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Objective Synthesis Paper

Sources: Douglas T. Putnam; Donald F. Sabo; Myles Brand’s Title IX Seminar Keynote Address (April 28, 2003)

The Putnam and Sabo readings are in Kennedy & Smith. The Brand keynote address is available online (http://www.ncaa.org/gender_equity/general_info/20030428speech.html).

Your first formal paper assignment is to write a 4 page (minimum) objective synthesis of Brand, Putnam, and Sabo that explores the persistent challenges of gender equity and athletic access since the passage of Title IX.

Like a summary of a reading, an objective synthesis does not have your “opinion” or point of view on the issues being synthesized. Unlike a summary, an objective synthesis combines the ideas found in multiple sources. (See K&S, pp. 171-8.) The challenge in an objective synthesis is to organize your essay by the themes found in a set of readings, rather than organizing the essay by author. The goal of an objective synthesis is to represent the key issues at stake in a particular subject, and to indicate the different perspectives involved.

Use both the reading questions and the pre-writing assignment to help you organize and develop your Objective Synthesis. Locate common themes, identify how the sources address a particular theme, and organize your essay around themes. It is important to know that not every source needs to speak to a theme for it to merit inclusion in your objective synthesis. Also, not every issue must receive treatment in the objective synthesis.

All drafts must be typed and double-spaced, with one-inch margins. Do not include a “cover page.” Simply put your name, the date, the assignment and draft number, and title for the essay at the top of the first page. Be sure to include page numbers, a works cited page using APA citation, and appropriate in-text citation. (The works cited page does not count as a page toward the page minimum.)

I request that you also email me a copy of your drafts as an attachment (in either Word or RTF format). This way I will have a backup copy of your work should something happen to your computer, a disk you use for your work, or some other unforeseen catastrophe. This is not mandatory, though it may be in your best interest to do so.

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