Practical guide
How to write a multi-source summary
Synthesize by claim and evidence role. State the shared fact once, attribute unique reporting, preserve material disagreement, and attach the sources that support each part of the conclusion.[1][2]
Why this gets difficult
A multi-source summary is not improved by averaging every source into one neutral paragraph. That can erase who knows what, flatten disagreement, and give repeated claims more weight than independent evidence.[1][2]
A practical way through
- Resolve each item to its original source and identify whether it adds fact, method, context, or interpretation.[1][2]
- Cluster items around the same underlying claim before writing.[1][2]
- Draft the shared conclusion from independent evidence, not publication count.[1][2]
- Keep a source-specific line when a contribution or disagreement changes the takeaway.[1][2]
An example
The situation: Five articles cite one agency report, while a sixth adds original interviews that challenge the expected impact.[1][2]
What changes: The agency report anchors the common fact, its five rewrites count once, and the interview reporting remains a distinct perspective.[1][2]
What you get: The summary reflects evidence diversity rather than mistaking repetition for corroboration.[1][2]
What to watch for
Sources worth keeping
How Scottie helps
Scottie groups source items into stories before writing and keeps viewpoints separate when their differences matter to the reader.[3]