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What is a Synoptic Essay and How Do I Write One?
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Writing the synoptic essay
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Part of the A-Level History course now involves a synoptic element. This involves examining change and reasons for change over a fixed period of time. This is usually around 100 years. If you are writing a synoptic essay, a slightly different approach is needed. You will need to give an overview of your understanding of the major themes studied in the unit/subject (and within the context), often indicating how your understanding of the themes has developed over time. This can be quite difficult to get right.
How do exam boards describe the synoptic element?
Synopticity is:
'Approaching history in the way a professional historian would' by drawing together knowledge, ideas and arguments to show overall historical understanding . (QCA's definition)
Essentially, we are looking for breadth of understanding (an ability to see beyond the obvious and to see the deeper implications of questions), together with a relevant linking of ideas and arguments across the topic / period of the question.
It mixes breadth of understanding (an ability to see the key underlying themes of the period the 'drivers' bringing change; the degree of continuity; the relationship between state and people), with depth of example and understanding of the importance of precise supporting detail.
At A2, essays are likely to have more than one focus; more than one issue to discuss and more than one viewpoint to analyse. The question itself invites a 'synoptic response' so a good conventional essay answer will do all these things.
A synoptic essay will usually ask you to examine "how far" or "how valid/convincing". In order to approach a synoptic well, it is good practice to organise your themes FIRST. This will make the essay easier to write.
Examples of synoptic style questions
- How far was the personality cult of Adolf Hitler responsible for the success of the Nazi party?
- 'Between 1547 and 1559 England was almost torn apart by religious revolution.' Assess the validity of this view.
Both of these questions are synoptic. They are asking you to examine the events/people in the context of other long and short term themes.
Example: "How far was the personality of Adolf Hitler responsible for the success of the Nazi party?"
In this question, you are expected not only to be able to assess how important Hitler was to the Nazis, but you are also expected to set the Nazis in the wider historical context of the time and examine other long/short term factors that may have aided their success.
In the long-term, the following factors could be said to have aided Nazi success:
The legacy of the Bismarckian system - the nature of authority and rule, as well as the legacy of policies such as Kulturkampf.
The outdated autocratic regime in Germany under the Kaisers (Kaiserreich)
Difficult relations with Britain, France and Russia. The whole power struggle of the time - especially the growing confidence of Russia against Austria-Hungary and the difficult family ties between ruling families.
World War I and Germany's loss.
The Treaty of Versailles and the 'stab in the back' myth.
The weakness in the set-up of the Weimar Republic
In the Shorter-term...
The personality of Adolf Hitler and his election to the leadership of the NSDAP.
Failings made by the politicians of the Weimar Republic
The Instability of the Weimar Republic
The Nazi part machine - i.e. organisation
Nazi party tactics - i.e. putsches, propaganda, rallies, use of SA etc...
The Wall Street Crash and depression, growth in anti-semitism.
The mistakes of Hindenburg, Von Papen and Von Schleicher.
This is not an exhaustive list of reasons for the success of the Nazi Party; however, it should highlight to you that the personality of Hitler as suggested by the question was just one of many short and longer term factors that helped the Nazis to become successful.
In a synoptic essay you would need to weigh this up in the light of the other factors at play, whilst at the same time displaying your understanding of the entire period and actually how much change took place. Some would argue for example that some of Hitler's policies were more extreme versions of Bismarckian policies, for example, Bismarck's' Kulturkampf deliberately persecuted Catholics in Germany; Hitler, in a far more extreme way, persecuted Jews.
Some may also argue that because Bismarck and the Kaiser had ruled in an absolute way, that this was the kind of rule that Germans were used to; perhaps they weren't ready for the democracy that was offered by the Republic, so when Hitler came along offering a return to the traditional absolute style of rule, it seemed familiar to Germans.
Of course, the validity of these views is very open to question, but that is the point of the synoptic essay. You are required to think more deeply about the question and read between the lines. The REAL question at play in this example is: "Why were the Nazis successful?"
