LITERATURE REVIEW FINAL DRAFT
Objective:
This literature review assignment is intended to provide students the freedom to choose a topic of personal or academic interest within the expansive realm of presidential politics.. The objective is to encourage independent exploration and critical analysis of scholarly perspectives on an aspect of the American presidency.
Guidelines:
Length: The literature review should be between 2000 and 2500 words.
Sources: Students should aim for a variety of sources to provide a well-rounded perspective on the topic. While there isn’t a strict rule, you should consider including around 10 to 20 sources. This range allows students to include enough material to analyze and discuss without being overwhelming. Remember to prioritize the quality and relevance of the sources over sheer quantity. Choose sources that contribute meaningfully to your understanding of the topic.
Structure:
Introduction: Clearly introduce the chosen topic and articulate its relevance within the broader context of American governance and the presidency.
Body paragraphs: Describe what you find in the literature. It’s likely students will find distinct schools of thought on, or approaches to, your chosen topic. In general, students should organize their paragraphs around these scholarly tendencies rather than individual sources.
Conclusion: Summarize the major findings and insights obtained from the literature review. Emphasize the contributions of various sources and identify potential avenues for future research.
Works cited: Include a works-cited page, and citations in the text, that follows one of the recognized academic citation formats. The instructor does not care which citation style the students choose, as long as it is consistent throughout the assignment.
Assessment Criteria:
Evaluation will be based on the depth of analysis, the ability to synthesize information from various sources, the clarity of argumentation, adherence to academic writing standards, and the extent to which feedback on the rough draft was addressed by the student. The assignment aims to develop critical thinking skills and encourage students to take ownership of their exploration of the American presidency.