Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies
B2 Lesson 4: Synthesizing Information
Before You Read 🧠
Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)
This is a B2-level skill, so we'll use B2-level vocabulary.
What is Synthesizing? (It's Not Just Summarizing!)
Summarizing is retelling. Synthesizing is thinking and creating a new idea.
| Summarizing (B1 Skill) | Synthesizing (B2/C1 Skill) |
|---|---|
| Answers: "What does Text A say?" | Answers: "What is the relationship between Text A and Text B?" |
| Restates the main points. | Combines ideas to form a new conclusion or insight. |
| Example: "Text A says social media is fast, and Text B says it spreads misinformation." | Example: "Both texts agree that social media has changed the news, but they disagree on whether its speed is more of a benefit or a risk." |
Analogy: A summary is a list of ingredients (tomatoes, onions, garlic). A synthesis is the finished meal (the pasta sauce) you made by combining them.
Reading Texts: The "Digital News" Debate
Read the two short texts below. They discuss the same topic but have different perspectives.
Text A: The Case for Social Media News
Social media has revolutionized how we access information. It democratizes news, giving a voice to ordinary citizens who can report events in real-time, often long before traditional news outlets. This speed is its greatest asset. Information can spread globally in seconds, which is crucial during fast-moving events. Furthermore, it allows for a diversity of opinions, breaking the control that a few large media companies once held.
Text B: The Case Against Social Media News
The primary danger of social media as a news source is the rapid spread of misinformation. Because there is no editorial "gatekeeper," false stories can go viral, causing real-world harm. Algorithms often create echo chambers, showing users only the content they already agree with. This reinforces bias rather than challenging it. While fast, this speed often comes at the cost of accuracy and nuance.
How to Synthesize Information (A 3-Step Guide)
Quickly read both texts. What is the single main idea of each?
- Text A's Gist: Social media is good for news (fast, democratic).
- Text B's Gist: Social media is bad for news (false, biased).
Ask: What do they have in common? Where do they clash?
- Agreement: Both texts agree that social media is *fast* and has *changed* the news.
- Disagreement: They disagree on the *consequence* of that speed (is it an asset or a danger?).
Combine these points into one new, complex sentence.
- Synthesis: "While both texts acknowledge the speed of social media news, Text A views it as a democratic benefit, whereas Text B frames it as a primary source of misinformation and bias."
Practice Synthesizing 🎯
Practice Quiz: Find the Best Synthesis
Based on Text A and Text B, which statement below is the best synthesis (not just a summary)?
Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)
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To Synthesize
To combine information from different sources to create a new, single idea.
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Perspective
A point of view; a way of looking at something.
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To Democratize
To make something available to everyone, not just a few people.
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Misinformation
False or inaccurate information that is spread, regardless of intent.
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Echo Chamber
An environment where you only hear opinions you already agree with.
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Nuance
A very small or subtle (not obvious) difference in meaning.
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Become a Synthesizer
- Find two short news articles in English about the *same* topic (e.g., a new phone, a new movie, or an international event).
- Read both articles. On paper, make a simple T-chart of "Where They Agree" and "Where They Disagree."
- Write one new paragraph (3-4 sentences) that synthesizes both articles. Start with a phrase like:
- "When looking at the topic of [Your Topic], both articles agree that..."
- "However, while the first article focuses on..., the second article emphasizes..."