Research Guides: EDU 337: Teaching in the Middle and Secondary School: Writing Literature Reviews

Literature Reviews

Understanding a literature review...

What? Overview /survey of a small body of scholarly research (i.e. books, articles, conference papers, theses, dissertations, etc.) in a particular discipline.
Why? Often a required component of grant and research proposals. They are also a common preface to theses, dissertations, and scholarly articles.
Scope? Determined in large part by your research needs and/or restrictions. (Summary or critical evaluation)

Literature Review Guides & Samples

Below is sampling of resources to help you better understand the purpose and structure of literature reviews. You may find the worksheet from IUPUI particularly useful once you collect the bulk of your resources and begin to write your first draft.

Synthesizing Multiple Sources Worksheet, IUPUI
This work sheet from Indiana University may help you find common themes among your research resources. The sample chart may help you organize your thoughts and talking points before you begin writing your APA Lit Review.
Literature Reviews: an overview for graduate students, NC State Libraries (VIDEO)
This guide provides an overview of how to research and how to pull the information together into a final polished product. It's a nine-minute video, but well worth the time if this is your first literature review.
Literature Review, Writing Center, Duke University
This handout will walk you through the steps of how to review literature and understanding the purpose and scope of literature reviews.
Write a Literature Review, UC Santa Cruz University Library
This guide breaks down the process and components of a literature review. It includes examples of literature reviews and links to other resources.