A good way to organise your themes might be as follows:
Introduction that includes very brief setting of the scene and states your line of argument.
Discuss the theme that is asked for by the question (in this case the personality of Hitler) - how important was this?
Discuss the other short-term themes that were also important to the period/event and evaluate significance. Then compare the significance of these other factors in comparison to the initial factor.
Finally, here comes the synoptic analysis, you then need to examine the longer term themes at play and examine their role - how important were they in comparison to the shorter term factors. Were there many shifts or changes? How much continuity was there? How did any changes or continuity affect the situation?
Conclusion - how important was the factor as stated by the question? Set it in light of the wider context of the time and re-assert your point of view.
*N.B. Where appropriate once again you need to include the historiography and views of historians throughout.
- Guide to essay-writing
- A-level 'how to' guides
What Is a Synopsis and How Do You Write One?
What to Put In and What to Leave Out
- An Introduction to Punctuation
- Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
- M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
- B.A., English, State University of New York
In the 19th century, a synopsis was a classroom exercise used for teaching traditional grammar but today, the accepted definition of a synopsis is a general overview of an article, essay, story, book, or other written work. In the field of publishing, a synopsis may serve as a proposal for an article or book. In feature writing and other forms of nonfiction, a synopsis may also refer to a concise summary of a polemic argument or event. You might also find a synopsis included in a review or report.
Fast Facts: Synopsis
Pronunciation: si-NOP-sis
Etymology From the Greek, "general view"
Plural : synopses
Adjective : synoptic
Synopsis vs. Outline
Some people use the terms outline and synopsis synonymously and they really are very similar. When it comes to fiction, however, the distinction is more clearcut. While each may contain similar information, a synopsis is an overview that summarizes the main plot points of the work, whereas an outline functions as a structural tool that breaks the plot down into its component parts.
If you think of it in terms of a novel, the synopsis would be similar to the book jacket copy that tells you who the characters are and what happens to them. It usually also gives readers a feeling for the tone, genre, and theme of the work. An outline would be more akin to a page of chapter listings (provided the author has titled the chapters rather than just numbering them) which functions as a map that leads the reader from the beginning of a literary journey to its final destination or denouement.
In addition to crucial information, a synopsis often includes a thematic statement. Again, thinking in terms of fiction, it would identify the genre and even subgenre, for example, a romance Western, a murder mystery, or a dystopic fantasy and would also reveal something of the tone of the work—whether dark or humorous, erotic or terrifying.
What to Include and What to Leave Out
Since a synopsis is a condensation of the original material, a writer must be sure to include the most important details so that the reader will be able to fully comprehend what the work is about. Sometimes, it's hard to know what to put in and what to leave out. Writing a summary requires critical thinking . You're going to have to analyze the original material and decide what the most important information is.
A synopsis isn't about style or details, it's about supplying enough information for your audience to easily understand and categorize the work. A few brief examples might be permissible, but numerous examples, dialogues, or extensive quotations have no place in a synopsis. Do, however, keep your synopsis true to the plot and timeline of the original story.
Synopses for Non-Fiction Stories
The purpose of a synopsis for a work of nonfiction is to serve as a condensed version of an event, a controversy, a point of view, or background report. Your job as a writer is to include enough basic information so that a reader can easily identify what the story is about and understand its tone. While detailed information is important when telling the larger story, only the information crucial to comprehending the "who, what, when, where, and why" of an event, proposal, or argument is necessary for the synopsis.
Again, as with fiction, the tone and the eventual outcome of your story will also likely come into play in your summary. Choose your phrasing judiciously. Your goal is to use as a few words as possible to achieve maximum impact without leaving out so much information that your reader ends up confused.
- Fernando, Jovita N., Habana, Pacita I., and Cinco, Alicia L. "New Perspectives in English One." Rex, 2006
- Kennedy, X.J., Kennedy, Dorothy M., and Muth, Marcia F. "The Bedford Guide for College Writers." Ninth Edition. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2011
- Brooks, Terri. " Words' Worth: A Handbook on Writing and Selling Nonfiction ." St. Martin's Press, 1989
- How to Write a Good Descriptive Paragraph
- Complete List of John Steinbeck's Books
- What Is Literary Journalism?
