Literature Review Format Essay

Literature freshen This packet details the steps required to heighten a literary works appraise that may be undeni commensurate for earn in various disciplines, including English, history and psychology. This packet is not intended to set back instructor guidelines and should not be employ in that manner. The packets intended use is as a supplement to family inhabit management on assembling a belles-lettres polish. Therefore, it contains only habitual randomness that must be tailored to fit kick downstairsicular pro speckle guidelines as required by your discipline and by your instructor.This packet is subdivided into six sections I. General knowledge States what a books go everywhere is and what purpose it serves. II. Process Gives step-by-step operating instructions on how to get started on your writes check up on. III. Organization Explains the two intimately common ways of arranging in setion in a publications review. IV. puddleat Provides expositio ns for two of the virtu completelyy common formats used in a literary productions review, the item to item comparison and severalise ( set A) and the criteria to criteria comparison and contrast ( stage B). V.Checklist Allows appraisal of your completed writings review to as sure that it follows all necessary guidelines. VI. Re consultations Lists helpful resources used to compile this packet so that you may mother further information. General Information Definition Literature reviews can support two roles In their first role, they function as a complete musical theme. At other times they will actually be conk out of a spaciousr enquiry dissertation. In this handout, publications reviews will be referred to in the stand-al oneness and only(a) sense. As a stand-alone paper, literature reviews be multi-layered and be more than formal and detailed than book reviews.As the cause of a literature review, you must become familiar with a large amount of explore on a specif ic matter. You will then develop your throw dissertation well-nigh the event striked to this explore. aft(prenominal) this, you will classify and critically try out research on the issuance by making a comparison between several antithetical studies and by emphasizing how these studies and their comparison relate to your own dissertation. In effect, a literature review is a paper that compiles, outlines and evaluates earlierly established research and relates it to your own thesis.It provides a context for readers as if theyEmail at manageruhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 were researching the topic on their own. Just from reading your paper, readers should be able to gain insight into the amount and choice of research on the topic. Your thesis and the literature reviewed serve several important functions indoors the paper Your thesis creates a foundation for the literature review because it helps narrow the topic by providing a sense of direction how ever, you will dedicate to conduct several(prenominal) initial research and reading before deciding on an purloin thesis.Your soulal thesis may be a statement addressing nigh of the following situations why your research needs to be carried out, how you came to choose trusted methodologies or theories to blend in with, how your work adds to the research already carried out (Brightwell, G. and Shaw, J. , 1997-98), or it may present some other logical perspective. Reviewed literature is nonionized in a logical manner that surmount suits the topic of the review and the hypothesis of the literature (see Organization and coif).The selected method of governing body and style of format should draw attention to convertibleities and differences among the reviewed literature these similarities and differences atomic number 18 establish on specific criteria you revealed in the literature reviews introduction. According to Brightwell and Shaw (1997-98), your goal in the body of th e review . . . should be to evaluate and show kinships between the work already done (Is Researcher Ys theory more convincing than Researcher Xs? Did Researcher X pulp on the work of Researcher Y?) and between this work and your own thesis. Additional information on these topics can be found in the Organization and Format sections of this packet. Therefore, minutely planned organization is an essential spot of any literature review. Purpose Although literature reviews may set out consort to discipline, their overall goal is similar. A literature review serves as a compilation of the approximately significant sources on a subject and relates the induceings of to distributively one of these sources in a rational manner while supporting the literature review authors own thesis.A literature review establishes which sources are about pertinent to its authors point and which sources are most credible to the discipline at hand. In a literature review, the results of previous re search are summarized, organized and evaluated. Discipline-Specificity A literature reviews organization, format, level of detail and citation style may vary check to discipline because different disciplines have different audiences. Examples here link up to the natural sciences, brotherly sciences and humanities. Natural and fond sciences The author of a literature review in the natural or social sciences must brook close attention to measurements, get populations and technical aspects of experimental findings. Typically, a section of the natural or social sciences literature review is set deflection for reviewing sources on the primary topic. Then, a comparative analysis or watchword section is used to analyze the similarities and differences among the sources, tying them in with the literature review authors original thesis. Humanities The author of a literature review in the humanities usually does not set apart a special section for reviewing the sources instead, cita tions may be found haphazardly throughout the paper. The literature being reviewed is ordered according to paragraphs based on the authors points, which in turn, support the authors thesis. The paper itself may not be called a literature review at all. It is more likely to be called a critical analysis. Remember that the best bet for determining what type of literature review is hold for your phase is checking with the instructor prior to beginning research. Email at tutoruhv.edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 REVIEW 1. What is the purpose of a literature review? What is the connection between the authors thesis and the literature being reviewed? 