Real-world examples of synthesis essay prompt examples students actually get

Starting with real examples of synthesis essay prompt examples

Instead of starting with definitions, let’s jump straight into what you actually need: examples of examples of synthesis essay prompt examples that sound like something your teacher or an exam would hand you.

Here’s a classic style you might see in high school or first-year college writing:

Prompt Example – Social Media and Teen Mental Health
Several recent studies and opinion pieces discuss the impact of social media on teen mental health. Using at least three of the provided sources, write an essay in which you develop a position on whether social media platforms do more harm than good for teenagers’ mental well‑being. Support your argument by synthesizing evidence from the sources and your own reasoning.

Sources might include a CDC teen mental health report (CDC), a Pew Research Center survey on teen social media use, a psychologist’s op‑ed, and a tech company’s policy statement. This is a textbook example of a synthesis essay prompt: you’re not just summarizing; you’re building a position from multiple voices.

Modern, trending examples of synthesis essay prompt examples (2024–2025)

To really understand the pattern, it helps to see how teachers turn hot topics into assignments. Here are several examples of synthesis essay prompt examples built around issues that keep showing up in 2024–2025 syllabi and exams.

Example 1: AI tools (like ChatGPT) in education

Prompt:
Schools and universities are debating how to respond to artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools used by students for homework and essays. Some argue these tools are helpful learning aids, while others see them as a threat to academic integrity and critical thinking. Using at least three of the provided sources, write an essay that evaluates whether AI writing tools should be integrated into classroom learning, restricted, or banned. Develop a clear position and support it by synthesizing evidence from the sources.

Typical sources for this example of a synthesis prompt might include:

• A university policy statement from a site like Harvard University about academic integrity
• A teacher’s article describing how they use AI as a learning tool
• A student survey on AI use in homework
• An ethics scholar discussing fairness and access

What makes this one of the best examples for practice is that it forces you to balance benefits (feedback, accessibility, learning support) with risks (cheating, shallow thinking, equity issues).

Example 2: Climate change and individual responsibility

Prompt:
Governments and companies are often blamed for climate change, but many campaigns focus on individual actions like recycling, reducing meat consumption, or driving less. Using at least three of the provided sources, write an essay in which you develop a position on how much responsibility individuals should bear for addressing climate change compared to governments and corporations. Use evidence from the sources to support your argument.

Sources might include:

• A summary of climate science from NASA Climate
• A policy brief from a government or international organization
• An op‑ed arguing that personal lifestyle changes matter
• A critique saying individual action is a distraction from corporate accountability

This is a strong example of a synthesis essay prompt because it pushes you to weigh different kinds of responsibility and synthesize policy, science, and ethics.

Example 3: Social media bans and free speech

Prompt:
Some U.S. states and school districts have considered restricting or banning apps like TikTok on government devices or school networks, citing data privacy and mental health concerns. Others argue such bans limit free expression and are not effective. Using at least three of the provided sources, write an essay that takes a position on whether government or school‑level social media bans are an appropriate response to current concerns. Support your position by synthesizing the arguments and evidence in the sources.

Here, sources could include:

• A government press release explaining a proposed or enacted ban
• A digital rights group’s critique
• A mental health organization’s statement on social media and teens, such as data from the National Institute of Mental Health
• A technology policy expert’s analysis

This is one of those examples of synthesis essay prompt examples that asks you to connect law, mental health data, and technology policy.

Example 4: College admissions and standardized testing

Prompt:
Since the COVID‑19 pandemic, many colleges and universities have gone test‑optional or test‑free, questioning the fairness and usefulness of standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. Using at least three of the provided sources, write an essay in which you evaluate whether standardized tests should play a significant role in college admissions decisions. Develop a clear position and support it by synthesizing evidence from the sources.

Sources might include:

• A research summary from an education school such as Harvard Graduate School of Education
• A college’s statement about its test‑optional policy
• A study on how tests relate to college success
• An equity advocate’s argument about bias in testing

Among the best examples of synthesis essay prompt examples, this one is especially good for practicing how to use data and policy statements together.

Example 5: School start times and teen health

Prompt:
Medical organizations increasingly recommend later school start times for middle and high school students, citing sleep research and teen health outcomes. However, some communities resist changing schedules due to transportation, sports, and family routines. Using at least three of the provided sources, write an essay that argues for or against shifting school start times later in the morning. Support your position by synthesizing scientific research and community perspectives.

You might see sources like:

• A sleep research summary from the National Institutes of Health
• A school district report on transportation and budget issues
• A parent group’s letter or petition
• A student survey about sleep and grades

This prompt is a clear example of how synthesis essays often mix scientific evidence with practical and social concerns.

Example 6: Fast fashion and consumer responsibility

Prompt:
Fast fashion brands make clothing more affordable but raise concerns about environmental damage and worker exploitation. Using at least three of the provided sources, write an essay in which you develop a position on how consumers, companies, and governments should share responsibility for addressing the negative impacts of fast fashion. Support your argument by synthesizing information from the sources.

Sources could include:

• An environmental organization’s report on textile waste
• A company’s sustainability statement
• A labor rights group’s investigation
• An economist’s analysis of global supply chains

This is another of the examples of synthesis essay prompt examples that asks you to juggle economics, ethics, and the environment.

