While analysis pulls apart smaller elements of a text or object to determine how they affect the whole piece, synthesis compares and contrasts themes or ideas to arrive at a new idea or theory.

Synthesis 101: this basic page addresses all the basic concerns. And this page titled 

Synthesis Matrix: this page from the University of Arizona Global Campus suggests a way to organize the common themes you see in your sources as you read.

Writing a Synthesis Essay: this concise guide from Bowling Green outlines various writing tips, organization strategies, proper tense usage, and more. 

Types of Synthesis: this PDF discusses different kinds of synthesis assignments, including "background synthesis," "thesis-driven synthesis," and "synthesis of the literature." See our page on literature reviews for more help with this last term.