She provides multiple examples and provides a downloadable template. Notice that she lists her sources down the column on the left-hand side of the matrix. She included eight, but you only need to include five. Additionally, she lists five key information (topics) along the top; you need to include five as well. It is important that you have read and taken notes on all of sources (including your interview) so that you can generate your own key information (topics) as they relate to your discourse community. Notice that not all of her sources cover all of the key information that appears at the top of her matrix—this is good! This means that each source is “pulling it’s weight” so to speak and provides different and useful information for her essay. Also notice that some sources provide more information than others (e.g., Varshney & Anis provide information for four out of five key information boxes).

Next, create your own synthesis matrix. You may simply download the template provided and modify the document as necessary to reflect your research topic (discourse community). And lastly, include a paragraph (at least 250 words) that explains what you learned about how your sources relate to each other (or diverge) from creating your synthesis matrix. Take a moment to reflect on each source’s usefulness and how you might use it in your essay.