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Learn how to prepare and write a synopsis assignment.
- Newcastle University
- Academic Skills Kit
- Assignment Types
A synopsis is a brief summary which gives readers an overview of the main points. In an academic context, this is usually a summary of a text (a journal article, book, report etc) but in some instances you might be writing a synopsis of a talk, film or other form of presentation. A synopsis is a neutral summary, objectively capturing the main points, rather than your own perspective or critique, and it focusses directly on the text you’re summarising rather than being a wider discussion of a topic, as an essay might be.
A synopsis aims to give the reader a full, if brief, account of the whole text so that they can follow its main points without having to read it themselves. It’s not a ‘trailer’ designed to tempt your audience to read the text itself, so you don’t have to worry about ‘hooking’ them in with hints and high points or ‘spoiling the ending’ - give the whole text equal coverage, including the conclusions. You could add some commentary which gives the reader a bit of context about the text, including the authors and circumstances it was written in (for example, if it is part of a debate, particular school of thought or its significance and what impact it’s had).
Writing a good synopsis is a skill, and there are a number of challenges:
- Separating the main points from the minor detail
- Knowing what to leave out as well as what to include
- Giving a sense of the overall narrative as well as listing the key points
- Covering the whole text within a small word limit
- Knowing how closely to stick to the original, especially in terms of the wording
- Whether to give all key points equal treatment, or cover some more briefly, even combining them
- Rephrasing things concisely without losing the meaning or misrepresenting it
- Not leaving out anything crucial to understanding the whole overall message
A good synopsis will allow the reader to feel as if they’d skimread the whole text themselves, understanding the overall gist and highlighting what they need to know. A poor synopsis will get bogged down in detail, giving a confused account of the whole story by just listing points, miss out major points or give an inaccurate or one-sided account or stick so closely to the original that it becomes plagiarism without demonstrating a real understanding by the person summarising it.
How to prepare a synopsis
Boiling down the key points and overall narrative of the original means good reading and note-taking skills which aim to identify and boil down key points to their essence. You could try some of the following approaches:
- Read the whole text, and afterwards, without re-reading, jot down your first initial summary in 50 words to capture its overall point. You can check it back for accuracy or anything you left out, but stick within ca 50 words
- Read the introduction and first line of each paragraph to get a sense of the overall structure and key points within it
- Highlight one sentence in each paragraph that you think is essential detail to understanding that section
- Alternatively, with a marker pen, cross out anything that isn’t essential to an understanding of the whole section or text
- Jot down only key words as a summary of each point rather than whole sentences
- Read each paragraph and summarise it without looking, in one sentence of your own
- Consider how many points you can make within your word count, and reduce or combine your list of summarised points down to this number
You could start small, identifying just keywords or sentences at first and then work them up into phrases, bullet points and sentences as a rough plan or draft, or you could start big with the original text and reduce each section, paragraph and sentence summary again and again until you have boiled it down to its essence.
When you start to prepare your first plan or draft, try to use your notes or memory and step away from the original as much as you can. You can go back and check it afterwards, but you need to create some distance to be able to create your own account and have confidence in the points you have identified as essential.
Writing a synopsis
The main decisions facing you as you write up your summary are about how closely to stick to the original in terms of structure and style, and how much attention to give to each point.
