Writing Literature Reviews

Tam Tran
What is a lit review?

categorized, suitatble for rs orientation --> combination of all of 3.

 DISCUSSION

 In pairs, introduce yourselves and write your

questions and concerns about literature review
on Padlet.
1. select and pick up relevant idea
2. what are the major debates and issues about the topic --> Yes
3. what are the key sources (huge impact on topic, show key author and paper in the field) --> Yes
4. what are the main questions and problems that have been addressed to date --> Yes, previous knowledge on the field --> should go with the main concern/question regarding the field only
5. what will my rs do --> No,
6. what are the key theories, concepts and ideas --> Yes
7. what conclusions will my thesis make --> No
What is a
lit review
 not just a synthesis --> have cmt ur point of view -->
to choose/not to choose to follow on idea What is a
literature
review?
explain how u choose to write a lit rv here
find out the connection of papers --> create the
different teams
ex: got 10 paper --> categorize into 2-3 teams
to analyze

plan the structure of your rs


what ppl wrote about the topic
read alot --> become
expert on topic
Purpose of the literature review
Demonstrates knowledge of
the field
Provides background and
context for your own work
Evaluates and critically all journal,
assesses scholarship paper
relevant
Helps to conceptualise your
topic & the significance of
what you are doing; to
extend the work of others
 What approaches were taken or conclusions
reached in important earlier research, by whom
and when
 The main concepts and controversies which
surround the topic you are researching
 How previous research informs your
understanding and investigation of the topic
 Whether these approaches / conclusions are in
agreement or conflict with each other
 Which areas provide issues of contention?
 Where does your topic fit within existing
scholarship?
 Significant gaps in previous research and new
possibilities
 Provides material with which to compare your
findings
 WHAT
MAKES AN
assume other ppl already use --> add more sources
EFFECTIVE
LITERATURE
not overall description --> point of
view, assessment

what make ur rs

REVIEW
different from the others
rs in social science --> everything can be changable --> hard to say st is true/false, different approaches from dif perspective.. --> need to be
careful --> tentitive language
--> might evalution/assumption/propose by myself/might not be true in all cases
just description/statement elaborate what has been done, connection

what's next?
 A critical review

Your literature review must be critical. It needs to establish:

 How previous research informs your understanding and
investigation of the topic
 The main issues or controversies which surround the topic you
are researching
 The most important studies, approaches, issues and methods in
the field
 What approaches were taken or conclusions reached in the
research area, by whom, and when
 Whether these approaches/conclusions are in agreement or
conflict with each other
 Significant gaps in previous research and new possibilities
 Critical writing versus ‘catalogue’

 Descriptive writing or ‘the catalogue’…

 what happened
 what another author has discussed
 an account of the topic.

 An analytic or critical approach…

 asks and answers questions
 explains and interprets the facts (rather than just stating them)
 Synthesises information to develop a point of view
 Avoiding ‘the catalogue’: Example 1
Research by Frage et al (1980) provide evidence
for the interaction hypothesis.
Faerch & Kasper (1986) and Sharwood Smith
a finding
(1986) adopt a weak version of the interaction
hypothesis. They do not adhere to the strong
version of this hypothesis which links
comprehension and acquisition.
have a conclusion, summary
Swain (1985) find that in immersion programs
comprehensible input is insufficient for
successful second language acquisition.
-> no connection and relationship
Although research by Frage et al (1980) provides
some evidence for the interaction hypothesis,
it has come under increasing criticism.
Some scholars (e.g. Faerch & Kasper, 1986;
Sharwood Smith, 1986) criticise the strong
version of this hypothesis which lays claim to
the link between comprehension and
acquisition. Swain (1985) adds weight to these
criticisms, by finding that, in immersion
programs, comprehensible input is insufficient
for successful second language acquisition.
-> connect into 1 main idea --> show another connection
 Avoiding ‘the catalogue’: Example 2
Breakwell (1992) defines identity
as the internalisation of
packages of actions and
thoughts expected of the
occupant of particular social
positions.
what is the key here?
this is supported by different author by example or evidence
Identity is frequently aligned--> the arguement
with the notion of social role.
Breakwell (1992), for example,
defines identity as the
internalisation of packages of
actions and thoughts
expected of the occupant of
particular social positions.
The language of reviews: Expressing stance

Which text conveys more commitment to the cited author?

