Sample

Synthesis Essay Outline.

Topic: Television and Children

I. Introduction
Provide some background on television -- how long it's been around, what
kind of shows are on it, how some people think it's bad, etc.
Raise the specific issue of children and television and the controversy over
whether TV is good or bad for children.
My position statement: Despite the existence of some unsuitable television
shows, on the whole, children who watch television are not damaged; in fact,
children can benefit from watching television.
II. Reason 1: Television can be a means of education for children.
Shows like Sesame Street and Mister Rogers Neighborhood teach them a
variety of skills from counting to getting along with others.
Integrate some information from Essay 1 on what educators think of
PBS.
Integrate some information from Essay 2, which discusses the
importance of learning at an early age.
Even non-educational shows give them an awareness of other kinds of
people and other cultures that they may not be familiar with personally.
Integrate some information from Essay 2 that discusses how many
children do not come into contact with other cultures or races until
they are in their teens.
III. Reason 2: Television provides children with a safe means of entertainment.
While running and playing are important for children, they also need some
"down time" just as adults do.
Integrate some information from Essay 1 that discusses some of the
specific entertainment-only shows on TV such as Saturday morning
cartoons.
Integrate some information from Essay 3, which discusses the role
that Walt Disney cartoons play in a child's life.
IV. Counterargument: Television is full of violence, sex, and bad language.
Begin by citing information from Essay 3, which discusses the number of
violent acts a child can expect to witness on TV by the time he or she is
twelve years old.
React to such a problem with the following refutation: TV is not to blame if
children watch such violence; rather parents are to blame because they don't
monitor their children closely enough.
Integrate some information from Essay 1 on how certain networks
such as the Discovery Channel and PBS contain no offensive television
Integrate some information from Essay 2 on how educators believe
that parents still must do a better job of keeping track of their child's
interests.
V. Conclusion: Discuss how television can become better than it already is.