RA: Literature Review Description of RA
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SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING EFFECTIVE and ORGANIZED PAPERS
[With an Example for Writing an Article Critique]
--All effective papers have 3 parts: an Introduction, a Body, and a Conclusion --Headings are not used for the Introduction and Body of a paper in APA style. However, a heading is used for the writer’s Conclusion or Summary at the end of your paper. It is a Level One heading like the Title--See the Example Article Critique on page 3. --The purpose of a paper determines the nature of its central argument or thesis, map, and, of course, the supporting elements of the body, but no matter the purpose, well organized, effective papers always have the 3 parts outlined below. See the bracketed details that apply especially to an Article Critique. A. INTRODUCTION—has 4 parts: 1. A Hook: A beginning sentence[s] to grab the reader’s attention: like facts, statistics, a story, or a quote [ARTICLE CRITIQUES usually contain the author’s name (date) and sometimes a brief version of the article topic or a brief part of the title, though the full title and citation information is spelled out in the References] 2. The Central Argument/Thesis: Clearly states the central argument/intention the writer wishes to communicate [In an ARTICLE CRITIQUE, the central argument/thesis is the overall analytical purpose or argument about the article – what the writer intends to develop and support in the body of the paper]: Something like this: “The purpose of this critique is to examine or analyze [or another verb like this] Langer’s(2002) research on the use of learning journals….”.] 3. A Map: A sentence or phrase that briefly states the key premises or points you plan to address in the Body to support the central argument/thesis [For an ARTICLE CRITIQUE, the map identifies the 5 parts of a research article and indicates that you plan to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each part.] 4. A Transition: a phrase or sentence that leads the reader into the Body B. BODY --Contains between 2-5 premises/points that support the central argument/thesis. Usually each has several supporting paragraphs [In an ARTICLE CRITIQUE, the body is generally divided into the 5 sub headings that are the 5 basic parts of most research article—see Sample on p.3]
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--Each point or subheading requires a topic sentence at the start; each paragraph to follow also requires a topic sentence [Again, in an ARTICLE CRITIQUE, you begin by creating a sub heading and then a topic sentence for each of the 5 parts of a research article. Here is an example: “Langer (2002) clearly [or not?] stated his research question and problem early in the article when he said…..”. Then the writer completes this topic sentence with an overview of what he/she intends to say in the analysis of the major strengths and weaknesses in how Langer, for example, explained his research topic/purposes. This topic sentence is followed by sentences with supporting details. Then the writer moves to the second part/second subheading of a research article, which would be the literature review and/or theoretical framework. --Detailed examples are used to support the premises: like statistics, quotes, or paraphrasing from literature [In an ARTICLE CRITIQUE, examples and details are needed to support/substantiate your premises/points; they generally come from the article itself—can be detailed examples or quotes or paraphrases; if you use these, you may need to review Citations in APA, Ch. 6] --Transitional words or phrases from one paragraph to another create a logical flow of ideas and help the reader to follow your thinking: words like, “the second part;” or, “next:” or, “an excellent example of [whatever] is……” [In an ARTICLE CRITIQUE: After discussing one strength of an article’s methodology, you might, for example, begin another paragraph with a transition of this type: “Another strength of Langer’s (2002) data collection methods is …………………” C. Conclusion: A paragraph [or more, depending upon the length of the paper] with several purposes: --Revisits the writer’s central argument/: What did the writer start out to prove/accomplish in this critique? What was the central argument or thesis? --Recaps the key analytical arguments [ARTICLE CRITIQUE NOTE: Generally in a critique, these would be an overview of the major strengths and weaknesses the writer has identified in the article] --Restates the ‘hook’ OR…. [With an ARTICLE CRITIQUE, this can also be the place to give impressions of other aspects of the article: What was new, interesting or useful? How might the information be useful to the writer’s research? What gaps did the writer find in the study or what were those mentioned by the authors as either gaps or suggestions for future research? These are suggestions for a conclusion, but be guided by the Assignment Guidelines for any specific assignment]
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is an Example of the Structure of an Article Critique,
Using 2 Levels of Headings
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Title of the Article Critique [centered, same title as the one on the title page]
[Introduction] Do not use the word, ‘Introduction’ as a heading—just begin the introduction It includes the 4 parts of all effectively organized papers: a hook, a central argument or purpose/intention statement, a map, and a transition—this sets up your paper with clear direction, purpose, and structure. [Body] This is the major part of the paper. Again, do not use the word, ‘Body,’ but instead, generally, writers divide the body into the sub headings of the map stated in the introduction, which has already set up the structure of the body around the basic premises/points to support the central argument/thesis. [See APA, pgs. 62-3 for guidance on headings]. Ex: In an article critique, the first sub heading would be this: The Research Question and/or Research Purpose Start the paragraph after the sub heading with a topic sentence that states the heading and also states the broad premise[s] you wish to make in this section, generally an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses, supporting your analysis by examples, statistics, paraphrases, quotes from the articled [See Citations, APA, Ch. 6] EX: The Second Heading would be this: Theoretical Foundations/Literature Review Again, begin with a topic sentence that names the heading and states what you intend to analyze about this part of the article’s strengths and weaknesses, using examples, etc. Continue this process until you have completed all 5 parts of the research article.
Conclusion [Level One—centered and bolded] Unlike the [Introduction] and [Body], the writer does use the word, ‘Conclusion’ or ‘Summary;’ it like the Title, is a Level One heading.
[Note: Your papers need a Title page, which is numbered as page 1 of your critique—and includes a Running head. Your analysis begins on page 2. See Title Page sample in Doc Sharing; also there is a model on p. 41 of your APA Guide.]