The synthesis stage involves the repackaging, or restructuring, of the information you have gathered to fashion your own product. Creating such a product entails far more than simply presenting a list of assembled facts; material from many sources must be read, digested, and combined in the mind of the student, then re-expressed in the student's own words. The purpose of scholarly writing is to create new knowledge by bringing together several strands of thought and integrating them in ways not imagined before. Your product should reflect the new and creative ideas inspired by the information you encountered in your search.
Synthesis also involves selecting an appropriate format in which to present one's research findings. In addition to such typical fare as term papers and oral reports, there are feasibility studies, employee handbooks, business plans, web pages, and other examples.