literature review-RESERVED FOR HIFSA

Tom Akbari Advanced Writing in the Disciplines Literature Review and Abstract Checklist Checklist for Literature Review (Who’s reading? General technical audience)

• Title: engage and inform • Author’s Name • Abstract (see expanded abstract checklist on next page, write this last)

o Include something like this line: “This paper reviews insert problem/challenge/analytical question here emphasizing insert what especially concerns your about how sources approach this problem/challenge/analytical question.

• Keywords • Introduction

o What is the topic at hand? What is known about it? Why is it important? What are people struggling to figure out? Define specialized terms to help orient a general scientific audience.

o Include something like this line, which reiterates line from abstract, at end: “This paper will review…emphasizing….”

• Body Paragraphs o What are the headers, sub headers? Do they follow a logical, parallel order? o Assimilation, possibly some synthesis: Do we see material drawn from sources,

placed into relationships? What does your paper emphasize in deciding how to make relationships? Is there debate?

o Are tables, graphs, diagrams, figures helpful to reader? Label figures (Fig. 1, etc.), and include a caption below figure; can include citation in caption, if necessary. Labels tables (Table 1, etc.), caption above table; can include citation in caption and/or table cells, if necessary.

• Conclusion o Synthesis: What are the prospects for the relationships drawn between sources?

What is most promising? Least promising? Where should future research be aimed? How would you resolve the debate?

o Begin conclusion with something like this line, which reiterates lines in abstract and introduction: “This paper reviewed…emphasizing….”

• Acknowledgments o Revision Club, others (writing center tutor, roommate)?

• References o Follow one of our two model literature reviews and be consistent: Use the

name/year in-text citation style of “Hallmarks of Cancer” paper, which includes an alphabetized reference list. OR use the numbering-in-order-of appearance citation style of the “Assembling Materials” paper, which includes a numbered reference list.

Abstract Checklist on next page

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Abstract Checklist • Declare Topic/Problem/Challenge/Analytical Question • Declare specific scope of paper (How is knowledge ordered in this review? Any

emphases? ) o Possibility: Headers and sub-headers of body invoked to show ordering, emphases o Strong Option: Narrative form (First, we review…; Then we emphasize…; In

particular, we consider…; In conclusion we determine that….) • Declare judgments made in synthesis • Declare use, value, and legitimacy of paper