Moby Dickk: How would you describe First Mate Starbuck?
a. The kitchen boy's friend
b. A worried and careful man who feels he should act, but doesn't
c. A take charge man of action who puts Ahab in his place
d. A mostly funny jovial man with a laid back attitude

The first step in synthesizing is to a. compare a particular source you are considering to the other sources you have already selected. b. parrot what other sources have said. c. ignore sources with information that runs counter to your claim. d. insert large chunks of information from one or two sources into your essay.