How to spot the pattern in these examples of synthesis essay prompt examples

Once you’ve looked at a few examples of examples of synthesis essay prompt examples, you start to see the same structure over and over.

Most synthesis essay prompts:

• Present a controversial or debatable issue (AI in schools, climate change, social media, mental health, fast fashion)
• Provide multiple sources with different perspectives or data
• Ask you to develop a position or evaluate a claim, not just summarize
• Tell you to use at least a certain number of sources (often three)
• Use verbs like “synthesize,” “integrate,” “evaluate,” “develop a position,” or “support your argument”

When you see that pattern, your brain should go, “Got it. This is a synthesis assignment.” Looking at many examples include the ones above is one of the fastest ways to train that reaction.

Turning a current issue into your own example of a synthesis essay prompt

Teachers often design their own assignments based on the news or on topics that matter to their students. You can practice by turning a headline into an example of a synthesis essay prompt.

Imagine you’re writing prompts yourself. Here’s how you might frame a few more:

• Remote work and city life: After the pandemic, many companies kept hybrid or remote work options. Some say this helps families and reduces commuting stress; others argue it hurts city economies and workplace culture. A prompt could ask students to synthesize sources on productivity, mental health, and urban planning.
• School cell phone policies: Districts across the U.S. are reconsidering how strict they should be about phone use in class. A prompt might ask students to take a position on strict phone bans versus more flexible policies, using research on distraction, learning, and safety.
• Nutrition guidelines and personal choice: With rising rates of obesity and chronic illness, governments publish dietary guidelines and sometimes regulate school lunches. A synthesis prompt could ask students to evaluate how far government should go in shaping people’s food choices, using health data from sources like Mayo Clinic or NIH.

By practicing this way, you’re not just reading examples of synthesis essay prompt examples; you’re learning how to create them, which makes you much better at responding to them.

How to approach these examples like a pro

Seeing the best examples is helpful, but knowing what to do with them matters even more. When you get a synthesis prompt, you can move through it in a steady, repeatable way.

Start by underlining the task. In almost every example of a synthesis essay prompt, the key task hides in one or two sentences:

• “Develop a position on whether…”
• “Evaluate the extent to which…”
• “Argue for or against…”

Then, look for requirements about sources:

• “Using at least three of the provided sources…”
• “Cite the sources by letter or number…”

Next, scan the sources and ask yourself:

• Who supports which side?
• Who is neutral or mixed?
• Which pieces give data, which give stories, and which give expert opinions?

Finally, plan your own argument first, then plug in the sources where they fit. The best writers don’t let the sources drive the essay; they let their own thesis lead, and the sources act like supporting witnesses.

When you look back at the earlier examples of examples of synthesis essay prompt examples, you’ll notice they all reward this approach.

Quick mental checklist when you see any example of a synthesis essay prompt

Whenever you meet a new prompt—whether it’s one of the best examples your teacher gives you or something you find online—run it through this short checklist in your head:

• Is there a clear, debatable issue?
• Are there multiple sources with different angles?
• Am I being asked to take a position, evaluate, or propose a solution?
• Does the prompt tell me how many sources to use?
• Do I understand the audience and purpose (school board, general public, policymakers, classmates)?

If the answer is yes to most of those, you’re looking at a classic synthesis assignment. All the examples of synthesis essay prompt examples on this page check those boxes in slightly different ways.

FAQ: Common questions about examples of synthesis essay prompts

Q1: Where can I find more real examples of synthesis essay prompt examples?
You can look at released AP English Language exams on the College Board site (they publish past Free-Response Questions), browse writing center materials from universities, or ask your teacher for retired prompts. Many college writing programs post sample assignments on their .edu sites that work as real examples for practice.

Q2: What is one simple example of a synthesis essay question for beginners?
A starter example of a simpler prompt might be: “Several sources discuss whether school cafeterias should offer only healthy options or include typical fast food. Using at least two of the provided sources, write an essay in which you take a position on how much choice students should have in school lunches.” The structure is the same as the more advanced examples of synthesis essay prompt examples, just with a more familiar topic and fewer sources.

Q3: How many sources should I use in my synthesis essay?
If your teacher or exam says “at least three,” aim for three to five. Using more doesn’t automatically make your essay better; using them thoughtfully does. The best examples of student essays usually integrate sources smoothly rather than stacking quote after quote.

Q4: Can I disagree with most of the sources in a synthesis essay?
Yes, as long as you engage with them. You’re allowed to challenge or qualify the sources, but you still have to show you understand their arguments. Many strong essays take a nuanced position that partially agrees and partially disagrees with different sources.

Q5: How are synthesis prompts different from regular argumentative essay prompts?
An argumentative prompt might just ask for your opinion with maybe one short reading. A synthesis prompt requires you to use multiple sources as part of your argument. That’s why studying examples of synthesis essay prompt examples is so helpful—you get used to juggling several voices instead of just reacting to one.

If you keep a small collection of examples of synthesis essay prompt examples like the ones above, you’ll start to see that they’re less mysterious than they look at first. They follow patterns. And once you can recognize those patterns, you can spend less time panicking over the prompt and more time writing an essay you’re proud of.