Every once in a while, students who are studying disciplines such as biology or history, may be required to write a synoptic essay. What is it about? Synoptic essays are an overview of the student’s comprehension of any major theme studied in a given unit within the discipline context. Sound challenging, doesn’t it? The truth is, this kind of essay is not simple to prepare, since it must indicate how the student’s understanding of the theme has evolved in time.