How to build an argument and

show your research

significance in the Literature
Review chapter
 What is the literature review?
 It is a summary report of specific literature which
evaluates the author’s views on their findings. This
literature review supports the researchers focus on
their topic.
 A literature review is a systematic review of various
sources about the same topic. It is a critical part of
the research process and it may report findings
about a specific topic, within a specific amount of
time.
Coombe, C., Hiasat, L., Johnston, D. & Dastakeer, W. (2019). An A to Z of Research Literacy. Abu Dhabi, UAE: TESOL Arabia Publications.
 Literature Review
 Remember you are arguing your point
of why your study is important!
 Then pose a formal research question
or state a hypothesis—be sure this is
clearly linked to your literature review
 Literature Review
 All sources cited in the literature review
should be listed in the references.
 To sum, a literature review should
include introduction, summary and
critique of journal articles, justifications
for your research project and the RQs
for your study.
 The end of the literature review should
show the significance of your research.
 Organizing Your Literature
Review
 Topical - organized by main topics or
issues; emphasize the relationship of
the issues to the main “problem”.
 Methodological- organized by the
method of data collection.
 Chronological – organized by date, from
old to new or vice versa.
 The reader should be convinced your
research is of significance after reading
your literature review – HOW?
 What is an argument?
 It is the main claim or point that your
research wants to make in an answer to a
question that mostly represent a research
gap.
How can I build a strong argument
and show my research
significance?
1. Search for all the academic sources that
relate to your topic
2. Evaluate and select sources: Read the
abstract, scan the bibliography and the
citation count.
3. Identify themes, connections, debates and
gaps that invite your research and lead to
your research problem.
 Let’s use an example
 Research question: What is the effect
of video games on students’ academic
performance?

What are the first steps to answer

this question?
Answer: Go back to slide 8 
 Activity A: Group work
Now, in groups, locate 2 relevant academic
articles about this topic and answer the
following questions:
What are the main arguments presented in each

article?
What are the connections/differences between the

two articles?
 Do these arguments agree or disagree with the

researcher's point of view?

 Note to teacher
 OR the teacher can do the next activity if
students did not learn how to locate
articles by this stage.
 Activity B: Whole Class
 Read the following example from a student
research paper and write down the answers to
these questions:
 What are the main arguments presented in each
resource?
 What are the connections/differences between
the first two resources?
 Do these arguments agree or disagree with the
researcher’s point of view?
 Paper
 Paper A
Now, let’s see how the researcher built
their argument using these resources
Read and answer these questions:
Do you think the argument is strong? Why?

What did the researcher do to build their

argument in writing?
 Steps to build your argument
 Introduce the source
 Summarize the research problem, key findings, and
data collection tools.
 End your review of that resource by stating your
opinion.
 Your opinion should be about how relevant this
study/research is to your study or other studies you’re
reviewing, the gap it addressed or missed, the context
it relates to and how it contributes to identifying your
research problem or the research gap.
 Common Errors Made in Lit
Reviews
 Review isn’t logically organized
 Review isn’t focused on most important facets of
the study
 Review doesn’t relate literature to the study
 Too few references or outdated references cited
 Review isn’t written in author’s own words
 Review reads like a series of disjointed summaries
 Review introduces the researcher’s bias with no
synthesis of resources
 Review does not indicate the research gap or lead
to the research problem.