Literature Review
ENGL 1302
Summer II
Strubberg
2012
What is the Literature Review?
 Discusses published information in a particular subject area.
 It usually has an organizational pattern and combines both
summary and synthesis.
Literature Reviews as Ways of Hearing
the Conversation
 Scholars carry out literature reviews to find out the most
current thinking about a topic, to learn what research has
already been carried out on that topic, to evaluate the work
that has been done, and to set any research they will do in
context.
Narrowing Your Focus
 As you read through your initial sources, see which themes
recur and try to narrow your topic.
 You are not writing THE definitive paper over a broad
subject; rather, you need to focus on a narrow area of that
subject.
 Narrow topics based on discipline (economics, politics,
demographics, etc.), historical era, geographic area, etc.
Thesis Statement
 Does not argue for a position or an opinion
 Argues for a particular perspective on the material
 Tends to include the words research, researchers, or scholars in
the subject position of the sentence
Thesis Statement Examples
 Researchers and psychologists have studied cases in which the
insanity plea is used to gain a better understanding of the
defense, and the studies agree that the integrity of the insanity
plea is questionable and also that its success rate is lower than
expected.
 From decreasing one’s carbon footprint, to saving money and
giving back to the power grid, scholars and authors discuss how
photovoltaic systems act as an economic and sustainable aid.
Thesis Statement Examples cont.
 Many researchers call attention to the social ramifications of
suddenly throwing foster care youth out on their own such as
entanglement with the criminal justice system, homelessness,
and unhealthy lifestyles.
 Journalists and researchers have been studying the causal factors
behind road rage. Road rage is one of the primary fears people
have about driving, and studies have shown that many drivers will
experience road rage in one way or another. Some people argue
that alcohol is the chief contributor to road rage, but in reality
other factors behind road rage include age, gender, and
aggressive driving. Whether the cause of road rage is alcohol or
age, the argument should be made on how society can eliminate
these causal factors behind road rage.
Thesis Statement Examples cont.
 The current trend in treatment for congestive heart failure
combines surgery and medicine.
 More and more cultural studies scholars are accepting
popular media as a subject worthy of academic consideration.
Write a Working Thesis Statement
 What does your initial research tell you about your topic? What
general themes have show up?
 In what areas of your topic do scholars seem to agree or share
similar opinions?
 In what areas of your topic do scholars seem to disagree or hold
dissenting opinions?
 Write a preliminary—or “working”—thesis statement for your
literature review based on the initial research you have
conducted.
Possible Structural Organization
 Introduction
 Thesis statement emphasizing perspective on the material
 Brief Background Information/Key Terms (Optional)
 Body
 Synthesis of sources organized into sections based on common
themes
 Conclusion
 Call for further research
Organizing the Body of the Essay
 Chronological
 Publication
 Trend
 Thematic
 organized around a topic or issue, rather than the progression of
time
 Methodological
 focusing factor usually does not have to do with the content of the
material
 focuses on the “methods” of the researcher or writer
Synthesis
 Determine the important ideas in each source.
 Take notes on each source. Identify and summarize the key ideas
of each piece.
 Formulate a position.
 Review the key ideas of each source and figure out how they fit
together. Look for patterns: discussions of causes and effects,
specific parts of a larger issue, background information, and so
on. Be sure to consider the complexity of the issue, and
demonstrate that you have considered more than one
perspective.
Synthesis cont.
 Summon evidence to support your position.
 You might use paraphrases, summaries, or direct quotations
from your sources as evidence, or your personal experience or
prior knowledge. Integrate quotations properly, and keep your
ideas central to the piece of writing.
 Combine your source materials effectively.
 Be careful to avoid simply summarizing or listing your research.
Think carefully about how the ideas in your reading support
your argument. Try to weave the various sources together rather
than discussing your sources one by one.
Synthesis Paragraphs
 Begin with a sentence or phrase that informs readers of the topic
of the paragraph
 Include information from more than one source
 Clearly indicate which material comes from which source using
lead-in phrases and in-text citations
 Shows the similarities or differences between the different
sources in ways that make the paper as informative as possible
Synthesis Example
One last ramification of suddenly throwing foster care youth out on their own, researchers
argue, is poor health and inadequate access to healthcare. In their article “Trajectories of Depression
Symptoms…”Munson and McMillen, two doctors of philosophy in social work, state that “foster
youths are at increased risk of depression due to a variety of factors… [They] are thought to be at an
even greater risk for depression when they leave care” (Munson 235). Similarly, in their article “In
Their Own Words,” the authors stress the same idea put forth by Munson and McMillen. They state
that “youth living with foster parents are more likely to be in poor physical and mental health
(Scannepieco 425).” It is clear that researches have found poor health to generally be a defining trait
of foster care youth. This situation become problematic, as asserted by the authors of “From
Homeless to Healthless,” because many foster care youth have ongoing healthcare issues that are not
being treated (Yen 90). In their article the medical researchers argue the correlation between
healthcare and housing in the lives of aged-out foster care youth (Yen 81). The subjects all relayed
that their inability to maintain a healthy lifestyle was a result of a housing circumstance (Yen 90).
Most stated that they were not close to healthcare providers that would accept their particular
insurance, that they had no time, or that the instable housing “impeded the flow of information”
between them and their social workers (Yen 84-86). According to the authors of “In Their Own
Words,” studies such as this one help in “addressing what is needed for successful transition
(Scannapieco 423). The medical researchers suggest that “disseminating information about program
and services available to former foster care youth …and extending health insurance coverage to
older ages” could remedy the issue of unhealthy lifestyles among transitioning youth (Yen 91). The
research presented by the authors of all three articles makes known the difficulties of foster care
youth. By presenting healthcare, or lack thereof, as a serious social ramification in the sudden
transitioning of foster care youth to independence, the authors provide necessary knowledge that
calls attention to the problems associated with the current process of emancipating youth.
Begin Writing Your Own Synthesis
Paragraph
 Using your summaries and rhetorical precis, identify some
common themes or trends in your initial research. List these
trends.
 If your initial working thesis does not fit these trends, rewrite
it so that it reflects these trends.
 Write two topic sentences based on both your thesis
statement and the trends from your initial research.
Conclusion
 Summarize your primary points
 Restate your thesis
 Issue a call for further research
In-class Group Assignment (3 students
per group)
 Based on the information presented in this PowerPoint
presentation, review the Sample Draft 1.1 from your
textbook.
 What is your initial reaction? Using the grading guide, how
would you score it?
 Identify the key components:
 Thesis statement, topic sentences, areas of strong and weak synthesis, and
a call for further research
 How did the writer choose to organize it? Is this method
effective?
Works Consulted
 St. Martin’s handbook, 7th edition:
http://ebooks.bfwpub.com/ttu.php
 “Synthesis Writing” by Sandra Jamieson, Drew University
 Literature Review Handout from The Writing Center,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill