C1 Synthesis Writing: Combine Multiple Sources Without Patchwriting

Synthesis is not three summaries placed next to one another. It is a new structure in which several sources answer the same analytical question.

Weak synthesis often follows the source order: Author A says… Author B says… Author C says… Stronger synthesis follows the writer’s idea: Two explanations dominate the literature: institutional constraints and learner strategy… The sources then become evidence inside that structure.

Build a source matrix before drafting

Put your subquestions in rows and sources in columns. Record each author’s position, evidence and limitation in short notes. Patterns become visible before sentence-level writing begins.

Paraphrase after you have combined ideas

Patchwriting happens when a writer keeps the source sentence architecture and substitutes synonyms. Instead, close the source, state the combined idea from memory, then verify accuracy. The foundational skills are in Summary and Paraphrase.

Make relationships explicit

Use reporting language that shows agreement, qualification or conflict: Both studies identify X, although Patel attributes it to Y whereas Chen emphasises Z. Calibrate the strength of your claims with Academic Hedging.

Final check: if removing the author names leaves no clear argument, you may still be summarising sources rather than synthesising them.