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The purpose of the Literature Review is to explain how
you came to your research question,
to show what questions are unanswered by the literature |
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Parameters | blank | |||
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One source should lead you to another source | blank | |||
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You must use Scholastic Sources |
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A Literature Review has four Functions | blank | |||
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1. Summarize the main point | blank | |||
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2. Offer a positive or negative critique | blank | |||
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3. Show how the source links or is related to the other sources | blank | |||
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4. Show why the source is important by showing how the source
relates to your research question
& what questions are unanswered |
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Hints on developing the content of the Literature Review | blank | |||
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Include a Title Page |
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Suggested Literature Review Outline | blank | |||
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The
purpose of the Lit Review is to put together a narrative (a story)
that explains how the works you have read lead you to your research question,
and what questions are left unanswered by the literature. To do this
you must be familiar w/ the literature in your area.
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Parameters:
Length: see your syllabus. Include at least one scholastic/academic
reference for each page required as the body of the paper (for example,
if the body is to be eight pages, there should be eight references) unless
otherwise specified in the syllabus. You are to write, approximately,
a three quarters of a page review for each source.
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One
source should lead you to another source. You should not
simply go out and check out sources from the library. Let the sources
lead you to other sources. To begin, go to the library and find a
couple of sources that look the most promising. Review them.
If they are good, you will find other sources referenced in them that look
interesting. Then check out these sources and repeat the procedure.
If you do not find sources within sources, use typical methods for finding
your sources.
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A
Literature Review has four Functions
1. Summarize the main point of the source
( not the entire reference, just the main point or thesis ). Maximum
three sentences in length. It takes an artful skill to find the main
point of an article. The Literature Review concisely presents
the results / main points of the reviewed research, & possibly the
methodologies & variables used. This section concisely presents
the results / main points of the reviewed research, & possibly the
methodologies & variables used. In the Summary your task is to
find the main point of the article. You have little space so you
may only report on methods, variables and other details only when they
are extremely important to your topic. However, these types of details
may be discussed in the body of your paper.
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2.
Offer a positive and/or negative critique by pointing out any exceptional
strengths or weaknesses. Note two things about the critique:
you may not have any exceptional strengths or weaknesses to point out, & furthermore a critique can discuss positive aspects, i.e. the strengths of an article. In the critique, express your opinion on the quality & importance of the research reviewed. |
| 3. Show how the source links or is related to the other sources. Link or compare the source to the other sources you are examining. So the sources conflict? Do they support the same point? Are they from different historical periods? Are they finding a similar result but in different settings? In short, what is the common thread of the sources? |
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4.
Show why the source is important by showing how the source relates
to your research question & what questions are unanswered. You
should state how the source relates to your topic You should state how
this source is important to your paper.
You will show this at great length in the body of your assignment. So here, state it in summary form. This is the part that primarily relates to the overall purpose of the Literature Review: The Literature Review puts together a narrative (a story) that explains how the works you have read lead you to your research question, & what questions are left unanswered by the literature. |
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Content
Hints (discussed in detail below)
The Literature Review: 1. follows a trend in the literature from the early work, to later work, eventually ending w/ the present topic of the paper/presentation 2. in discussing the how the literature ends with your topic, points out how your study differs from previous studies 3. points out gaps in the literature 4. explores the extensiveness/importance of the present topic of the paper/presentation by exploring the number of people affected, the cost, etc. 5. Literature that is not directly related to your topic is encouraged. It may parallel, or complement your topic 6. Use few direct quotes 7. You do not have the space to report on details. Focus on the main idea / result 8. In most cases, one part of the Literature Review should provide a socio-historical analysis of your topic |
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9.
The Literature Review is an essay, NOT a list & thus should be presented
in the form of an essay, NOT in the form of an annotated list.
An annotation is a short summary of contents indicating the research that
is available on a topic. It fails to organize the material for the
reader. A Literature Review indicates how the references relate to each
other because it is organized around your specified topic.
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Suggested
Literature Review Outline
I. Summary of the main point A. Main point or thesis B. Other major/important points: especially those addressed below C. Summary or abstract II. Critique of the source (See Link to Types of Analysis: Critique) A. Merits 1. Data 2. Analysis (cause-effect, etc.) 3. Scope 4. Other B. Faults 1. Data 2. Analysis (cause-effect, etc.) 3. Scope 4. Other C. Judgment 1. Usefulness: Do the faults so taint the merits that the source is useless or misleading? 2. Validity: Does the source do what it intends to do 3. Reliability: Is the source in-line or out of line w/ most other sources? Is the writer credible? III. Link the source A. Agreement w/ other sources B. Disagreement w/ other sources C. Extension of other sources 1. Historically 2. Data / scope 3. Other IV. Demonstrate Source Importance A. How does this source support your thesis B. How does this source challenge your thesis |