Conducting Literature Review

LITERATURE…. review… Hmmm….so I just dust off a novel and a book of poetry, settle down in your chair, and get ready to issue a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” as I leaf through the pages. “Literature review” done. Right?

NOPE!

So what is a literature review?

A literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers A literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers As a piece of writing, the literature review must be defined by a guiding concept (e.g., your research objective, the problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative thesis). As a piece of writing, the literature review must be defined by a guiding concept (e.g., your research objective, the problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative thesis). The purpose: The purpose: - to convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic - their strengths and weaknesses. It is NOT just a descriptive list of the material available, or a set of summaries

Why do we write literature reviews? Literature reviews provide you with a handy guide to a particular topic Literature reviews provide you with a handy guide to a particular topic overview or act as a stepping stone overview or act as a stepping stone Literature reviews also provide a solid background for a research paper’s investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the field is essential to most research papers. Literature reviews also provide a solid background for a research paper’s investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the field is essential to most research papers.

A literature review must do these things: be organized around and related directly to the thesis or research question you are developing be organized around and related directly to the thesis or research question you are developing synthesize results into a summary of what is and is not known synthesize results into a summary of what is and is not known identify areas of controversy in the literature identify areas of controversy in the literature

What should I do now? Clarify Clarify - Roughly how many sources should you include? - What types of sources (books, journal articles, websites)? - Should you summarize, synthesize, or critique your sources by discussing a common theme or issue? Find Models Find Models - Look for other literature reviews in your area of interest or in the discipline and read them Narrow your topic Narrow your topic Current material Current material

Steps for Writing a Lit Review Planning Reading and Research Analyzing Drafting Revising

Find a focus Find a focus - As you read widely but selectively in your topic area, consider instead what themes or issues connect your sources together. Construct a working thesis statement Construct a working thesis statement Consider organization Consider organization - Intro, body, conclusion Be selective Be selective

Use quotes sparingly Use quotes sparingly - Some short quotes here and there are okay, though, if you want to emphasize a point, or if what the author said just cannot be rewritten in your own words. Summarize and synthesize Summarize and synthesize - When paraphrasing a source that is not your own, be sure to represent the author’s information or opinions accurately and in your own words. Revise, revise, revise Revise, revise, revise

QUOTING Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author. Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author. Use quotation marks! Use quotation marks! ≤ 3 lines, same paragraph ≤ 3 lines, same paragraph ≥lines, a separate paragraph ≥lines, a separate paragraph

In fact, Rumelhart (1981) suggests that schemata "truly are the building blocks of cognition" (33) In fact, Rumelhart (1981) suggests that schemata “truly are the building blocks of cognition. They are the fundamental elements upon which all information processing depends. Schemata are employed in the process of interpreting sensory data (both linguistic and non linguistic), in retrieving information from memory, in organising actions, in determining goals and subgoals, in allocating resources, and generally, in guiding the flow of processing in the system” (33-34).

PARAPHRASING Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Slightly same length with original source Slightly same length with original source

SUMMARIZING Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material. Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.

WHY? Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to... Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing Give examples of several points of view on a subject Give examples of several points of view on a subject Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own Expand the breadth or depth of your writing Expand the breadth or depth of your writing

What is Plagiarism Rewriting someone else’s script without quoting the source. Rewriting someone else’s script without quoting the source. Rewriting someone else’s script as if it is your own Rewriting someone else’s script as if it is your own Cutting and Pasting internet materials Cutting and Pasting internet materials Publishing someone else’s result without permission Publishing someone else’s result without permission Reproducing someone else’s figure or table without quoting source (as after Author, year) Reproducing someone else’s figure or table without quoting source (as after Author, year)

LAST NOTE!

A literature review is a piece of discursive prose, not a list describing or summarizing one piece of literature after another. It's usually a bad sign to see every paragraph beginning with the name of a researcher. A literature review is a piece of discursive prose, not a list describing or summarizing one piece of literature after another. It's usually a bad sign to see every paragraph beginning with the name of a researcher.

Topic:_________________________________ Main IdeasSource 1Source 2Source 3 1)Definition 2) Causes 3) Effects

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