Literature Review

Introduction - Sets up the issue and explains context/significance - Provides rationale for organization and identifies main points - Provides a general, big-picture overview of this conversation Each paragraph that encompasses the body of the literature review should: - Open with a topic sentence that clearly identifies the paragraph’s main idea - Be a unified, coherent paragraph - Bring in several sources in each paragraph, replete with clear signal phrase and in-text citations - Put these sources in conversation with one another—discuss what is common, different, debatable, etc. - Make sure to cite ALL sources. Remember that paraphrasing, which is most of what you will do in a literature review, involves citing. Almost everything in the body paragraphs will need citation. Don’t lose your credibility by not citing something! Conclusion - Wraps up conversation - Identifies a clear gap in the discussion - Indicates how you will fill this gap - This should lead to a thesis or your potential project – note, this is the one place we see “YOU” in the paper.