Processfor completing Synthesis Summary

Summaries will be written in a question-directed manner similar to The Bottom Line studies with assessment of the article's validity included as well. Each analysis should begin with an AMA style reference (see below for how to format a source from an online journal) with content organized as questions and answers presented in a list of bulleted phrases. The questions are:

1)What problems did the researchers study and why? (topic + significance + research question);

2)Who participated in the study? (method – participants);

3)How was the research conducted? (method – materials and process);

4)What were the results of this study? (results);

5)What do the researchers think this study contributes? What are its limitations? (discussion);

6)How scientifically valid is the study? How clinically useful is this study?

Scientific Style and Summary Format

Style:

  • Scientific prose is written in the 3rd person;
  • first person is used occasionally ("I" or "we") and
  • NO second person is used ("you/your").
  • Keep your tone objective and vocabulary as straightforward as possible.
  • Use jargon and technical terms as needed.
  • Do not quote from the article. In fact, do not quote at all when writing science.
  • Use parallel grammatical format for the bulleted lists
  • Finally, there are no extraneous sentences in scientific writing -- no fancy set-up for the next section, no fluff, no repetition. Each and every sentence is supposed to add something new that the reader must know to best understand the writer's research.

Format:

  • Type name and assignment title at top left ("summary #X")
  • Begin paper with the source in APA style.
  • Bold questions, then begin text on the next line
  • Use true single spacing – in Word 2007, that means selecting “no spacing” from the style menu or setting the “spacing after” to “0” in the paragraph menu; use single spacein Word 2003 (or earlier)

Your Name, Synthesis Bullet Analysis #1

Constantinescu, G. A., Theodoros, D. G., Russell, T. G., Ward, E. C., Wilson, S. J., & Wootton, R. (2010). Home-based speech treatment for parkinson's disease delivered remotely: A case report. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 16(2), 100-104. doi:10.1258/jtt.2009.090306

What problem/s did the researchers study and why did they study them?

Who participated in the study?

How was the research conducted?

What were the results of this study?

What do the researchers think this study contributes? What are its limitations?

How scientifically valid is the study? How clinically useful is this study?