Week 8: Writing a Literature Review

For this assignment you will write a 5-7 page literature review, double spaced. This assignment is
intended to be an introduction for you on writing literature reviews, something you may be
requested to do for future classes (including your senior thesis project) and/or professional
projects. You are going to write a small-scale or what is also called a selective literature review.
Start this early in the week to give yourself plenty of time to create a well-written and
polished literature review. This assignment is worth 250 points and is due Sunday at
midnight.

To prepare for this assignment, do the following prewriting and planning:

Review the 6 sources cited in your annotated bibliography (NOTE: You are welcome to cite
more sources, if you wish).

Refer to this sample literature review from the Purdue OWL website as an example.

Follow this outline for your review:

I. Introduction

In the introduction you should:

A. define or identify the general topic, issue, or area of concern

B. point out overall trends in what has already been published

C. establish your point of view for reviewing the literature [Include your
research question!]

D. indicate the organization of the review

II. Body

In the body you should:

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 A. group research studies and other relevant literature according to a common
theme [for example, you may find prevailing theories and/or practices
involved with your research; you can use these as thematic sections for the
body of your literature review]

B. summarize each item of the literature appropriately according to its

significance

C. compare and evaluate each item of the literature

D. provide topic sentences at the beginning of paragraphs and summary

sentences at the end of sections to help the reader understand what the main
issues are

III. Conclusion

In the conclusion you should:

A. summarize the literature maintaining the focus presented in the introduction

B. evaluate the current "state of the art" [or state of the topic that represents your
research question] [by] pointing out gaps in the literature, inconsistencies and
issues that are important for future study

C. conclude by giving some insight into the relationship between your topic and
a larger area of study or area of professional practice

The following elements are required for your literature review:

• Your literature review must be 5-7 pages in length, double spaced (not including
your references or works cited list), using a 12-point, Times New Roman font

• Include a References list (APA format) at the end of your literature review

• The References list should be on a separate page following the literature review

• Refer to the style guide in the LBSU302 Libguide for how to incorporate in-text or
parenthetical citations throughout the body of your literature review and for
formatting the citations in your references or works cited list properly.

Editing Your Literature Review and Getting Help with the Assignment:
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Once you have completed a draft of your literature review, read it aloud, ask another person you
trust to read it for clarity and consistency, and make the necessary edits to polish your draft into a
well-written final version.

Please remember that it is your responsibility to contact your instructor with any questions
you may have about writing the literature review. Starting your assignment early in the week will
allow enough time for your instructor to answer your questions. If you have a draft early, contact
the Online Writing Community’s professional tutors for an “extra read.”