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The next step is to place your key information into a synthesis matrix.  A synthesis matrix is a table which lists your sources on the side as rows, and your subtopics along the top as columns (some charts will reverse this order, as in the following example).  A completed matrix would look something like this:

 

This tool is especially helpful for larger synthesis projects, but we’ll go ahead and practice using it with this smaller task.

Note that, as shown in the example matrix, you can place direct quotes into a source matrix and put them into your own words later, but just to be safe, we’ll do our paraphrasing and summarizing as we put our information into the matrix.  You can also put the information in note form (using abbreviations, symbols, single words, short phrases) to ensure you write out the information in your own words later.

 

You Try

Go ahead and transfer the key information you highlighted during the previous steps into the Word Document below.  Normally, you would identify your own subtopics, or categories of information.  In this matrix, the subtopics have already been identified and four of the sources have already been transferred.

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How did you do?

When you have completed the matrix, you can check your work against mine to see how you did.

Completed Synthesis Matrix

When you’re ready, click the  button to move on to the next step.

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References:

North Carolina State University (2006).  Writing a literature review and using a synthesis matrix. Retrieved from http://writingcenter.fiu.edu/resources/synthesis-matrix-2.pdf

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