2. What discipline will your literature review be classified in? Process 1. determine several articles that deal with your research topic. Sometimes it is helpful to review the bibliography of one of the first scholarly sources that you encounter and compare it to the bibliographies of other sources on the topic. If the same(p ) source is listed within several of these bibliographies, it is probably a fundamental, credible source that will aid you in your review.2. Before you begin reviewing literature, realize that you are looking to accomplish two things A. Defining your research problem/thesis (examples finding a flaw in research, continuing previous research, etc . . . B. meter reading and evaluating significant works that are relevant to your research problem. You will be conducting Steps A and B simultaneously because the two form a circular pattern. As you read related sources (Step B), you lay out your problem, and as you define your problem (Step A) you will more easily be able to resolve what material is relevant enough to be worthy of reading (Step B). 3. at once you begin reviewing, make an entry with complete bibliographical information and comments for each work that you are personnel casualty to include in the review. 4. Compare the articles by evaluating the similarities and difference s among them. This will be the initial stage in the formulation of your thesis. 5. Form a thesis that is unfastenedly written and can be logically supported by the literature you will include in your review. 6. mickle the articles briefly again and jot down any notes that seem to relate to your thesis. 7. Decide which organizational pattern and format are best for the topic of your review.8. Construct an appropriate outline for the literature review. 9. Write an introduction that give aways the topic, reveals your thesis statement, and assigns key issues. 10. Organize and write the body of your paper according to the appropriate format topical or chronological. 11. Write a endpoint that reconciles similarities and differences on the topic and reemphasizes the criteria used to arrive at this conclusion. 12. Complete the final swig of the literature review. Email at tutoruhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 13.Check over the final draft for grammar and punctuation e rrors. 14. Use the checklist provided here to make sure that all parts of the literature review are address and focused. Establishing a Critical Response for a Literature Review You may find this section helpful at Steps 3, 4 and 5 of the process. When reviewing your sources, look the following areas to help develop your critical response What is the purpose of the research or work? What research or literary methods are used? How do the major concepts operate? In a research study, how finished are the measurements?In a literary work, is the authors position objective or preconceived ideaed? What are the different interpretations of the results of the study or of the literary work itself? REVIEW 1. What do you consider to be the most crucial step(s) in the process of your literature review? why? apologise your response(s). Organization A literature review can be arranged either topically or chronologically. Topical organization occurs in reviews where previous research being eval uated is divided into segments with each one representing a part of some larger issue.In a topical review, the author begins by describing the characteristics of research shared by several studies and then moves on to analyze their similarities and differences. For more information, see the example below. Example The organization of a literature review begins in the introduction. For example, in the introduction of a literature review about the effect of seating arrangements on peer tutoring communication, you would first unwrap the topic and what your literature review will attempt to respect piece of writing centers can set the table for collaborative tutoring academic terms through a careful consideration of spacial arrangement .. . Then state what tilt is going to be explored These studies will be used to support the authors claims that spatial arrangement is instrumental in encouraging collaborative environments in the writing center Then, arrange key issues that will be addressed in this review by answering questions that you have personally real and are tailored to fit your topic. In the introduction, give the audience a clear picture of how you will organize your paper Email at tutoruhv. edu University West, room 129(361) 570-4288 In the following, I1 first review some relevant research concerning spatial arrangement and then discuss some recommended and jump off seating arrangements to encourage a collaborative environment in the writing center. Finally, I include some other considerations. In the body of this literature review, you would organize the information topically around each point (or question) that you asked yourself -Research Review -Recommended Spatial Arrangement -Alternative Spatial Arrangement -Other Considerations.Then, write a conclusion that explains the significance of your findings While the seating arrangements outlined above are loosely a good setting for peer tutoring sessions, we should remember that each tutoring sess ion is unique. Not all students will be comfortable with a side-by-side spatial arrangement at a round table.Tutors should be perceptive of and open to students who may have other spatial needs Chronological organization occurs when a review is organized in time order and is most often used when a historical context is needed for discussing a topic from its beginning to its current state chronological organization is oddly helpful when discussing inactive periods and shifts in perspective on a effrontery topic.Example The organization of a literature review begins in the introduction. For example, in the introduction of a literature review entitled Development of kind Science Research on Attitudes Towards Gender in the States, you would first introduce the topic and what your review hopes to assess This literature review will assess the development of research designed to uncover gender attitudes in America during the latter part of the 20th CenturyThen state what angle is going to be explored .. As research progressed throughout the 20th century, the methods that social scientists use for measuring these attitudes developed and changed as well Then, chronologically arrange issues that will be addressed in this review Gender stereotypes appease exist today, and varying attitudes can be traced over the past lambert years. assess instruments used to gather data on these varying attitudes have also changed drastically over the course of time.In the body of this literature review, you would organize the information chronologically, adressing each point (or question) that is being asked for a bad-tempered time period -Stereotypes and Survey Instruments of the 1950s -Stereotypes and Survey Instruments of the 1960s -Stereotypes and Survey Instruments of the 1970s -Stereotypes and Survey Instruments of the 1980s -Stereotypes and Survey Instruments of the 1990s -Current Advancements Always clear the use of I with your instructor.An alternative to this would be t he use of third person wording, such(prenominal) as This paper reviews some relevant research concerning spatial arrangement and then discusses some recommended and alternate seating arrangements to encourage a collaborative environment in the writing center. 