Academic Research and Lit Review

Argument of others ideas

Briefly recapping the main points in your own words.

Bringing together information from several sources to make a new point. (You relate the effect the movie had on you to something you read about in a psychology course)

It provides a handy guide to a particular topic

It emphasizes on the credibility of the study

It gives a solid background for research papers

Get sense of the type of themes or organize

Depends on the fieldMedicine = importantHumanities= Relevant

Limit the scope of your studyAsk experts

ChonologicalThematicMethodologicalOthers

How to structure a literature review

Broad introduction to topic

Specific information of the topic

At the end of your literature review the reader must have only one thought in their heads…….

DO I HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION OF THE TOPIC?

level of detail

SOURCES FOR THE LITERATURE REVIEW

TWO TYPES OF SOURCES

REFERENCES REFERENCES ACTUALACTUAL

• IndicesIndices•Computer searchesComputer searches•Bibliography listBibliography list•Personal ConferencesPersonal Conferences•Underground PressUnderground Press

•Journals articlesJournals articles•Discussed sourcesDiscussed sources•ReviewsReviews•Edited collectionsEdited collections•BooksBooks

Direct Quote

Paraphrased workSummary

REPORTING VERBS

READING THE LITERATURE Locate the material/determine relevancy How much reviewing Which references Which aspects DETERMINING THE RELEVANCE OF THE MATERIAL

Directly related Source of the report

Journals aimed at Researchers Well known and highly valued Primary sources versus Secondary sources

ORGANIZING AND REPORTING THE REVIEW OF LITERATURE

ORGANIZATION amount of information specific variables chronologically or historically

REPORTING THE LITERATURE REVIEW Section of the research ( describes and

synthesize) Focus briefly on major findings

Samples of Thesis Statements The current trend in treatment for

congestive heart failure combines surgery and medicine

More and more culture studies scholars are accepting popular media as a subject worthy of academic consideration