- You could begin your synopsis with a brief context, explaining who the authors are, the context and significance of their work, as well as anything you think might help the reader to understand the following summary
- The most common structure is to follow that of the original text, to give a sense of its narrative flow as well as the key points within it. You could choose to depart from it a little though, perhaps glossing over some points faster than others, combining two sections which go together or aren’t enough in their own right, possibly even changing the order a little where it helps to combine two similar points. Careful use of signposting language will help the reader clearly follow the structure (and note anywhere you’ve changed it from the original) so they can identify the bit you’re talking about in the original if they want to
- The style will naturally be strongly influenced by the original wording, but you should phrase it in your own words wherever possible. It’s harder to nibble away words from a much longer original than it is to start again and use your own concise phrasing, and you want to demonstrate your own understanding to the reader. You could use the odd original phrase or quotation here or there, but the synopsis needs to be more than a collage of quotations; it’s a thing in its own right rather than a cut-down version of the original
- You can also show your own response to the text in the way you use language to guide the reader to what you feel are the key points and (briefly) why. Your own voice doesn’t need to be very obvious in the synopsis, as it’s about the text rather than your reaction to it, but you have made analytical decisions about what is important, and might want to explain to the reader why these points are significant in understanding the whole
- What is the main purpose of this text? What did it aim to discover, explain or prove?
- Why was this research done? How significant is it?
- How was the research conducted? What kind of research is it?
- What were the three (or four, five) main things I should be aware of from this paper?
- What is their line of argument?
- What is their overall conclusion, recommendation, finding? Why is that important?
Managing word count
The trick to writing a concise synopsis which keeps within your word limit is not to start from the much bigger original text, but from your own boiled down notes. If you’re over the word count, you could start cutting out words that don’t seem essential, but if you go too far, you end up with a text which does not read well and doesn’t hang together. It might be better to remove whole sentences and perhaps whole points, than nibble away at words here and there.
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Learn how to prepare and write a synopsis assignment. **PDF Download**
- Literary Terms
- Definition & Examples
- When & How to Write a Synopsis
I. What is a Synopsis?
A synopsis is a brief summary that gives audiences an idea of what a composition is about. It provides an overview of the storyline or main points and other defining factors of the work, which may include style, genre, persons or characters of note, setting, and so on. We write synopses for all kinds of things—any type of fiction or nonfiction book, academic papers, journal and newspaper articles, films, TV shows, and video games, just to name a few!
The amount of detail and information revealed in a synopsis depends on its purpose. For instance, authors often need to provide a lengthy synopsis when proposing a book, article, or work to potential publishers or editors —in that case, a synopsis will include a full plot overview (which includes revealing the ending), signs of character progression, detailed explanation of theme and tone, and so on. This article will mainly focus on the short synopses you see every day on websites and other media outlets.
II. Example of a Synopsis
Here’s an example of a short synopsis of the story of Jack and Jill:
Jack and Jill is the story of a boy and a girl who went up a hill together. They went to fetch a pail of water, but unfortunately, their plan is disrupted when Jack falls and hits his head, and rolls back down the hill. Then, Jill falls too, and comes tumbling down after Jack.
As you can see, the synopsis outlines what happens in the story. It introduces the main characters and the main plot points without being overly detailed or wordy.
III. Importance of Synopses
Synopses are extremely valuable and necessary pieces of writing for authors, film makers, TV producers, academic writers, and many others.
- On one level, it’s what actually helps a book get published or a film or TV series get made—a successful, well-written synopsis can convince the person in charge of publication or production to bring a work to life
- On the other hand, synopses grab the attention of potential audiences and can convince them to read, watch, or listen
- Also, they help researchers find what they are looking for and decide if a piece is relevant to their field
Without them, audiences and readers would never know what something was about before reading or viewing it! Thus, the importance of synopses is twofold: it both helps works get made and then helps them reach the right audiences.
IV. Examples of Synopses in Literature
Example 1: synopsis of a novel.
When we want to choose a novel, it’s a common practice to read a synopsis of what it’s about. A short synopsis will give us just enough details to draw readers in and hopefully convince them to read the book! Here’s a brief synopsis from Cliff’s Notes of The Hunger Games :
In Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, the Capitol forces each of Panem’s 12 districts to choose two teenagers to participate in the Hunger Games, a gruesome, televised fight to the death. In the 12th district, Katniss Everdeen steps in for her little sister and enters the Games, where she is torn between her feelings for her hunting partner, Gale Hawthorne, and the district’s other tribute, Peeta Mellark, even as she fights to stay alive. The Hunger Games will change Katniss’ life forever, but her acts of humanity and defiance might just change the Games, too.