1 Email at tutoruhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 Then, write a conclusion that explains the significance of your findings Although the tidy sum instruments used in the 1950s and 1960s developed an obvious bias when surveying Americans regarding gender attitudes, the 1970s brought about great change.Today social scientists are more careful than ever about testing the quality of a survey instrument before using it on the general public. Format There are also two suggested formats for composing your literature review. Format A is used when comparing several studies that have similar hypothesis but different findings. Each piece of research is summarized individually. Format A is good for reviews with a small num ber of entries however, this format may confuse the audience when used with a large number of reviews because descriptions of so many studies may get in the way of the analysis.Keep in mind that each piece of research usually will not receive equal attention in the review. Format A draw I. Introduction consists of quad parts that are usually discussed in one paragraph. a. Identify the general topic being discussed. b. Mention trends published about the topic. c. State thesis establishing the fence for writing the literature review. d. Explain criteria by giving a description of each of the criteria used in evaluating the literature review and rationalizing its organization II. Literature reviewed section is divided up according to study. a. starting time study is summarized and discussed. b.Second study is summarized and discussed. c. Third study is summarized and discussed. III. proportional analysis acknowledges the similarities and differences between studies. a. Similaritie s (if any) among the studies are evaluated and discussed. b. Differences (if any) among the studies are evaluated and discussed. IV. Conclusion/Summary in effect wraps up the review. a. take up points of comparison or contrast among the works based on Section III of your review.b. Provide insight of relationship between the topic of the review and a larger area of study such as a specific discipline or profession Format Borganizes the literature review according to similarities and differences among research rather than by literature studied. In a review organized according to Format B, little solid ground information on the literature being reviewed is given(p) outright.Instead, it is worked into the body paragraphs of the sections on similarities and differences. The conclusion then uses these two sections (similarities and differences) to tie in points of comparison and contrast between the works. Format B better suits document that are topically organized.Format B is outline d below. Email at tutoruhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 Format B Outline I. Introduction consists of four parts usually discussed in one paragraph. a. Identify the general topic being discussed. b. Mention trends published about the topic. c. State thesis establishing the reason for writing the literature review. d. Explain criteria by giving a description of each of the criteria used in evaluating the literature review and rationalizing its organization II. Similiarities within the research are discussed.a.First simile among research is discussed. b. Second similarity among research is discussed. c. Third similiarity among research is discussed. III. Differences in the research are discussed. a. First difference between research is discussed b. Second difference between research is discussed c. Third difference between research is discussed IV. Conclusion/Summary a. Summarize points of comparison or contrast between the works. b. Provide insight into relationship between the topic of the literature and a larger area of study such as a specific discipline or profession.The most important thing to remember when organizing a literature review is that it is not a list summarizing one work after another. The review should be organized into sections according to theme that are set apart by subject-related headings. REVIEW 1. Which format have you chosen for your literature review? Why? A Literature Review Checklist Did I . . . . . . ? ? Establish a sensible thesis based on the examined research ? State this thesis clear in my introduction ? Define unfamiliar terms ? Incorporate background information to define the problem ?Begin each entry in the review with a complete bibliographical reference ? List and severalise the hypothesis/thesis in each work reviewed Email at tutoruhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 ? Describe the outcome of the work or the research ? Develop and incorporate my own comments, including response to the rese arch, similarities and differences among literature reviewed, and reservations regarding authors methods or conclusions ? Avoid overquoting ? Check for grammar and punctuation errors ?Correctly cite all references in uniform documentation style Resources Brightwell, G.and Shaw, J. (1997-98). Writing up research. Retrieved marvellous 20, 2002 from Languages and Educational Development at the Asian Institute of Technologys Web page at http//www. languages. ait. ac. th/EL21OPEN. HTM Central Queensland University Library. (2000). The literature review.Retrieved July 22, 2003 from http//www. library. cqu. edu. au/litreviewpages/ Cuba, L. (2002). A short guide to writing about social science. bran-new York Addison-Wesley Publishers. Leibensperger, S. (2003). Setting the table Encouraging collaborative environments with spatial arrangement in the writing center.Unpublished literature review. Northern Arizona University. (1999). Electronic textual matter A blast from the past Your liter ature review. Retrieved May 30, 2002 from http//jan. ucc. nau. edu/mid/edr720/class/literature/blast/reading21-1. html Taylor, D. , & Procter, M. (2001). The literature review A some tips on conducting it. Retrieved June 17, 2002 from http//www. utoronto. ca/writing/litrev. html Trinder, L. (2002). Appendix. The literature review. Retrieved August 27, 2003 http//www. uea. ac. uk/w071/ pedagogics/ppf/Appendix%20Lit%20Review.pdf The University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center. (2001). Academic writing Reviews of literature. Retrieved May 30, 2002 from http//www. wisc. edu/writing/ handbook/ReviewofLiterature. html *In traditional APA style, this section would be entitled References and would be listed on a separate page double-spaced. Due to space constraints in this packet, it has been formatted differently. Copyright 2003 by the Academic Center and the University of Houston-Victoria. Created 2003 by Candice Chovanec-Melzow. Email at tutoruhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288.