Literature Review Assignment?

Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW FORMAT 1

How to Format a Literature Review: A Resource for COM207 Students

Alison Trego

Arizona State University

LITERATURE REVIEW FORMAT 2

How to Format a Literature Review: A Resource for COM207 Students

This document provides you with guidelines for how to format a literature review paper,

including the cover page, headings, and references. This document is intended to supplement the

instructions you will follow in the assignment sheet and APA Manual. Third-person should be

used in this paper. Begin the paper with a cover page formatted as shown. After the cover page,

at the top of the next page (page two) center the title of your paper exactly as worded on the

cover page. This is an example of a first level APA heading. First level headings are centered.

Note the cover page, the title above and the word References on page 5 are not bolded. The first

level headings for Theoretical Overview, Synthesis of Scholarship, and Conclusion are

bolded. After the title, begin typing your paper. Page two begins with the elements of an

introduction and should include an attention getter (see research articles for examples of

attention-getters to begin a literature review), an introduction of the theory, the

significance/importance of the theory being covered, a preview statement of the sections of the

paper (theoretical discussion, synthesis of scholarship, conclusion), and a sentence that

transitions to the next section of the paper. Consult the assignment sheet for all required

elements. Do not rely on this description alone to complete your assignment. The length of this

section should be 1/2 to 2/3rd page.

Theoretical Overview

Create a title for this section. You may use the heading as provided here if you like. In

this section, draw upon Griffin, Ledbetter, and Sparks (2015) to discuss your theory. In this

section, articles found while doing research for assignments that discuss the theory may also be

used. In this section, summarize and/or explain the theory, including the terms and concepts that

are relevant to the theory, the paradigm of the theory, the communication tradition under which

LITERATURE REVIEW FORMAT 3

the theory falls (see the textbook), and what types of scholarship/research the theory has

generated. Remember to cite accurately in the discussion the sources being used. At the very

least, each paragraph in this section should include at least one in-text citation because the

information being discussed draws exclusively from sources other than you. Failing to provide

accurate in-text citations constitutes plagiarism. The last sentence of this section should

transition into the next section of the paper. Please see your assignment sheet for detailed

directions. This section should be between 1 to 1 ½ pages.

Synthesis of Scholarship

Preview the synthesis of scholarship in 2 to 3 sentences. The last sentence here should

transition to the first category/theme/subheading of your synthesis. Please note this preview will

not be of a standard paragraph length.

Subheading of Theme One

The above is an example of a second-level heading. The synthesis of scholarship section

presents a synthesis of the research you have found. You are integrating the findings from at

least 5 scholarly journal research-based articles that discussed the studies investigating the

specific communication theory you chose. The synthesis of scholarship will be roughly two

pages minimum to three pages maximum in length. Please see your assignment sheet for detailed

directions. The synthesis of scholarship focuses on the results and findings from the research

articles. Results and findings refer to the answers to research questions or hypotheses presented

in the research studies discussed in the articles. Please note the paragraph here in this template is

not an example of a good standard paragraph length.

You will organize the findings of your research studies by categories/themes that are

labeled as subheadings. You should synthesize these materials by looking for

LITERATURE REVIEW FORMAT 4

similarities/differences among the articles and linking them together. For instance, you might

note that two of your articles study relational dialectics in families and the findings from those

studies, and depend on the particular articles that you use. In each paragraph, you should strive to

cite research findings/results from at least 2 different articles. Use a transition sentence to lead

into the next subsection. The sections or subheadings of your synthesis of scholarship should be

balanced, meaning they should be roughly equal in content and length. Provide a transition

sentence between each sub-section, and then a transition sentence into the conclusion. Please

note the paragraph here in this template is not an example of a good standard paragraph length.

Second Subheading

This is another example of an APA second-level heading. Make sure that the subheadings

make sense with your categories/themes and that you transition between sections. You should

continue to synthesize (connect findings from different articles) and summarize findings from

different articles, citing at least 2 of your minimum 4 articles. You might only have 2 sub-

sections in your literature review. Please note the paragraph here in this template is not an

example of a good standard paragraph length.

Conclusion

The last section of your paper is the conclusion. A first level bolded heading should be

used for this section. This section of the paper includes a summary of what was discussed in the

paper in the form of a summary of one or two sentences, a discussion of the strengths and

weaknesses of the research articles, suggestions for future research with justification for why,

and one- to two-sentences as closing thought, which may tie back to your attention-getter. Please

see your assignment sheet for detailed directions. This section should be no more than 1 page.

Start your reference list on a new page.

LITERATURE REVIEW FORMAT 5

References

Anleu, S. R., & Mack, K. (2005). Magistrates’ everyday work and emotional labor. Journal of

Law and Society, 32, 590-614.

Ashcraft, K. L. (2000). Empowering “professional” relationships: Organizational communication

meets feminist practice. Management Communication Quarterly, 13, 347-392.

Ashcraft, K. L., & Mumby, D. K. (2004). Reworking gender: A feminist communicology of

organization. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Ashforth, B. E., & Kreiner, G. (1999). How can you do it?: Dirty work and the challenge of

constructing a positive identity. Academy of Management Review, 24, 413-434.

Charmaz, K. (2001). Grounded theory. In R. M. Emerson (Ed.), Contemporary field research

(pp. 335-352). Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.

Cheney, G., & Ashcraft, K. L. (2007). Considering “the professional” in communication studies:

Implications for theory and research within and beyond the boundaries of organizational

communication. Communication Theory, 17, 146-175.