ENGL 1302 Summer II Strubberg 2012 Literature Review ENGL 1302 Summer II Strubberg 2012

What is the Literature Review? Discusses published information in a particular subject area. It usually has an organizational pattern and combines both summary and synthesis.

Literature Reviews as Ways of Hearing the Conversation Scholars carry out literature reviews to find out the most current thinking about a topic, to learn what research has already been carried out on that topic, to evaluate the work that has been done, and to set any research they will do in context.

Narrowing Your Focus As you read through your initial sources, see which themes recur and try to narrow your topic. You are not writing THE definitive paper over a broad subject; rather, you need to focus on a narrow area of that subject. Narrow topics based on discipline (economics, politics, demographics, etc.), historical era, geographic area, etc.

Thesis Statement Does not argue for a position or an opinion Argues for a particular perspective on the material Tends to include the words research, researchers, or scholars in the subject position of the sentence

Thesis Statement Examples Researchers and psychologists have studied cases in which the insanity plea is used to gain a better understanding of the defense, and the studies agree that the integrity of the insanity plea is questionable and also that its success rate is lower than expected. From decreasing one’s carbon footprint, to saving money and giving back to the power grid, scholars and authors discuss how photovoltaic systems act as an economic and sustainable aid.

Thesis Statement Examples cont. Many researchers call attention to the social ramifications of suddenly throwing foster care youth out on their own such as entanglement with the criminal justice system, homelessness, and unhealthy lifestyles. Journalists and researchers have been studying the causal factors behind road rage. Road rage is one of the primary fears people have about driving, and studies have shown that many drivers will experience road rage in one way or another. Some people argue that alcohol is the chief contributor to road rage, but in reality other factors behind road rage include age, gender, and aggressive driving. Whether the cause of road rage is alcohol or age, the argument should be made on how society can eliminate these causal factors behind road rage.

Thesis Statement Examples cont. The current trend in treatment for congestive heart failure combines surgery and medicine. More and more cultural studies scholars are accepting popular media as a subject worthy of academic consideration.

Write a Working Thesis Statement What does your initial research tell you about your topic? What general themes have show up? In what areas of your topic do scholars seem to agree or share similar opinions? In what areas of your topic do scholars seem to disagree or hold dissenting opinions? Write a preliminary—or “working”—thesis statement for your literature review based on the initial research you have conducted.

Possible Structural Organization Introduction Thesis statement emphasizing perspective on the material Brief Background Information/Key Terms (Optional) Body Synthesis of sources organized into sections based on common themes Conclusion Call for further research

Organizing the Body of the Essay Chronological Publication Trend Thematic organized around a topic or issue, rather than the progression of time Methodological focusing factor usually does not have to do with the content of the material focuses on the “methods” of the researcher or writer

Synthesis Determine the important ideas in each source. Take notes on each source. Identify and summarize the key ideas of each piece. Formulate a position. Review the key ideas of each source and figure out how they fit together. Look for patterns: discussions of causes and effects, specific parts of a larger issue, background information, and so on. Be sure to consider the complexity of the issue, and demonstrate that you have considered more than one perspective.

Synthesis cont. Summon evidence to support your position. You might use paraphrases, summaries, or direct quotations from your sources as evidence, or your personal experience or prior knowledge. Integrate quotations properly, and keep your ideas central to the piece of writing. Combine your source materials effectively. Be careful to avoid simply summarizing or listing your research. Think carefully about how the ideas in your reading support your argument. Try to weave the various sources together rather than discussing your sources one by one.

Synthesis Paragraphs Begin with a sentence or phrase that informs readers of the topic of the paragraph Include information from more than one source Clearly indicate which material comes from which source using lead-in phrases and in-text citations Shows the similarities or differences between the different sources in ways that make the paper as informative as possible

Synthesis Example One last ramification of suddenly throwing foster care youth out on their own, researchers argue, is poor health and inadequate access to healthcare. In their article “Trajectories of Depression Symptoms…”Munson and McMillen, two doctors of philosophy in social work, state that “foster youths are at increased risk of depression due to a variety of factors… [They] are thought to be at an even greater risk for depression when they leave care” (Munson 235). Similarly, in their article “In Their Own Words,” the authors stress the same idea put forth by Munson and McMillen. They state that “youth living with foster parents are more likely to be in poor physical and mental health (Scannepieco 425).” It is clear that researches have found poor health to generally be a defining trait of foster care youth. This situation become problematic, as asserted by the authors of “From Homeless to Healthless,” because many foster care youth have ongoing healthcare issues that are not being treated (Yen 90­). In their article the medical researchers argue the correlation between healthcare and housing in the lives of aged-out foster care youth (Yen 81). The subjects all relayed that their inability to maintain a healthy lifestyle was a result of a housing circumstance (Yen 90). Most stated that they were not close to healthcare providers that would accept their particular insurance, that they had no time, or that the instable housing “impeded the flow of information” between them and their social workers (Yen 84-86). According to the authors of “In Their Own Words,” studies such as this one help in “addressing what is needed for successful transition (Scannapieco 423). The medical researchers suggest that “disseminating information about programs and services available to former foster care youth …and extending health insurance coverage to older ages” could remedy the issue of unhealthy lifestyles among transitioning youth (Yen 91). The research presented by the authors of all three articles makes known the difficulties of foster care youth. By presenting healthcare, or lack thereof, as a serious social ramification in the sudden transitioning of foster care youth to independence, the authors provide necessary knowledge that calls attention to the problems associated with the current process of emancipating youth.

Begin Writing Your Own Synthesis Paragraph Using your summaries and rhetorical precis, identify some common themes or trends in your initial research. List these trends. If your initial working thesis does not fit these trends, rewrite it so that it reflects these trends. Write two topic sentences based on both your thesis statement and the trends from your initial research.

Conclusion Summarize your primary points Restate your thesis Issue a call for further research

In-class Group Assignment (3 students per group) Based on the information presented in this PowerPoint presentation, review the Sample Draft 1.1 from your textbook. What is your initial reaction? Using the grading guide, how would you score it? Identify the key components: Thesis statement, topic sentences, areas of strong and weak synthesis, and a call for further research How did the writer choose to organize it? Is this method effective?

Works Consulted St. Martin’s handbook, 7th edition: http://ebooks.bfwpub.com/ttu.php “Synthesis Writing” by Sandra Jamieson, Drew University Literature Review Handout from The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill