1. Developing a Literature Review Plan
Matt Sharkey-Smith
Senior Writing Instructor
Walden Writing Center

2. Unique Writing Center Slide Decks
Slide decks for Writing Center-led residency sessions are not located in Blackboard or SharePoint
Instead, the unique slide decks for all Writing Center-led residency sessions are uploaded to the Writing Center’s Residencies Webpage 5 days before the first day of each residency
Let’s find them together!

3. About me Have been with the Walden Writing Center for 8 years
Also teach writing courses for the Academic Skills Center
Focus on research, pedagogy, new ways of working with students

4. Session Objectives
Understand the purpose and rationale behind a dissertation’s literature review
Define literature review process and expectations
Reflect on common barriers to writing the literature review
Address resources to overcome barriers to writing the literature review

5. Literature Review: Definition
Scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles (most common)
Books
Government documents
Conference proceedings
Collection of materials on a topic

6. Literature Review: Purpose & Goals
Teach readers about your topic and focus (including background info)
State of the field
History
Current ideas
Major studies
Practical headings
Keywords from study title and problem statement
Present full picture of topic
Studies supporting your focus
Studies opposing your focus
Saturation point
Numbers of sources will vary
All of this demonstrates your credibility as a researcher and author

7. Literature Review: Process
Locate literature
Read and take notes
Organize notes into matrix
Synthesize sources
Write/revise the literature review essay

8. You’ll be going back and forth between these steps.
Iterative Process
Research
Writing
You’ll be going back and forth between these steps.

9. Reflection
What three things will be the biggest barriers for you when it comes to writing your literature review?

10. Activity: Part 1 Share your list of three barriers with your table.
As a table, note the most common barrier among the group.
Choose a spokesperson to share this barrier with the larger group.

11. Resources Available to You
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

12. Dissertation-Specific Resources
Doctoral Capstone Resources website
Literature Review Resources Page

13. Writing Center Website Tour: Purpose of the Writing Center
How to Search & Navigate
Webinars
APA resources
Paper Reviews
Social Media
Grammarly
Modules
Templates

14. Writing Center Dissertation-Specific Resources
Templates
Capstone Writing Kits
Form and Style Checklist
Walden Capstone Writing Community
Editor Office Hours
Top 10 Reasons for Delays
Form and Style website

15. Resources for Dissertation Students (Highlights)
Faculty: Committee chairperson, second committee member, and the University Research Reviewer (URR)
Center for Research Quality (CRQ)
Office of Student Research Administration (OSRA)
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Library: Databases, research librarians, webinars
Academic Skills Center (ASC): Support courses, doctoral writing workshops, and MS word support
Capstone Intensives: Contact Academic Advising Team
Presenter: Feel free (if you have time) to go over the PDF document, including the chart on the second page re: when to use which resource

16. Literature Review: How the Library Can Help
Locate the most appropriate databases for your topic search
Help you determine effective research practices/search terms
Support your efforts to organize your literature
Help you determine if your sources are peer reviewed
Help you to ensure saturation of relevant literature

17. Literature Review: How the Academic Skills Center Can Help
Doctoral Writing Workshop: Revising & Editing the Literature Review
Academic Skills Center Workshop
Revisit students’ needs and goals with tailored, individualized support from instructors
Receive and give social support from other students also working on their lit review drafts
Take advantage of opportunity to make progress on current lit review draft
Helps address MS Word issues in the dissertation template
Provides resources on effective time management

18. Common Literature Review Writing Barriers and How to Solve Them
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

19. Common Barrier
Barrier: I don’t fully understand how to synthesize and organize the literature in my Literature Review.

20. Solution: Set up a Plan to Learn Effective Synthesis
Review Synthesis, Literature Review, and Outlining Resources
Develop a system to keep track of your searches (library’s search log)
Develop a system to organize and take notes on sources (e.g. Zotero, Literature Review Matrix)
Determine common themes in literature
Review the Writing Center’s resources on creating effective synthesis
Watch the Writing Center’s “Reviewing the Literature and Incorporating Previous Research” webinar
Create outline of literature review using common themes and program requirements.

21. Common Barrier
Barrier: I feel stuck trying to effectively address faculty feedback on my writing.

22. Solution: Set up a Plan to Work Effectively with Faculty
Communicating Effectively
Find a communication style and schedule that works for all involved.
Schedule regular meetings/check-ins.
Set deadlines and goals.
Be clear and specific when you ask for feedback.
Be intentional when you ask for help.
Stay positive and respectful.

23. Solution: Prepare yourself to Revise
Interpreting Feedback
Different faculty have different approaches—you will get conflicting feedback from time to time.
Criticism is not the same as rejection.
Revision is a big part of the process.
Work on self-revision and proofreading practices to ensure you produce the cleanest draft possible during each faculty review.

24. Common Barrier
Barrier: I feel overwhelmed by the scope of the literature review for my dissertation and don’t know where to start

25. Solution: Build A Literature Review Timeline
Include each stage of the Literature Review process
Research and reading
Writing each section
Writing the introduction and conclusion
Feedback from your chair/committee members
Revision
Include your goals for each stage
Work backwards

26. Literature Review Timeline Example
January
Research and locate 10 articles
Read 10 articles
Watch “Reviewing the Literature and Incorporating Previous Research” Writing Center webinar
Read more about Developing Effective Searches Library resource
February
Complete the Writing Center’s APA modules
Read up on Identifying/Evaluating Scholarly Resources Library resource
Create and submit draft of literature review TOC to chair
November
Submit completed literature review

27. Read more about Developing Effective Searches Library resource
September 2017
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Read more about Developing Effective Searches Library resource
Research
Read 1 article 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Read 2 articles
Watch “Reviewing the Literature and Incorporating Previous Research” Writing Center webinar

28. Managing Your Schedule
Providing Structure
Set a schedule and commit to work on your study.
Preserve your personal time and allow yourself breaks.
Set realistic, bite-sized goals and stick to them.
Find ways to be accountable to other people, such as a writing group with your peers (WCWC or ASC’s workshops).

29. Reflection: Your “Golden Hour” of Productivity
When are you most alert?
When are you free to work on research/writing?
How can you minimize the distractions that tend to pull you away from your research/writing?
How long are you able to focus on a given task before feeling too fatigued to make progress?
Who can you ask to hold you accountable?

30. Managing your Schedule
Paper and grading by Chris Lawrence  (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Managing your Schedule
Finding out what works best for you:
Be aware of yourself as a reader, researcher, and writer and when/how you work best.
Experiment with the time of day, environment, and amount of time you work on your study.
Try software and data management systems to see if they help you (Zotero, NVivo).

31. Activity: Part II
Develop a solution strategy (using at least 3 different resources) to address our common barrier.
Select a spokesperson and be prepared to share your table’s strategy with the larger group.

32. Next Steps:
Develop a solution strategy for your 3 biggest barriers to writing the literature review
Begin building a literature review plan by creating a timeline that incorporates
Time commitment (including golden hour of productivity)
Reading/Research goals
Outside resources (Library, WC, ASC)
Should address barriers
Organizing/Writing goals
Faculty feedback schedule

33. Questions ?

34. Writing Help at the Residency and Beyond
Additional help AT the residency:
Advising
Other Writing Center sessions
or chat us AFTER the residency:
Website and other services

35. Tell us what you think!
Take the Session Survey in the Residencies App!
Developing a Literature Review Plan
Matt Sharkey-Smith