Example 2: Synopsis of an Academic Paper
Sometimes, teachers, professors, publications, or editors want a synopsis of an academic paper, lecture, or article, which is more formally called an abstract (See Related Terms ). Like with a work of fiction, it gives a summary of the main points of the papers or article and provides a snapshot of what issues will be discussed. Synopses of these types of work are particularly important for scholars and anyone doing research, because when searching, they need to be able to know what an article is about and whether it is relevant to their work.
During his career, J.R.R. Tolkien gave a lecture on the classic Beowulf , which became one of the most respected and most-consulted academic sources on the poem to date. Here is a synopsis:
Before Tolkien, general scholarly opinion held…that while the poem might after all be unified, it was nevertheless unfortunate that the poet had chosen to tell stories about a hero, ogres, and a dragon, instead of detailing the wars in the North to which he often provocatively alludes. Tolkien’s lecture strongly and sometimes ironically defends the poet’s decision and the poem itself. The poet had every right to choose fantasy rather than history as his subject; in doing so he universalized his theme; his many allusions to events not recounted gave his work depth; most of all, the poem offered a kind of negotiation between the poet’s own firmly Christian world and the world of his pagan ancestors, on whom he looked back with admiration and pity.
This synopsis shares the main focus of Tolkien’s famous lecture and outlines its purpose for those who may be interested in it and can benefit from his research.
V. Examples of Synopses in Popular Culture
Example 1: synopsis of a tv series.
Giving the audience a written preview of a subject or storyline is a standard practice for TV producers. Before the series Gotham premiered, Warner Brothers released a detailed synopsis of exactly what the show would be about, which was particularly important because the audience would want to know how it would be placed amongst other Batman storylines. Here is a selection from its official synopsis:
Gotham is the origin story of the great DC Comics Super- Villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. From executive producer/writer Bruno Heller (The Mentalist, Rome), this one-hour drama follows one cop’s rise through a dangerously corrupt city teetering on the edge of evil and chronicles the genesis of one of the most popular super heroes of our time. Brave, earnest and eager to prove himself, the newly minted detective Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is partnered with the brash, but shrewd police legend Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue), as the two stumble upon the city’s highest-profile case ever: the murder of local billionaires Thomas and Martha Wayne.
This is only one piece of the synopsis provided by Warner Brothers, but it’s a good sample of the bigger picture. It introduces the main theme and major characters, giving us a taste of what the series has in store.
Example 2: Synopsis of a Film
The job of a film synopsis is to build excitement and anticipation in the audience. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a long-awaited addition to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter universe and the release of this synopsis and trailer was big news in the world of popular culture. Here’s the synopsis:
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.
When a new film is announced, producers usually release a written synopsis like this, as well as an official trailer. Truly, a movie trailer is just a visual form of a synopses. But, a trailer builds even more anticipation in the audience than a written summary, because it gives a true peek at what will unfold on screen.
VI. Related Terms
An abstract is a brief summary of a scholarly work. It does the same things as a synopsis, but goes by a different term—“synopsis” is the preferred term for creative writing, films, and television, “while abstract” is the preferred term for formal or academic works. Overall, they have the same purpose.
An outline is shorter, less defined plan of what you’re going to include in a piece of writing. It’s usually written in the brainstorming phase, and just “outlines” general things that the work will include, and may change as you get farther in your work. An outline comes before a work is written, and a synopsis is written after a work is complete.
VII. Conclusion
In conclusion, synopses are useful summaries that are written for the benefit of a potential reader or audience. It gives an overview and a “sneak peek” at a work, which lets them choose things that are interesting or useful to them personally and/or professionally.
