A high school drama synthesis essay is an essay that combines two or more pieces of drama, such as plays or musicals, in order to demonstrate a greater understanding of the overall themes and messages of each work. The synthesis essay often requires thoughtful analysis and comparison of the works in order to demonstrate this understanding.
For example, a student could write a synthesis essay comparing Shakespeare's Macbeth and West Side Story. The student could begin by discussing the ways in which the two works have similar themes, such as ambition and fate. The student could then discuss how these themes are expressed differently in each work, and how these differences help to create different messages about ambition and fate. For example, Macbeth is a tragedy in which ambition leads to destruction, while West Side Story is a more hopeful story in which ambition is ultimately rewarded.
The student could then go on to discuss how each work uses language to express the themes. For example, Macbeth is filled with dramatic, poetic language that expresses a sense of fatalism, while West Side Story uses more modern language to express a sense of optimism and hope.
Finally, the student could conclude by discussing how the two works combine to create a greater understanding of the power of ambition and fate. By comparing and contrasting these two works, the student can show that ambition can lead to both destruction and reward, depending on the choices made and the context within which they are made.
By synthesizing the two works, the student can not only demonstrate a greater understanding of the themes of the works but also gain an appreciation for the different ways in which these themes can be expressed. A high school drama synthesis essay example should therefore combine thoughtful analysis and comparison to ensure that it is successful.