-Use four peer-reviewed journals
Relevance to Your Future Profession
Research a topic and population you care about. If you are interested in the topic and feel compassion for people affected, you will be able to renew your energy and commitment when you experience mid-semester fatigue. Pace yourself to compose this research paper—do not procrastinate.
You must show command of the topic and strength in argument in this literature review. Include details and develop your ideas thoroughly. Your citations should be well researched, organized, and composed.
What is a Literature Review? (APA Manual p. 8; Section 1.6)
APA JARS GlossaryLinks to an external site.
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Literature Review |
A narrative summary and evaluation of the findings or theories within a literature base. It is also known as “narrative literature review.” |
Literature reviews, including research synthesis and meta-analyses, are critical evaluations of material that has already been published. By organizing, integrating, and evaluating previously published material, authors of literature reviews consider the progress of research toward clarifying a problem. In a sense, literature reviews are tutorials, in that the authors
- Define and clarify problems
- Summarize previous investigations to inform the reader of the state of research
- Identify relations, contradictions, gaps, and inconsistencies in the literature
- Suggest the next step or steps in solving the problem.
The components of literature reviews can be arranged in various ways, but you will be grouping (synthesizing) research based on similarity in the concepts, themes, and theories of interest.
Scientists have written thousands of such discussions, prompting new research, fresh ideas, best practices, and up-to-date university course content. Similarly, your scholarly discussion should contribute insights to the pool of knowledge!
Step 1: Writing
An original title: The title should summarize the main idea of the paper simply and with style. Think of a working title as you develop your paper. Your working title evolves along with your paper.
Introduction: The introduction explains the focus of the paper and establishes the importance of the subject. It gives your audience just enough information to be able to understand your thesis. Start with a brief overview of the topic, and then go into details on the issue as it relates to your topic and profession. Identity controversies within the field and any recent research that has challenged earlier assumptions. Provide brief background or history and conclude the introduction with a thesis statement. See Section 3.4, Introduction Standards, for more information (p. 75).
Working thesis: Annotate your journal articles and take notes. Discuss the similarities and differences in findings with other people. What links exist between those articles? How are these articles connected to your topic? This synthesis anchors the working thesis. As your scholarly paper evolves, your thesis will become more rational, clear, and obvious. You will likely finalize your thesis just before the assignment’s due date. The thesis should include recommendations based on the literature. How can your future profession contribute to the solution? What does your profession need to change? What can it improve?
Section headings: Include Level 1 and 2 headings.
Supporting paragraphs: Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that directly links to your thesis. Support your thesis (argument) by connecting every paragraph to an aspect of your thesis. Back up your claims with valid, detailed examples, state the significance of the evidence to your thesis, and provide realistic analysis.
Weave together information from the peer-reviewed sources– this is called synthesis. Do not list details from one source after another.
Paraphrase the literature, using your own voice, and blend the details to support your thesis.
All of the sentences in a paragraph should be properly developed, coherent, and they must stand united in theme.
Use academic vocabulary. APA-style terms, such as “adolescent” or “child” are appropriate; Do not use “kid”. Use “learned” or “discovered” rather than “found out,” which is wordy. Do not use “said” or “talked” to reflect an idea you learned about through reading. Instead, use “discussed”.
Conclusion: The final paragraphs should not be a simple restatement or a summary of your paper. Instead, it is a final appeal to your audience.
The conclusion is your last chance to convince readers that what you have written is a relevant, meaningful interpretation of a shared issue and to remind them that your argument is reasonable.
Do not include any new information in the conclusion. Rather, support the argument you made in the body one last time.
Collect key components of your argument in the service of answering the question “So what?” — What will happen if things stay the same? What will happen if things change?
You can also place what you have written in a broader context if it is helpful: What are the implications (social, economic, political)? Finally explain again how your ideas contribute to the conversation by building on, extending, or even challenging what others have argued.
Be courageous and innovative in all of your content, from the title to the last sentence. Compel your audience to learn more and take action.
Step 2: Revising, Fact-Checking, and Editing
G.E. course instructors are required to assess your language, style, and English proficiency. Assignments shall demonstrate quality writing as expected in the professional world. Fact-check your details and spellcheck your words. Grading will reflect content, mechanics, style, citations, APA formatting, and overall completeness. Please review the rubric (linked at the top of this page).