List of Terms
- Alliteration
- Amplification
- Anachronism
- Anthropomorphism
- Antonomasia
- APA Citation
- Aposiopesis
- Autobiography
- Bildungsroman
- Characterization
- Circumlocution
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- Deuteragonist
- Doppelganger
- Double Entendre
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- Equivocation
- Extended Metaphor
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- Foreshadowing
- Intertextuality
- Juxtaposition
- Literary Device
- Malapropism
- Onomatopoeia
- Parallelism
- Pathetic Fallacy
- Personification
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- Polysyndeton
- Protagonist
- Red Herring
- Rhetorical Device
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- Synesthesia
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- Cite This Website
Leticia Mooney
Author. Consultant. Coach. Life Reader.
Syntopic reading: What it is and how to do it
You may think you know how to read, but most people don’t.
‘Wait on!’ you’re grumbling. ‘I’m reading this!’
True! Congratulations, you can do the most basic level of reading.
The levels of reading
There are actually 4 levels of reading. The one that you’re taught in school, is Level 1. That’s when you can read a page and make sense of it. I call it ‘basic’ reading; others call it ‘elementary’ reading. It doesn’t matter whether you completed high school or not, the schooling system doesn’t get you beyond basic reading.
Level 2 is Inspectional Reading. If you’re lucky, you went to a high school that taught you how to ask questions of any kind of text, and how to make a book your own. Inspectional reading is a style of reading where you ‘inspect it: You look at all the parts, read the headings and the first sentences, and generally familiarise yourself with the work. If you do do this type of reading, it’s much more likely that you ‘found it’, rather than were ‘taught’ it. In my case, I stumbled upon the technique while coming to grips with an obscene number of texts while in my earliest days at university.
Level 3 is when you become a Demanding Reader. As a demanding reader, you exert effort. You only use this level of reading from texts from which you want to profit (generally speaking). It requires that you ask particular questions of a text, take notes in a particular way, and make the book your own.
Level 4 is the highest and most demanding type of reading of all: Syntopic Reading. When you’re reading at the Syntopic level, you’re working to synthesise material across a discipline (most of the time). Syntopic reading itself has five levels, requires a different approach to inspection, and is the point at which you make the authors work for you rather than you interpreting them .
If you’re interested in this stuff, go and buy (so you can write in) How to read a book by Mortimer J. Adler.
Syntopical Reading: How to do it
If you’re not interested in reading Adler’s book but you want to know how to conduct syntopical reading, then let me have a moment on the moral high-ground: Shame on you. Go and do your homework.
Ah, that’s better.
Now, let’s get cracking.
Syntopical reading has two phases
Phase 1 is Preparation; Phase 2 is Reading.
Preparation phase
During the preparation phase, you compile a bibliography. It requires a deep survey of the field, and you listing them all for yourself in some fashion. Then, you need to understand which books from that list are not just going to be relevant to you, but are both pertinent and fitting.
Reading phase
You can “just read” them. But what’s the point? You’re just doing basic reading if you just read them.
No, no. Syntopical reading is much deeper than this. Here’s how it works:
- Inspect them to find the most relevant passages
- Construct a neutral terminology that you will use. Don’t just pick up the terms that the authors use. This forces the authors to come to terms with you and your goals.
- Create a set of neutral propositions, which is a list of questions that the authors need to answer.
- Spend time defining the issues in the works, by listing all major and minor issues that you identify, on both sides of the subject. You have to interpret the authors, not just copy out what they say. The point is to analyse the work yourself and understand the author’s key positioning, and sometimes that’s not explicit.
- Conduct an analysis of the issue by ordering the questions in such a way as to throw the most light onto the subject as possible.
One of the critical problems, of course, is knowing where to start. If you have access to a syntopicon, like Great Books of the Western World , great! However, even if you do have something like that, there’s a good chance that the world has moved on since it was published.
Nevertheless, if you do have access to a syntopicon, that’s an excellent gateway.
