PSY 5-3

Literature Review Guidelines and Rubric

Overview Writing the Literature Review When writing a critical literature review, you will need to summarize, evaluate, and offer critical comments on the ideas and information that the author(s) presents in the literature. Your goal should be to read and understand the literature, analyze the findings or arguments, and evaluate and comment on the literature. Please note that unlike the Annotated Bibliography, in which you listed the sources you are planning to use, your Literature Review must be a written paper that incorporates your responses to the questions below. For additional information on writing a Literature Review, you may review the following article: How to Write a Literature Review Reading the Literature

 Allow enough time to understand it.

 Read the literature without taking notes to gain an overall impression of its main idea.

 Read the literature again, analytically highlighting important ideas and making brief notes of main ideas and the main topic. Ask yourself these questions: Be sure to address the following issues within your literature review:

 Name of article and journal cited in proper APA format

 Where did you find this article? How did you know that it was a reliable and valid site?

 What is the issue that the article is specifically addressing? Is this a significant problem or issue related to the concepts and theory in this course? Why or why not?

 What references did the author use in this article?

 Did the article contain research? What data was used? What instruments, if any, were used to collect data?

 What were some of the conclusions, if any, to the research in this article?

 Was the article reliable and valid? Explain.

 Was this article well written? Thoughtful and reflective? Applicable for the classroom teacher?

 What were the limitations in this article? Any variables?

 Any other thoughts, comments? Guidelines for Submission: Your Literature Review should be at least two pages (four pages maximum), double-spaced, use 12-point Times New Roman font, and contain citations in APA format.

Rubric

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Background

Provides a comprehensive overview of research/data and instruments used in article

Provides explanation of research/data and instruments used in article

Some explanation of research/data and instruments used in article

Fails to provide explanation of research/data and instruments used in article

20

Main Elements Current issue or Problem

addressed in article

The project includes all of the main elements and requirements

The paper includes most of the main elements and requirements

The paper includes some of the main elements and requirements

The paper lacks presentation of the main elements and requirements

20

Critique of Article Citing Both Strengths

and Limitations

Well-developed critique citing both strengths and weaknesses of the article

Developed critique citing both strengths and weaknesses of the article

Some development citing strengths and weaknesses of the article

Some development but incomplete critique of the article

20

Mechanics

No errors related to organization, grammar, and style

Minor errors related to organization, grammar, and style

Some errors related to organization, grammar, and style

Major errors related to organization, grammar, and style

10

Proper Citation

All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented in discipline-appropriate format

All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but many are not in discipline-appropriate format

Some sources are not accurately documented in discipline-appropriate format

None of the sources are accurately documented in discipline-appropriate format

10

Application of Theory, Reference Data, and

Course Concepts

Incorporates concepts and theory from course material and outside references

Applies theory, reference data, and course concepts

Incorporates some theory and course concepts

Fails to apply theory or course concepts

20

Total 100%