The Literature Review *dramatic music*

Writing Exercise Use your synthesis grid to jot down some ideas for a body paragraph. Construct a topic sentence that will control the flow of ideas and keep you from summarizing too much. You can draft an entire paragraph if you’re feeling ambitious. Hold onto this exercise: you will use it during group work.

Roadmap for Today Housekeeping News Anatomy of a Literature Review Partner Activity Final Literature Review Q&A

Housekeeping Your literature review is due by 11:59:59PM Monday for section 41, Tuesday for section 67 Open Tutoring Sessions for the 1.1: Thursday 02/12/15 & Tuesday 02/17/15 Both 6-8PM in English 352 Utilize the Writing Center as well Now is a good time to consider making up a grade

Anatomy of a Literature Review Standard format, strange contents Intro -Thesis Statement -Purpose Body -Topic Sentences -Synthesis Conclusion

Introduction Thesis Statement -not argumentative -does not focus on the topic itself -most often ~2 sentences long -outlines main subtopics Introduction -introduce the topic -provide definitions if needed -move into discussing research -identify the purpose -thesis ends the paragraph

Body Paragraphs Topic Sentences -focus on the category/subtopic -should not include only one author name -Useful keywords: Research, Researchers, Studies -drives the synthesis Body Paragraph -mostly synthesis -discuss the connections: similarities or differences -not a list of article ideas -emphasize the impact of these similarities or differences

Potential Ways to Group Articles -Historical Survey Group the oldest articles together Group the newest articles together -Relationships Group by comparisons or contrasts -Research-Style Order the way research papers do: methods, samples, subtopics, results

Conclusion -wrap up the effects of the research -overall statement of your synthesis results -explain what research still needs to be done (then check your word count and figure out if you need to expand or contract one of your paragraphs)

Does the Literature Review have you feeling like this?

Resources to help you feel like this:

Group Activity Partner up with one other person -Partner 1: Introduce your research topic to partner 2. Use your writing exercise to explain your ideas for a body paragraph. Include your topic sentence to help them understand where you’re going. -Partner 2: Point out whether they have synthesis in their plan. Poke holes in their logic. Ask questions about aspects you don’t understand. Then swap roles. Partner 1, be the sounding board for Partner 2.

This is your last chance to ask questions about the Literature Review This is your last chance to ask questions about the Literature Review. You can ask about word count, format, grading emphasis, revision, etc. Make this time work to your advantage.