1. The Writing Development Centre Contact: wdc@ncl.ac.uk
The Literature Review
The Writing Development Centre
Contact:
@ncl_wdc
Writing Development Centre
Explore the possibilities

2. Today’s session
Writing as product
Writing as process

3. The Literature Review: what are we aiming for?
Read the Literature Review extract. Does it meet your own expectations of what a Literature Review should do and how it should be written? Why/why not?

4. Key aspects of the Literature Review
Your focus/agenda
What is the aim of your Literature Review?
Mapping existing knowledge
Key themes, patterns, issues
Debates and controversies
Key theories/definitions
Evaluating existing knowledge
Your viewpoint/stance
How does the literature relate to your project
Gaps

5. Foregrounding your authorial voice
Paragraph structure – where to put your point
Tense: present tense = current, past tense = no longer current
Reporting verbs: neutral vs ‘loaded’
Signpost words: however, therefore, in contrast, moreover, indeed etc
Placing of reference: integral vs non-integral
Use of quotation
Hedging: ‘it could be argued’

6. Product to process: critical reading
List the questions it is useful to ask of sources. Use the abstract as an example if you wish.

7. Three Domains of Critical Reading
Validity: On its own terms
Synthesis: In relation to others
Relevance: Usefulness to you
Context: discipline/profession, authors, currency, bias  
What are they doing? Research Question/Aims/Hypothesis 
How did they do it? Methods, Models and Materials  
How do they know? Argument, evidence, logic and reasoning
What do they say? Findings and conclusions

8. Gaining and Maintaining an Overview
Strategies:
Note-taking strategies: note not just the content but your reaction to it, links with other texts, and your potential use for it
Map the literature: mindmaps, digital tagging, categorise
Writing prompts: (Rowena Murray)
The main debates in my field are:
The main schools of thought are:
The main problems are:
What’s already known about this is:
The way thinking has changed is:
The areas that need more research are:

9. Planning and structuring your review
Establish your own agenda
What will your Literature Review do? What moves does it need to make?
There may be more than one function/purpose

10. Structural principles
Chronological
Schools of thought
Sides of a debate
Methods, theories, approaches
Development of a field
Themes
THE GAP
Aspects of a whole
Theory to practice
Macro to micro
Different contexts
General to specific

11. The Writing Development Centre Level 2, Philip Robinson Library
Undergraduate - Masters - PhD
Our team of expert tutors offers:
- One to one tutorials
- Online resources including our Blog
- Activities including Write Here, Write Now
Visit us online:
HASS – SAgE - FMS
We work with all levels, and across all subjects. Our role is not to be subject experts, but experts in learning and academic skills. Our provision is non-judgmental and confidential. You might also see us delivering sessions as part of your course.
We are based in the Robinson Library level 2, and work mon-fri 9-5 (vacations too) but tutorials are by appointment only. Tutorials and workshops are booked online.
Seriously, no proofreading.

12. Notice and Take Down Policy
Newcastle University seeks to observe the highest standards of compliance with the law and the rights of rights holders, while publishing research and teaching resources to support our students and staff and contribute to academic practice.
If you are a rights holder and are concerned that you have found material on our website or legitimately under our name elsewhere, for which you have not given permission, or is not covered by a limitation or exception in laws of the UK or other countries (as relevant), please contact us in writing stating the following:
your contact details
the full bibliographic details of the materials
the exact URL or other location where you found the material
proof that you are the rights holder and a statement that, under penalty of perjury, you are the rights holder or are an authorised representative
Contact details
Web: