Summa Cum Laude

During college years, we will often be asked to demonstrate our understanding of sources by writing summaries, evaluations, analyses, and syntheses. These thing make up the four forms of writing that are fundamental to college-level work. Each form emphasizes a particular way of thinking about texts, and each is built on particular skills in critical reading, which in turn will lead us to be a critical writer.

Forms of writing that build on reading that will make us a critical writer, are:

Summary.

When we summarize, we briefly and neutrally restate the main points of a text. Summary draws on our skills of reading to understand.

Evaluation.

When we evaluate, we judge the effectiveness of an author’s presentation and explain our agreement or disagreement. Evaluation draws on our skills of reading to understand, reading to respond, and reading to evaluate.

Analysis.

When we analyze, we use the clearly defined principles set out by one or more authors to investigate the work of other authors or to investigate various situations in the world. Analysis draws on our skills of reading to understand, reading to respond, and reading to evaluate.

Synthesis.

When we synthesize texts, we gather the work of various authors according to our purpose. Synthesis draws on our skills of reading to understand, reading to respond, reading to evaluate, and reading to synthesize.