a debate about
what killed this tragic genius.
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Introducing the Informational Texts
Poes Final Days
Poes Death Is Rewritten as a Case of Rabies,
Not Telltale Alcohol
If Only Poe Had Succeeded When He Said Nevermore
to Drink
Rabies Death Theory
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Synthesizing Sources
When you research a subject, you read many
different sources. Then you need to synthesize,
or put all the pieces together, to see the big
picture.
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Synthesizing Sources
Steps for Synthesizing

• Find the main idea. Take notes about the writers
  most important point, opinion, or message.

• If you encounter a difficult passage, paraphrase
  it, or restate it in your own words.

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Synthesizing Sources
Steps for Synthesizing

• Look for supporting evidencefacts, statistics,
  examples, anecdotes, or quotations. To help find
  the writers main idea and support, try making a
  chart.

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Synthesizing Sources
Quick Check
What is the writers main idea?
The writer entered Washington College
Hospital comatose, Dr. Benitez said, but by the
next day was perspiring heavily, hallucinating,
and shouting at imaginary companions. The next
day, he seemed better but could not remember
falling ill. On his fourth day at the hospital,
Poe again grew confused and belligerent, then
quieted down and died. That is a classic case of
rabies, the doctor said. from Poes Death Is
Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale
Alcohol (from The New York Times, September 15,
1996)
What are some pieces of supporting evidence?
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Synthesizing Sources
Quick Check
What is the writers main idea?
The writer entered Washington College
Hospital comatose, Dr. Benitez said, but by the
next day was perspiring heavily, hallucinating,
and shouting at imaginary companions. The next
day, he seemed better but could not remember
falling ill. On his fourth day at the hospital,
Poe again grew confused and belligerent, then
quieted down and died. That is a classic case of
rabies, the doctor said. from Poes Death Is
Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale
Alcohol (from The New York Times, September 15,
1996)
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Synthesizing Sources
Quick Check
What are some pieces of supporting evidence?
The writer entered Washington College
Hospital comatose, Dr. Benitez said, but by the
next day was perspiring heavily, hallucinating,
and shouting at imaginary companions. The next
day, he seemed better but could not remember
falling ill. On his fourth day at the hospital,
Poe again grew confused and belligerent, then
quieted down and died. That is a classic case of
rabies, the doctor said. from Poes Death Is
Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale
Alcohol (from The New York Times, September 15,
1996)
Poe was perspiring heavily, hallucinating, and
belligerent.
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Synthesizing Sources
Steps for Synthesizing

• Compare and contrast. Look for similarities and
  differences among the sources, especially in the
  authors main idea and the types of support used.

• Make connections. Is the information in the
  sources familiar to you? Have you read about it
  in other places?

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Synthesizing Sources
Quick Check
What other theories have you heard about Poes
death?
The writer entered Washington College
Hospital comatose, Dr. Benitez said, but by the
next day was perspiring heavily, hallucinating,
and shouting at imaginary companions. The next
day, he seemed better but could not remember
falling ill. On his fourth day at the hospital,
Poe again grew confused and belligerent, then
quieted down and died. That is a classic case of
rabies, the doctor said. from Poes Death Is
Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale
Alcohol (from The New York Times, September 15,
1996)
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Synthesizing Sources
Quick Check
What other theories have you heard about Poes
death?
The writer entered Washington College
Hospital comatose, Dr. Benitez said, but by the
next day was perspiring heavily, hallucinating,
and shouting at imaginary companions. The next
day, he seemed better but could not remember
falling ill. On his fourth day at the hospital,
Poe again grew confused and belligerent, then
quieted down and died. That is a classic case of
rabies, the doctor said. from Poes Death Is
Rewritten as a Case of Rabies, Not Telltale
Alcohol (from The New York Times, September 15,
1996)
Possible answers Poe died as a result of
epilepsy, a beating, heart trouble, or diabetes.
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Synthesizing Sources
Putting It All Together Once youve completed all
the steps, put the pieces together. To synthesize
what youve learned, you may want to write a
research report, editorial, speech or letter on
the topic.
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Assignment
After you read these four articles concerning
Poes death, synthesize the information.

• Find the main idea of each article.

• Identify the supporting evidence for each main
  idea.

• Make connections with other sources.

• After You Read compare and contrast main ideas
  and evidence.

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The End