1. Writing a Literature Review
Presented by: Leigh Ann Holterman, M.A.

2. Goals Broad overview of a literature review
Understand the components of an effective literature review
Learn strategies for researching, organizing, and writing a literature review

3. Literature Reviews Usually part of an academic research paper
Guide to a particular topic
Discusses published information in a particular area

4. Literature Reviews Purpose Topic becomes a conversation
Provides background information
Establishes the importance of the topic and evaluates existing research
Important research trends
Strengths/weaknesses
Gaps
Enhances the credibility and relevance of your research
Why current research is necessary
Topic becomes a conversation

5. Steps for Writing
Planning
Research
Analyzing
Writing

6. Planning Phase Find models Focus Determine your emphasis
Examples of literature reviews in your field
Read them and look for ideas on organization and content
Focus
Determine your research question or thesis that this literature review is addressing
Narrow down your topic
Determine your emphasis
Theory, Methods, Policy, Quantitative studies, Qualitative studies

7. Concept Mapping

8. Concept Mapping

9. Planning Phase Scope Define the boundaries of your literature review
Dates, discipline, forms
What sources will you be using?

10. Developing a Focus Questionnaire

11. Research Phase Collect and read materials
Databases, library, Google scholar
Main topic and key terms
Timeframe
Citation management
Zotero/Endnote/Mendeley

12. Research Phase Summarize each source Create an annotated bibliography
Use questions on page 2 of your supplemental packet
Create an annotated bibliography
Only select sources that are relevant to your project

13. What a Lit Review Is NOT

14. Theme Creation

15. Theme Creation
An example

16. Theme Creation

17. Theme Creation
An example

18. Theme Creation

19. Analysis- Putting it all Together
Analyzing is a process of
Summarizing
Synthesizing
Critiquing
Comparing
Ask yourself the key questions

20. Analysis
After assessing the literature, you should be able to answer these questions:
What do researchers already know about this?
What do they not know?
Why should we study this topic?
What will my research contribute?

21. What a Lit Review Is So much information!
How do I organize it?
Balance of summary and analysis
Offers an argument about the body of research
Remember, don’t present each source one by one
That’s an annotated bibliography
Organize by themes or underlying concepts

22. Organization

23. An example

24. Another example

25. Organization Common approaches Find more information in your packet!
Topical
Debate
Chronological
Seminal study
Find more information in your packet!

26. Tips for Composing the Review
Use evidence
Be selective and use quotes very sparingly
Discipline-specific
Paraphrase
Cautiously and cite sources!!
Keep your own voice

27. Plagiarism & Citations
If it’s not your original idea, or common knowledge, you need a citation!
Find out the correct reference system for your field
APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago…

28. In Summary While reading, keep in mind the “big picture”
Review should provide an overview of the state of the field
Focus on the sources that help shape your argument
More does not equal better!
Balance summarizing and analyzing
Remember how your review contributes to your research, and how it will benefit your readers
Writing is a skill

29. Graduate Writing Center
Visit the Graduate Writing Center!

30. References Articles: Websites:
Cisco, J. (2014). Teaching the literature review: A practical approach for college instructors. Teaching & Learning Inquiry, 2(2),
Websites:
review
writing-literature-reviews/view
document.pdf

31. Questions?