Literature Review Paper

Instructions

The purpose of this research project is for you to create a scholarly research and writing, which conforms to current APA format.

You will research and write a literature review on a topic relevant to your course. Do not “recycle” any work from any previous courses you have taken. Your research paper will be a comprehensive thematic review of the scholarly literature related to your topic.

How is a literature review different from an academic research paper?

The focus of a literature review is to summarize and synthesize the arguments and ideas of others without adding new contributions. A literature review can also have an “argument,” but it is not as important as covering a number of sources. An academic research paper and a literature review contain some of the same elements. In fact, many academic research papers will contain a literature review section. But it is the aspect of the study (the argument or the sources) that is emphasized that determines what type of document it is.

What is the format for literature reviews?

“Just like most academic papers, literature reviews also must contain at least three basic elements: an introduction or background information section; the body of the review containing the discussion of sources; and, finally, a conclusion and/or recommendations section to end the paper.

· Introduction: Gives a quick idea of the topic of the literature review, such as the central theme or organizational pattern.

· Body: Contains your discussion of sources and is organized thematically.

· Conclusions/Recommendations: Discuss what you have drawn from reviewing literature so far. Where might the discussion proceed?”

What is a thematic literature review?

“Thematic reviews of literature are organized around a topic or issue, rather than the progression of time.”v

“Sometimes, though, you might need to add additional sections that are necessary for your study, but do not fit in the organizational strategy of the body. What other sections you include in the body is up to you. Put in only what is necessary. Here are a few other sections you might want to consider:

· Current Situation: Information necessary to understand the topic or focus of the literature review.

· History: The chronological progression of the field, the literature, or an idea that is necessary to understand the literature review, if the body of the literature review is not already a chronology.

· Methods and/or Standards: The criteria you used to select the sources in your literature review or the way in which you present your information. For instance, you might explain that your review includes only peer-reviewed articles and journals.

· Questions for Further Research: What questions about the field has the review sparked? How will you further your research as a result of the review?”vi

Important Points to Consider

The paper is to be written in strict conformance to current APA standards, and must contain at least 15 pages of content (excluding the title page, abstract, and references), utilizing at least 12 scholarly references.

Three levels of current APA headings must be used throughout the paper.

When you directly quote a source, it must have quotation marks around the quote, or (if 40 words or more) it must be set in block quotation format. You must also give detailed information of where you acquired the quote.

For the purpose of this academic paper, adhere to the follow rules when quoting or using a source:

· Do not directly quote more than 120 words from any one source.

· If the source is 2,000 words or less, do not directly quote more than 50 words from any one source.

· Do not use the same source more than a total of 3 times within the whole document for quoting or paraphrasing.

· Quotes must contain the section (if provided) and paragraph or page numbers of the quote, and this information must be placed in the reference.

· In all instances, use current APA guidelines for citations and references.