STAGE I.

The Setting
1. 2. Begin with accepted statements of fact related to your general area (your universe) Within the general area, identify one subarea (your galaxy which includes your topic)

3. Indicate your topic (your star)

INFORMATION PROMINENT CITATION

Information + Reference

In most deserts of the world, transitions between topographic elements are abrupt

(Smith, 1968)

The literature on teaching effectiveness has established few theoretical ground to guide the selection of meaningful variables (Doyle, 1978)

INFORMATION PROMINENT CITATION

Information + Reference Number

The introduction of high strength, high flexibility materials has raised the need for a dynamic approach to floor design

(1,2,8,9)

AUTHOR PROMINENT CITATION

Last name of author + Date or reference number + Information

Leopold

(1921)

Listed foods, but gave no quantitative data

Allen and Reiner

(1) Described graphically the differences between the

various vibration scales

ORDERING OF CITATIONS
Citations grouped by approach
One approach + OR Another Approach + Still another approach Citations ordered from distant to close OR (latest) (earliest) Citations ordered chronologically

INFORMATION PROMINENT: Reporting Facts

Verb Topic + (Present) + Fact + (Reference)

Nutrient resorption

is

a common phenomenon in forest trees

(Krammer, 1979).

The factors that control the concentration of

are

poorly known

(1).

aluminum in seawater

WEAK AUTHOR PROMINENT: Several Authors

Authors + Verb (present perfect) + Topic + (Reference)

Several researchers

have studied

the relationship between classroom adjustment and mobility ( Madsen, 1980; Biggs, 1983; Randall, 1985).

Topic

Verb (present perfect)

Author

(Reference)

The physiology of annual plants

Has been studied

by several authors

(23, 7, 13)

GENERAL STATEMENTS: Level of Research

Activity

Verb (present Level + perfect) + Topic

Little Research

has been done

on topic development in ESL students composition.

AUTHOR PROMINENT: Findings from Specific Studies

Author + Reference + Verb of report (past) + THAT + Finding

Allington

(1983)

{}
found showed noted reported observed

that

teachers allocated equal time to all groups

LITERATURE REVIEW

Citation Form Beginning citations: information prominent Weak author prominent General statements

Tense

Simple present and present perfect

Later citations: Author prominent

Simple past

ATITUDE TOWARDS FINDINGS: Accepted as Fact

Reference number Author + or date + report Verb of + THAT + (present) aluminum in seawater is regulated by a thermodynami c balance. Findings

Sillen

(1)

showed

that

ATITUDE TOWARDS FINDINGS: Results Limited to One Study

Reference number or Author(s) + date + Verb of report + Findings (past)

Abramson

(1974)

reported

that mobile students had lower academic performance. that 34.6kg of nitrogen were cycled internally by trees.

Henderson an Harris

(7)

found

ATITUDE TOWARDS FINDINGS: Tentative Findings

Reference Author + number + report Verb of + THAT + (modal auxiliary + verb) Tentative findings

Van Bennekom

(5)

{ }
proposed suggested hypothesized

that

aluminum may be common in diatom residues

ALTERNATIVES FOR STAGE III

1. You may indicate that the previous literature described in Stage II is inadequate because an important aspect of the research area has been ignored by other authors.

2.

You may indicated that there is an unresolved conflict among the authors of previous studies concerning the research topic. This may be a theoretical or methodological disagreement.

3.

You may indicate that an examination of the previous literature suggests an extension of the topic, or raises a new research question not previously considered by other workers in your field.