The point of syntopic reading is to come to terms with an entire field, issue, argument, or discipline, for whatever purpose you are chasing. It’s important to keep direct quotes from the authors as evidence for your issues identification, and from the questions that they answer, so that you can demonstrate enough distance; this is what Adler terms ‘dialectical detachment’.
Syntopical reading is the most demanding level of all four levels of reading. It enables you to force authors to come to terms with your subject, question, argument, or issue. Its benefits are not just academic; once you know how to deploy syntopical reading, you will know how to assess any issue, in any text (not just in books), and to be able to construct a narrative out of a field with relatively little effort. In so doing, you grow not just your general knowledge, but also your mind.
Published by Leticia
- Cambridge Dictionary +Plus
Meaning of synoptic in English
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- a (quick/brisk) trot through something idiom
- brushstroke
- encapsulate
- encapsulation
- executive summary
- recapitulation
- shorthand for something idiom
- to cut a long story short idiom
Examples of synoptic
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/səˈnɑptɪk/.
Other forms: synoptically
If you’ve heard of a movie synopsis, which gives an overview of the plot, you can guess what synoptic means: summarizing. At the end of your 900-page treatise on morals, try to give a synoptic conclusion to drive your ideas home.
Synoptic can be broken down to syn- , meaning together, and -optic , meaning view or sight. So something that is synoptic pulls everything together. At the end of a long day touring your great aunt’s ancestral home, hearing endless stories about every dinner party she ever gave and all the people that ever stayed there, you might synoptically comment, “Basically she cooks well and has lots of fancy friends.”
- adjective presenting a summary or general view of a whole “a synoptic presentation of a physical theory”
- adjective presenting or taking the same point of view; used especially with regard to the first three gospels of the New Testament “ synoptic sayings” synonyms: synoptical same closely similar or comparable in kind or quality or quantity or degree
Vocabulary lists containing synoptic
Find lists of GRE words organized by the letters of the alphabet here: A , B and C , D , E and F , G and H , I , K -O , P , Q, R & S , T, U, V, and W .
After his release from prison, Shadow joins up with the mysterious Mr. Wednesday and finds himself embroiled in a war between old and new gods.
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Synoptic Gospels
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- U.S. Army Center of Military History - Anzio, 1944
- Academia - The Synoptic Gospels an overview.doc
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- Eternal Word Television Network - 'Dei Verbum' and the Synoptic Gospels
- Minnesota State University Pressbooks - The Synoptics: Mark, Matthew, and Luke
Synoptic Gospels , the Gospels of Matthew , Mark , and Luke in the New Testament , which present similar narratives of the life and death of Jesus Christ . Since the 1780s the first three books of the New Testament have been called the Synoptic Gospels because they are so similar in structure, content, and wording that they can easily be set side by side to provide a synoptic comparison of their content. (The Gospel According to John has a different arrangement and offers a somewhat different perspective on Christ.) The striking similarities between the first three Gospels prompt questions regarding the actual literary relationship that exists between them. This question, called the Synoptic problem, has been elaborately studied in modern times( see also Biblical literature: New Testament literature ).
Definition of 'synoptic'
Synoptic in british english.
synoptic in American English
Examples of 'synoptic' in a sentence synoptic, trends of synoptic.
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A synoptic essay will usually ask you to examine "how far" or "how valid/convincing". In order to approach a synoptic well, it is good practice to organise your themes FIRST. This will make the essay easier to write. Examples of synoptic style questions. How far was the personality cult of Adolf Hitler responsible for the success of the Nazi party?
The meaning of SYNOPTIC is affording a general view of a whole. affording a general view of a whole; manifesting or characterized by comprehensiveness or breadth of view… See the full definition
Updated on July 25, 2019. In the 19th century, a synopsis was a classroom exercise used for teaching traditional grammar but today, the accepted definition of a synopsis is a general overview of an article, essay, story, book, or other written work. In the field of publishing, a synopsis may serve as a proposal for an article or book.
