Conducting Literature Conducting Literature ReviewReview

LITERATURE….LITERATURE….review…review…

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

NOPE!NOPE!

So what is a literature review?So what is a literature review?

A literature review is an A literature review is an account account of what has been of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholarspublished on a topic by accredited scholars and researchersand researchers

As a piece of writing, the literature review must be As a piece of writing, the literature review must be defined defined by a guiding concept by a guiding concept (e.g., your research objective, the (e.g., your research objective, the problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative thesis). thesis).

The purpose: The purpose: - to- to convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have have been established on a topicbeen established on a topic- their- their strengths and weaknessesstrengths and weaknesses..

It is NOT just a descriptive list of the material available, or a It is NOT just a descriptive list of the material available, or a set of summariesset of summaries

Why do we write literature Why do we write literature reviews?reviews?

Literature reviews provide you with a handy Literature reviews provide you with a handy guide to a particular topicguide to a particular topic

overview overview or act as a stepping stoneor act as a stepping stone Literature reviews also provide a Literature reviews also provide a solid solid

background background for a research paper’s for a research paper’s investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the field is essential to most the literature of the field is essential to most research papers.research papers.

A literature review must do these A literature review must do these things:things:

be organized around and related directly to be organized around and related directly to the thesis or research question you are the thesis or research question you are developing developing

synthesize synthesize results into a summary of what is results into a summary of what is and is not knownand is not known

identify areas of controversy identify areas of controversy in the literature in the literature

What should I do now?What should I do now? ClarifyClarify

- - Roughly how many sources should you include?Roughly how many sources should you include?- What types of sources (books, journal articles, websites)?- What types of sources (books, journal articles, websites)?- Should you summarize, synthesize, or critique your - Should you summarize, synthesize, or critique your sources by discussing a common theme or issue?sources by discussing a common theme or issue?

Find ModelsFind Models- - Look for other literature reviews in your area of interest Look for other literature reviews in your area of interest or in the discipline and read themor in the discipline and read them

Narrow your topicNarrow your topic Current materialCurrent material

Steps for Writing a Lit Review

Planning Reading and Research Analyzing Drafting Revising

Find a focusFind a focus- - As you read widely but selectively in your topic area, As you read widely but selectively in your topic area, consider instead what themes or issues connect your consider instead what themes or issues connect your sources together.sources together.

Construct a working thesis statementConstruct a working thesis statement

Consider organizationConsider organization- Intro, body, conclusion- Intro, body, conclusion

Be selectiveBe selective

Use quotes sparinglyUse quotes sparingly- - Some short quotes here and there are okay, though, if Some short quotes here and there are okay, though, if you want to emphasize a point, or if what the author you want to emphasize a point, or if what the author said just cannot be rewritten in your own wordssaid just cannot be rewritten in your own words..

Summarize and synthesizeSummarize and synthesize- - When paraphrasing a source that is not your own, be When paraphrasing a source that is not your own, be sure to represent the author’s information or opinions sure to represent the author’s information or opinions accurately and in your own words.accurately and in your own words.

Revise, revise, reviseRevise, revise, revise

QUOTING QUOTING

Quotations must be identical to the original, Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original word and must be attributed to the original author.author.

Use quotation marks!Use quotation marks! ≤ ≤ 3 lines, same paragraph3 lines, same paragraph ≥≥lines, a separate paragraphlines, 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).

PARAPHRASINGPARAPHRASING

Paraphrasing involves Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from putting a passage from source material into your own wordssource material into your own words. A . A paraphrase must also be paraphrase must also be attributedattributed to the to the original sourceoriginal source. .

Slightly same length with original sourceSlightly same length with original source

SUMMARIZINGSUMMARIZING

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

WHY?WHY?Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes.

You might use them to . . .You might use them to . . . Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writingProvide support for claims or add credibility to your writing Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doingRefer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing Give examples of several points of view on a subjectGive examples of several points of view on a subject Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree

withwith Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage

by quoting the originalby quoting the original Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to

cue readers that the words are not your owncue readers that the words are not your own Expand the breadth or depth of your writingExpand the breadth or depth of your writing

What is PlagiarismWhat is Plagiarism Rewriting someone else’s script without Rewriting someone else’s script without

quoting the source.quoting the source. Rewriting someone else’s script as if it is your Rewriting someone else’s script as if it is your

ownown Cutting and Pasting internet materialsCutting and Pasting internet materials Publishing someone else’s result without Publishing someone else’s result without

permission permission Reproducing someone else’s figure or table Reproducing someone else’s figure or table

without quoting source (as after Author, year)without quoting source (as after Author, year)

LAST NOTE!LAST NOTE!

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

Topic:_________________________________Topic:_________________________________

Main Ideas Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

1) Definition

2) Causes

3) Effects

Thank YouThank You