Analyzing a cause and effect synthesis summary

Task

Read the following synthesis summaries and then fill in the table that follow. When you finish, upload
your answers to your Student Portfolio.

Synthesis Summary 1

Road Accidents

There are several causes and effects for road accidents. Smith (2016) reports that road accidents are
caused by two main factors. Firstly, they are brought about by drivers. For example, being careless,
drunk-driving, speeding, and abusing the laws are very common causes of road accidents. Secondly,
vehicle conditions also lead to accidents. Some vehicles are too old, have technical defects, or are not
regularly checked. According to Donald (2020), road conditions might also be one of the causes. Some
accidents happen due to poor, curving, or slippery roads. Speaking of the effects, they can be either
emotional or physical or both. Smith (2016) mentions that some of the emotional effects can include
fear, anger, humiliation, anxiety, shock, embarrassment, loss of appetite, lack of energy, and sleep
disturbances. He further explains that the more severe physical injuries associated with a car accident
commonly include brain damage, neck injuries, neck strains, disk damage, and back or spine injuries.
Physical injuries that are associated with long-term effects are usually permanent disabilities which
create a diminished mental capacity (Donald, 2020). In short, the drivers, vehicles, and roads are the
main causes of accidents that can lead to both emotional and physical consequences.

Synthesis Summary 2

Population Growth in Cities

There are several reasons and results for the growth of population in urban areas. Clark (2018) states
that in recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about 50% of the Earth's population lives in
urban areas. The author goes on to say that one of the reasons is the increasing industrialization of the
nineteenth century, which resulted in the creation of many factory jobs located in cities. Due to that,
these jobs, with their promise of a better material life, attracted many people from rural areas.
According to Smark (2015), another reason is that there were many schools established to educate the
children. Therefore, the promise of a better education persuaded many families to leave farming
communities and move to the cities. Finally, as the cities grew, people established places of leisure,
entertainment, and culture, such as sports stadiums, theaters, and museums. Consequently, for many
people, these facilities made city life appear more interesting than life on the farm (Brad, 2013). In
conclusion, the 19th century growing industrialization has resulted in better job, education and leisure
opportunities and thus causing population shifts towards cities.

EL5001
Analyzing a cause and effect synthesis summary

Question
1. Which sentence is the topic
sentence?
2. Which sentence is the
concluding sentence?
3. How many causes and effects
are mentioned?
Answers
Synthesis Summary 1
There are several causes and
effects for road accidents.
In short, the drivers, vehicles,
and roads are the main causes
of accidents that can lead to
both emotional and physical
consequences.
Three
Synthesis Summary 2
There are several reasons and
results for the growth of
population in urban areas.
In conclusion, the 19th century
growing industrialization has
resulted in better job, education
and leisure opportunities and
thus causing population shifts
towards cities.
Three

4. How many authors are cited? Two, Smith and Donald Three, Clark, Smark, Brad
Who are they?

5. How many methods of in- Four Three

text citations are used?

6. Are there reporting verbs Yes, Reports Yes, States

used? What are they?

7. Are there linking words
used? What are they?
8. Are there high-level
words/vocab used? Give
some examples.
Yes (And, For example, Also, Yes (And, Such as, Another,
Further, In short) Therefore, Consequently,
Finally, Thus, In conclusion)
Yes, Diminished Yes, Leisure

9. How is the first synthesis The first summary is not synthesized, making it more wordy and
summary different from the less cohesive. On the other hand, the second summary is cohesive
second in terms of and synthesized, making its structure good comparatively.
structure/format?

EL5001