Graduate Writers’ WorkshopWeek 4

Building the Literature ReviewDr. Erica Cirillo-McCarthy

Assistant Director of Graduate and ADEP WritingCalifornia Lutheran University Writing Center

What, why, how of literature reviews Creating a research space Example of short literature review Example and exercise of literature review as a section

of a journal article

TODAY’S PRESENTATION

WHAT? ◦A concise overview of the literature relevant to the topic

◦A carefully considered presentation of previous research

◦Articulation of the conversation surrounding your topic

◦A weaving or braiding of established theories and studies along with an evaluation and critique of these theories and studies

LITERATURE REVIEW

WHY?◦ Establish your authority and credibility as an author

◦Delineate the parameters around the research space YOU want to analyze further

◦ Invite the reader to see previous research as you see it

◦Carve out the space for your research

LITERATURE REVIEW

HOW?◦Gather and evaluate sources◦Describe and critique/evaluate previous studies/theories◦Go to the original source◦ Establish a taxonomy of theories and previous studies◦ Impose order on previous studies for your reader◦Rhetorically consider what your audience needs to know first,

second, third…◦ Identify and articulate the relationship between previous

research, the contradiction, the gaps and inconsistencies◦Articulate the next step in research (it could be your study or a

planned future study)

LITERATURE REVIEW

Organize the Sources thematically- e.g. those that support one position or rely on one theory, those against the position or contradictory theories, or those that offer an alternative study and theory, or methodologically.  

Connect Sources - explain how each source relates to other sources – what’s the conversation and how has it played out traditionally? Where do these sources fit into the larger conversation?

Critique & Conclude - discuss which sources are most effective in supporting their position and which sources contribute the most to the understanding and development of the research on the topic. What is missing? What has been overlooked? Where does your research contribute to the conversation?

HOW CONT’D

Move 1. Establishing a Territory◦ Step 1. Claiming centrality (or importance, relevance,

problematic)and/or

◦ Step 2. Making topic generalization(s) and/or

◦ Step 3. Reviewing items of previous research (obligatory)

Example: Presenting a cohesive, sustainable business identity has become an important and immediate goal in many industries. (Steps 1 and 2) According to Jones1 and Smith2, certain corporations are considered leaders in sustainable practices, such as Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, IBM, and Disney. (Step 3)

The Create A Research Space (CARS) Model (see Swales and Feak)

1Robert Jones, “Sustainability as a Marketing Tool,” Journal of Business 15 (2011): 32-38.2William Smith, “Corporate Identity and the Green Movement,” Journal of Marketing 12 (2010): 116-122.

Move 2. Establishing a Niche◦ Step 1A. Counter-claiming or◦ Step 1B. Indicating a gap or◦ Step 1C. Question-raising or◦ Step 1D. Continuing a tradition or extending previous

knowledge (obligatory)

Example (cont). However, for many companies, there is a vast difference between their explicit “green” identity and their actual “green” practices. (Step 1B) This paper reviews previous research on three Fortune 50 companies’ sustainability statements and extends that research by analyzing the companies’ green mission statements alongside their green practices. (Step 1D)

CARS Model (cont’d)

Move 3. Occupying the Niche◦ Step 1A. Outlining purposes (obligatory) or◦ Step 1B. Announcing present research (in some fields)◦ Step 2. Announcing principal findings (in some fields)◦ Step 3. Indicating Research Article structure (in some fields)

Example (cont). The purpose of this paper is to extrapolate from these three case studies and discover if top companies are moving towards green practices or if they use green rhetoric in their identity and mission statements in order to attract and retain green customers. (Step 1A)

CARS Model (cont’d)

Presenting a green business identity has become an important and immediate goal in many industries. According to Jones1 and Smith2, certain corporations are considered leaders in sustainable practices, such as Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, IBM, and Disney. However, for many companies, there is a vast difference between their explicit “green” identity and their actual “green” practices. This paper looks at previous research on three Fortune 50 companies’ sustainability statements and extends that research by analyzing the companies’ green mission statements alongside their green practices. The purpose of this paper is to extrapolate from these three case studies and discover if top companies are moving towards green practices or if they use green rhetoric in their identity and mission statements in order to attract and retain green customers.

Let’s Put it all Together

1Robert Jones, “”Sustainability as a Marketing Tool,” Journal of Business 15 (2011): 32-38.2William Smith, “Corporate Identity and the Green Movement,” Journal of Marketing 12 (2010): 116-122.

Presenting a green business identity has become an important and immediate goal in many industries. According to Jones (2011) and Smith (2009), certain corporations are considered leaders in sustainable practices, such as Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, IBM, and Disney. However, for many companies, there is a vast difference between their explicit “green” identity and their actual “green” practices. This paper reviews previous research on three Fortune 50 companies’ sustainability statements and extends that research by analyzing the companies’ green mission statements alongside their green practices. The purpose of this paper is to extrapolate from these three case studies to discover if top companies are moving towards green practices or if they use green rhetoric in their identity and mission statements in order to attract and retain green customers.

Let’s put it all together:

Handout – “Writing a Short Literature Review” Discussion/Application to your sources

Let’s look at another example

See handout 2: “Is She “Man Enough”? Women Candidates, Executive Political Offices, and News Coverage” Exercise

Journal Article Example

Start early and write often! Come to the Writing Center to work through your ideas

with a tutor: www.callutheran.edu/writing_center Go to your professor’s office hours to work through

your sources and connections Work in a writing group. Gather a few like-minded,

supportive people to create weekly/bi-weekly writing goals and hold each other accountable

Remember that everyone, even published authors, follow the writing process: revision, revision, revision!

Thank you!

References:Meeks, Lindsay. “Is She “Man Enough”? Women Candidates, Executive Political

Offices, and News Coverage.” Journal of Communication 62.1 (Feb 2012) 175-193.Swales, John M. & Christine B. Feak. Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and

Skills. Ann Arbor: Univ. of Michigan Press, 2004.