Synthesizing Vs. Summarizing

Worksheet Description

The “Synthesizing vs. Summarizing” worksheet is a structured activity designed to help students differentiate between the concepts of synthesizing and summarizing comments. It provides three sections for students to fill in: one for characteristics unique to synthesizing comments, one for traits that both synthesizing and summarizing share, and one for attributes specific to summarizing comments. This format encourages students to think critically about the similarities and differences between the two processes.

This worksheet aims to teach students the critical skills of synthesis and summary, highlighting how each process handles information differently. Through this comparative exercise, students learn that synthesizing involves combining different ideas to form a new understanding, while summarizing is about condensing information into a concise form without losing the core message. The shared section helps students recognize commonalities, such as the need for comprehension and the extraction of important points. By completing this worksheet, students can better grasp how to appropriately engage with and reflect on various types of comments in academic discussions.