Eng201 Writing and Research
Literature Review
Overview:
Literature reviews give an overview of existing literature on a topic. They summarize key texts, and may also evaluate, analyze, and demonstrate how the texts interact with each other, both directly (as in citing each other) and indirectly (supporting a point made in another source but without mention of that source). A good literature review allows readers to understand what has been said about a particular topic, and this is why literature reviews are a central part of academic and professional writing. They are often included in other types of writing, including published articles and grant proposals.
It is important to note a literature review does not make arguments about its sources' topics. Our goal in a literature review is to provide an objective guide to the sources on the topic we choose. Synthesis, summary, analysis, and interpretation therefore become vital to showing the relationships between sources and and how, overall, they create a conversation about the topic.
Assignment:
The literature review you will write must be based on the topic you are interested in working on for your fourth essay, which will be an argument-focused research essay. Your topic must be from your major, and you cannot change topics after you have written your literature review. Therefore it may be useful to do some presearching on topics you are interested in.
It is also strongly recommended you avoid binary or polar topics, which can be characterized as "yes/no" and "for/against" simplifications of perspectives and positions. Same-sex marriage, climate change, euthanasia, the war on terrorism, and the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) are just a few examples of such topics. You will only be allowed to write on topics which are commonly simplified to a binary or polar presentation if you can justify a unique or different approach or aspect of the topic, and these must be approved BEFORE you begin work on your literature review.
This review represents the first stage of the process, in which you will presearch and research what has been said about your topic. It will be followed by a proposal of your topic, and the research essay. The sources you present in your review will be used as a foundation for your upcoming writing projects, and you may use those sources in your proposal and research essay.
Please refer to the Chapter 17 handout for your guide on how to plan and write your review, particularly the "Guidelines for Writing a Literature Review" on pages 360-361.
Goals and expectations:
- 7-8 pages typed and double-spaced, with an appropriate heading and descriptive title.
- Identification of a topic from your major that is sufficiently specific and narrow.
- Demonstration of thorough research into the topic (i.e. going beyond finding the minimum required sources).
- A minimum of eight scholarly sources appropriate for your topic.
- Clear and logical organization, including well-developed supporting paragraphs, and effective transitions.
- Evidence of synthesis of the sources that goes beyond summary.
- Clear use of MLA or APA documentation styles to document all ideas not your own. Drafts without a works cited/reference page will not be accepted; works cited/reference pages do not count toward the page requirement.
- Revised drafts should demonstrate careful proofreading and revision, including but not limited to revising thesis statements, organization, grammar, and sentence mechanics.
Our overall goals are to presearch and research on a topic you are interested in working on for your final essay, and to prepare that in a writing format that could be used by others in your field to learn more about the topic if you were to publish your review.
You are required to submit a draft to the appropriate topic thread in Blackboard for peer evaluation by the start of class on Friday, October 30. A draft is due to me on Wednesday, November 4, by the start of class, and will be returned with my feedback on Monday, November 9, so please plan appropriately.
Note: All papers will be randomly checked for plagiarism. Any and all sources may be randomly checked to verify credibility and authenticity.