1. The Writer’s Handbook: A Guide for Social Workersx
The Writer’s Handbook:
A Guide for Social Workers
Chapter 4
Literature Review
By Andrea Tamburro, MSW and EdD
©2014 The Writer’s Toolkit, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

2. Literature Review: The Process
Taking a process approach means that you focus on each piece of your paper, creating internal deadlines in sync with your project’s final due date.
When all pieces are complete, integrate them to form your literature review. 

3. Getting Started Select a topic that interests you. Form questions.
What are some topics that interest you?
What do you want to know about the topic?
After discussing your topic with a peer, what feedback have you received?

4. Journal Article Review
Select an article by reading the abstract, introduction, and conclusion. – does this article seem relevant to your topic?
Analyze a literature review in the article.
Read the content of the article.
Let’s look at each step.

5. 1. Selecting an article. a. Look at the credentials of the author.
b. Assess the references by using the internet.
c. Read the abstract, introduction, and conclusion:
Does this article seem relevant to your topic?

6. 2. Analyze a literature review in the article.
As you take notes, consider the following questions:
Did they use headings to identify each theme?
How did they integrate the literature within each theme?
How did they present points of agreement in the literature?
How did they present points of conflict or disagreement?

7. 3. Read the content of the article.
Note how themes are foregrounded and how the articles, websites, and books support and contest each theme.
How did the authors connect each book or article to their thesis?
What information did the literature review provide for the research question in the article?
How did the authors integrate (synthesize) the various articles into themes?
How do you connect the literature to your thesis?
Which topics in your literature review did the article inform?

8. Literature Review Start with two social work articles
Step 1: Thesis Statement or Question
Step 2: Introduction and Review
Start with two social work articles
Summarize the article
Assess and critique the article
Reflect on the article – will it inform your thesis statement?

9. Summary, Assessment, and Reflection
The summary describes the article’s main points.
The assessment is your evaluation of the article. Is the information trustworthy, why or why not?
The reflection identifies how you intend to apply the information to your work or your review.

10. Summary
Be objective, giving a brief overview: you do not need to restate detailed information.
What are the basic details of the article, including the purpose, methods, and conclusions?
Who is the article about?
What do the authors do? How do they do it? Why do they do it?

11. Assessment and Critique
How do I know that I can trust the information in the article?
What is it about the article that suggests that the information is reliable? (For “Universal Intellectual Standards,” see page 83 in The Writer’s Handbook.)
Which critical thinking standards do the authors demonstrate?
Which critical thinking standards are missing or are not fully implemented?

12. Reflection Is the article useful to my study? If so, how?
What themes does this article inform?
How does information in the article compare, support, or contrast with information in other scholarly articles or books?

13. Step 3: Complete annotated bibliography of 10 articles
Organize information for each article using the three categories: summary, assessment, and reflection.
These three categories should appear as subheadings under each source in your bibliography.

14. Step 4: Synthesize 10 Articles
To help you organize the articles, make each topic a heading in your document.
Which articles agree on the topic?
Which articles provide new insights or multiple perspectives worth considering?
Which articles contradict the findings of other articles and why?

15. Use an analytic chart Article Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 5
Define neglect
Ways to identify neglect
Reasons for neglect
Interventions for neglect
Outcomes
Smith (2008)
X – agree X
Jones (2010)
X – disagree
Johnson (2013)
Thigpen (2012)
X brief

16. Steps 5: First Draft Focus on conclusions
Consider your thesis statement or question: How did the literature address your topic?
What are your conclusions based on data from the research?
What are your recommendations for actions needed?
What have you learned?

17. Step 6: Second Draft Rethink, Revisit, Revise
Compare your conclusion with your introduction:
Does your conclusion include your thesis statement or question and how the literature addressed your topic?
Are your conclusions based on and supported by data?
Can you describe your findings more clearly?
What actions are needed based on your research?
What have you learned?

18. Step 7: Presentation of Literature Review
Develop a 10-minute presentation of your literature review; include a PowerPoint. In the review, include the following:
Introduction that includes thesis statement
Synthesis of your review
Conclusion

19. Step 8: Literature Review
Here’s an outline:
Title Page
Abstract
Introduction (thesis statement or question)
Annotated bibliography for each article:
Summary
Assessment and Critique
Reflection
Synthesis
Conclusion
References

20. Throughout your process: Separate composing from editing
As you work on your drafts, compose freely. Edit and format after you complete you draft; then proofread carefully.

21. Questions