Literature Review

Chapter 2: Literature Review

Remember, this begins on a fresh page.

(Use headings and sub-headings to help guide your reader!) Introductory paragraph: This

should describe how you are going to present your

argument of discovery to the reader that leads to the development of your research

thesis/questions/hypothesis. Your argument of discovery is built by laying out a series of

claims in a thoughtful way. This can include claims of concept, fact, worth, policy, or

interpretation. Remember, each claim you make needs to be backed by evidence. The

evidence you are presenting consists of individual pieces of data, which are your individual

citations. Tell the reader how you will be presenting your argument. This can include

describing the organizational pattern you will be using such as: finding intersections,

zooming, patchwork or funneling. Also, provide the reader with a road map of each section.

For example, “This literature will include the following sections:” You should be succinct

(brief) in your introduction—a paragraph or two.

Subsections 1+: In each of the following sections you will present literature (data) that

support claims (of concept, fact, worth, policy, or interpretation) about the historical

background, contemporary context, relevant terminology, significance of the issue being

researched, previous research and its limitations (the gap) and other relevant information.

This is all part of your discovery argument.

Transitional paragraphs 1+: Provide at the end of each subsection a transition paragraph that

summarizes the key points of the section you just presented and that tells the reader what you

are about to present next.

Summary

At the end of your literature review, you should take the time to summarize the key points

you have just presented and to provide the warrant (or bridge) describing how, given all of

the evidence you just provided, you have come to your thesis, research questions,

methodology, and questions/hypothesis you have chosen. You can also include how your

research will fill a gap in the literature and add to the current body of knowledge on your

topic. This is the advocacy argument. This section summarizes the overall themes and

findings from your literature review. You want to reiterate the most important points and

remind the reader how your study will move forward from where you are at this point.