Here are again some summarized instructions on your assignment, “the literature review” section, which is due on Monday, September 14.
Please organize your articles thematically. You have to have at least 3 themes that relate to your topic. Use the key words relevant to your variables and topic as discussed in class.
You need at least three themes and at least 6 articles (3 primary sources/peer reviewed articles and 3 secondary materials or only 6 primary articles.) Use your article review sheets as guidelines on how to review the articles. (If you have difficulties to complete the assignment review only 3 articles for now but try to be in depth.
Start the review with a small introduction.
End with a small conclusion.
For example, what were your findings? Did you discover any gaps or debates in the literature reviewed or why the articles you selected were relevant to your research proposal topic.
You can review the same article several times under different aspects relevant to your major themes.
Do not forget to apply APA style.
Review the APA PowerPoint posted under the week three module.
If necessary watch again the tutorials that were posted under week 3.
Be prepared to present your work.
Follow the rules: first summarize, then interpret.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Option 2: If you find it difficult to complete the entire draft even if you analyze in depth three articles and have three themes, this will be a good start. Keep in mind, this is only your first draft.
See you in class.
Additional Guidelines:
Please work on revising your literature review as discussed.
You need to clearly demonstrate analytical thinking skills. You need to connect and extend knowledge (facts, theories, etc.), find the strengths and weaknesses and connect the relevance of the article to your own academic study/ field/research question.
You have to assess each article in depth and organize the articles according to the major themes related to your topic and research question.
Here again some general guidelines:
A typical literature review consists of the following components:
Introduction:
A concise definition of a topic
under consideration (this may be a descriptive or argumentative thesis, or proposal), as well as the
scope of the related literature being investigated.
The introduction should also note intentional
exclusions: Example: “This review will not explore the
diaries of adolescent girls.”
Another purpose of the introduction is to state the general findings of the review (what do most of the sources conclude), and comment on the availability of sources in the subject area.
Main Body:
There are many ways to organize the evaluation of the sources.
Thematic approaches are most useful.
Each work should be critically summarized and evaluated for its premise, (hypothesis), methodology and conclusion
It is as important to address inconsistencies, omissions, and errors, as it is to identify accuracy, depth, and
relevance.
Use logical connections and transitions
to connect sources.
Conclusion
The conclusion summarizes the key findings of the review in general terms. Notable commonalities
between works, whether favorable or not, may be included here.
This section is the reviewer’s opportunity to justify a research proposal. Therefore, the idea should be clearly re-
stated and supported according to the findings of the review.
References
As well as accurate in text citations, a literature review must contain complete and
correct citations for every source.