Harris (1940) in the US
demonstrated that younger
students tended to obtain
better degree results. Similar
findings have been made in
Britain by Malleson…
Harris (1940) in the US
found evidence to
suggest that younger
students tended to obtain
better degree results. Similar
findings have been made in
Britain by Malleson…

http://www.monash.edu.au//lls/llonline/writing/general/lit-reviews/3.4.xml
Expressing stance

Your choice of words will:

 reveal to the reader your attitude towards the status of the author’s
theories or research, and
 indicate whether or not you consider their claims to be substantiated.
 Expressing stance

Showing commitment to particular facts or positions through:

Proclaiming
• presenting something as evident:
of course; naturally; obviously; clearly…

• insertion of the author’s voice:

the fact is that …; We believe that…

Endorsing (positive): affirming;

agree; stress; demonstrate; emphasise; make clear

Emphasising
necessarily; significantly; essential
 Expressing stance

Showing lack of commitment to a position through:

Disclaiming
counter-expect: but; yet; however; although; while; even though;
whereas; despite; instead of
Distancing (negative)
claim; suggest; propose; argue; believe, think; assume; speculate;
assume; in their opinion
Hedging
modals: may, might, could, it is possible that
declaratives: it is/ does/
Neutral reporting or statements
say; report; state; point out; note; tell; describe; explain; according to…
Reporting verbs can indicate your stance

Neutral Convey Imply Convey attitude of

uncertainty agreement original

•Argues •Alleges •Establishes •Refutes

•Suggests •Declares •Affirms •Stresses
•indicates •Speculates •Confirms •Advocates
•Describes •Contends •Proves •Proposes
•Observes •Claims •Convinces •Urges
•Comments •Asserts •Demonstrates •Contradicts
•Maintains •Postulates •Shows •Challenges
•Reports
What is the writer’s stance in this passage?
How does she express it?

Perhaps the most serious criticism leveled at the negotiation studies

is related to how language is viewed in these studies, and indeed in
the interaction hypothesis. Writers such as Ahmed (1994), Donato
(1988) and Lantolf (1998) argue that by seeing interaction only in
terms of an attempt to clarify input, and by analysing the learner’s
talk only for a certain type of interaction moves, these studies ignore
the fact that language is a tool which mediates learning and social
relations (Firth & Wagner, 1997). Donato (1988) points out that
negotiation studies seem to assume that…
Organising the literature review
The Funnel Approach

Problem

Question, aims
Example of funnel approach

Topic: 'Managing hypertension: the importance of patient education‘

 Introduction
 Management of hypertension - background and discussion
 Treatment regimes
 Rates of patient compliance and non-compliance
 Patient beliefs about treatment
 Effects of patients' beliefs on compliance
 Changing patients' beliefs: the role of education
 Conclusion.
Other possible structures

 Chronological: early to later studies

 Major authors / studies
 Perspectives or positions taken on the topic
 Issues or debates: key issues/ related issues
 Methodology
 WHAT IS
THE
FORMAT
lit rv section only (srand-alone chapter only), one chapter
OF A LIT
REVIEW
that call lit rv, loacte in 1 separete section

put it together into the discussion

mention lit rv in several chapters

Introduction
lit review
example
 OVERALL
give the structure of what ur doing next STRUCTURE
OF A LIT
REVIEW
Steps to
write a lit
review
STARTING
OFF
Your
literature
search
SEARCH
AND
SELECTION
OF
LITERATURE
DISCUSSION
What is acceptable in your
discipline?
 Assessing your literature review

 Purpose
 Does your review contribute to the reader’s understanding of the research
problem?
 Does it reach some conclusion on the current state of knowledge in an
area, and suggest the next step in the investigation of the problem or
question of interest?
 Critical evaluation of the literature
 Have you compared and contrasted authors? Discussed possible reasons
for conflicting results? Indicated relevance to your research? Been critical
of methodology?
 Selection and organisation of material
 Have you indicated the most recent, relevant and significant research?
 Is your material sensibly organised to highlight issues?
 Writing the review

 Write as early as you can

 For your supervisor and yourself
 Write as you read and research
 Impose limits on reading time

 Draft, leave for a while, then redraft.

 Remember that the literature review will evolve over the course of your
candidature
 Treat it as a working document
 Focus on YOUR aims and contribution
 Writing the review

• Get access to past theses or papers in your departmental library

• Check papers in key journals in your discipline for examples of
critique and writing style
• Find review sections in articles/books in your area that impressed
you, and analyse their writing style.