Writing a Synopsis. A synopsis is a brief summary which gives readers an overview of the main points. In an academic context, this is usually a summary of a text (a journal article, book, report etc) but in some instances you might be writing a synopsis of a talk, film or other form of presentation. A synopsis is a neutral summary, objectively ...
A synopsis is a brief summary that gives audiences an idea of what a composition is about. It provides an overview of the storyline or main points and other defining factors of the work, which may include style, genre, persons or characters of note, setting, and so on. We write synopses for all kinds of things—any type of fiction or ...
It requires that you ask particular questions of a text, take notes in a particular way, and make the book your own. Level 4 is the highest and most demanding type of reading of all: Syntopic Reading. When you're reading at the Syntopic level, you're working to synthesise material across a discipline (most of the time).
SYNOPTIC definition: 1. giving a short description of something: 2. giving a short description of something: . Learn more.
synoptic: 1 adj presenting a summary or general view of a whole "a synoptic presentation of a physical theory" adj presenting or taking the same point of view; used especially with regard to the first three gospels of the New Testament " synoptic sayings" Synonyms: synoptical same closely similar or comparable in kind or quality or quantity or ...
Synoptic definition: Of or constituting a synopsis; presenting a summary of the principal parts or a general view of the whole.
Synoptic definition, pertaining to or constituting a synopsis; affording or taking a general view of the principal parts of a subject. See more.
synoptic essay plan which structure can be applied across all essays in biology sample essays and suggested plans for content the process of diffusion and its. ... Definition Fick's Law Types of diffusion e. Facilitated diffusion, osmosis Gas exchange in unicells, fish, mammals and plants Digestion and absorption of products Exchange of ...
Synoptic Gospels, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke in the New Testament, which present similar narratives of the life and death of Jesus Christ.Since the 1780s the first three books of the New Testament have been called the Synoptic Gospels because they are so similar in structure, content, and wording that they can easily be set side by side to provide a synoptic comparison of their ...
4 meanings: 1. of or relating to a synopsis 2. Bible a. (of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke) presenting the narrative of.... Click for more definitions.
Definition of synoptic. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels. ... This essay needs a synoptic final paragraph. definition 2: (often cap.) presenting a subject from a similar, common viewpoint, as do the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Definition of synoptic adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
synopsis: [noun] a condensed statement or outline (as of a narrative or treatise) : abstract.
Synoptic definition: pertaining to or constituting a synopsis; affording or taking a general view of the principal parts of a subject.. See examples of SYNOPTIC used in a sentence.
The Synoptic Problem is the problem of the literary relationships among the first three "Synoptic" Gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called "Synoptic Gospels" because they can be "seen together" ( syn-optic) and displayed in three parallel columns. The three gospels contain many of the same stories and sayings, often related in ...
The word synoptic is an adjective stemming from the noun synopsis, which means a summary, general survey, or overall condensation of a broader body of work. ... Unraveling the Bible's Definition of a Lie. Luke is thought to have been written last, as it begins by acknowledging other accounts and notes he intends, after his own investigation ...
Age range: 16+. Resource type: Other. File previews. pptx, 451.3 KB. An introduction to the synoptic essay on paper 3 of the AQA Biology A-level. Lesson includes the following…. choose topics relevant to the essay title. understand the mark scheme and why essays are awarded each band of marks. Explore ways in which we can link topics to the ...
This volume contains a collection of twenty-one essays of John S. Kloppenborg, with four foci: conceptual and methodological issues in the Synoptic Problem; the Sayings Gospel Q; the Gospel of Mark; and the Parables of Jesus. Kloppenborg, a major contributor to the Synoptic Problem, is especially interested in how one constructs synoptic hypotheses, always aware of the many gaps in our ...
Definition of synoptic adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. ... a broad synoptic view of history; Definitions on the go. Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, ...
liberty university the synoptic problem: an understanding of the development of the gospels a research paper submitted to dr. charles e. powell in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course nbst 525 liberty baptist theological seminary by john m. brown lynchburg, virginia july 15, 2012 1 table of contents introduction ----- 2 unity and disharmony ----- error!