Synthesis and opinion (TCF Task 3)
Task 3 is the final and most demanding writing task of the TCF Canada. You are given two short texts on the same subject, and you must write a single coherent piece (around 120 to 180 words) that does two things: first, summarize and bring together the main ideas of both documents (the synthesis), then give and justify your own opinion on the question. Success depends on keeping these two moves distinct yet linked, and on writing in a clear, formal register.
Quelle formule ouvre le mieux la partie SYNTHÈSE ?
Which phrase best opens the SYNTHESIS part?
Associez chaque connecteur à sa fonction.
Match each connector to its function.
Complétez avec le bon mot d'attribution (suivi directement d'un nom).
Complete with the correct attribution word (takes a noun directly).
____ l'auteur, le télétravail améliore la productivité.
A frequent error is to merge synthesis and opinion into a single shapeless paragraph. The examiner expects a visible structure: a synthesis part where you stay neutral and report what the texts say (without copying sentences word for word), then an opinion part where you finally use the first person and take a stand. A short transition sentence (Pour ma part, Quant à moi) makes the shift obvious and is rewarded.
| Le premier document aborde… | The first document deals with… |
| Selon l'auteur… | According to the author… |
| D'après le second texte… | According to the second text… |
| Les deux textes s'accordent sur… | Both texts agree on… |
| En revanche, le second nuance… | However, the second one qualifies… |
| Tandis que… / alors que… | Whereas… / while… |
| Pour ma part, je pense que… | For my part, I think that… |
| Quant à moi… | As for me… |
| Il me semble que… | It seems to me that… |
| Je partage l'avis de l'auteur lorsqu'il… | I share the author's view when he… |
| Néanmoins, je nuancerais ce point… | Nevertheless, I would qualify this point… |
| En définitive… | Ultimately… |
Pourquoi le conditionnel dans « cette pratique isolerait les salariés » ?
Why use the conditional in 'cette pratique isolerait les salariés'?
Remettez les mots dans l'ordre pour former une phrase de contraste.
Put the words in order to form a contrast sentence.
Traduisez cette amorce d'opinion en français.
Translate this opinion opener into French.
For my part, I think this view is partly justified.
Synthesis lives or dies on how you attribute ideas. Avoid quoting; instead reformulate using reporting structures. Note that selon and d'après take a noun directly (selon l'auteur), never a clause, whereas verbs like affirmer que, souligner que, rappeler que introduce a full clause in the indicative. To express the text's claim without endorsing it, the conditional is useful: les jeunes seraient plus exposés (the young are reportedly more exposed).
Écoutez et tapez la phrase de transition que vous entendez.
Listen and type the transition sentence you hear.
Complétez avec un verbe qui introduit une proposition (une subordonnée en « que »).
Complete with a verb that introduces a clause (a 'que' clause).
Le premier document ____ que le télétravail réduit le stress des trajets.
Quelle phrase est pénalisée comme une mauvaise reformulation ?
Which sentence is penalized as poor reformulation?
Traduisez cette phrase de conclusion en français.
Translate this concluding sentence into French.
Ultimately, both approaches seem to me complementary rather than opposed.
Construisez une phrase de synthèse avec une affirmation rapportée au conditionnel.
Build a synthesis sentence using an attributed claim in the conditional.
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