The Final Literature Review assignment will allow students the opportunity to synthesize and write a robust literature review based on the 15 empirical articles they have selected and been working with throughout the semester. Remember, articles should be drawn from the most recent (within the last 10 years) U.S. based literature. You have been working all semester with the same 15 (or more) articles. By now you will be more familiar with your articles and have a better understanding of the landscape of the literature in the area related to your research question. The final literature review is different from the annotated bibliography that presented a brief summary individually of each article. In the summary of three articles assignment you went in-depth with three of your articles. The final literature review assignment will draw on that knowledge as well as other pieces to write your literature review.
The literature review is a synthesis of the information you have gathered and pulled from all of your empirical articles. Think of it as a summary. You are laying out for your reader, a coherent and organized picture of the landscape in this area, based on the literature. You, as the one who has done the research and looked at all of the articles, must find a way to present that information to the reader. As the writer, you must be able to articulate the information for someone who is not familiar with the literature.
To do this, you will need to take a step back from the literature and spend some time thinking. Think about all of the literature you have read. Go back and look at your grid that provides a snapshot. Jot down on paper what some of the common themes are across the articles as well as things that are different. You will have several topic areas that you will present for your literature review that help us understand different aspects of your research question in this particular area. It is likely that each article will be able to be used and referenced for multiple sub-sections. Because each research question and topic area is different and the literature you have selected for your review varies, I cannot tell you what your topic areas should be. This is part of the “work” that you are doing. What have you learned as you have gone along?
As you are thinking about this and asking yourself questions, I would encourage you to write the information down. Brainstorm, jot down ideas…literally put them on paper with a pen/pencil and look at them. Seeing it on paper can help. You will come up with several topics or themes that you will write about for your literature review. You will make statements about that particular topic (again, remember that research writing is a different language and you will need to write from a more neutral voice and back up the statements with the literature. The literature is to be used to support what you are telling the reader about what we know in this particular area.
The assigned readings have information about literature reviews (Pajo as well as Grinnell et al.) and you can also see examples of synthesized literature reviews in many of the articles we have read for class as well as the 15 articles you have in front of you that you have been working with all semester.
For this assignment you will need:
- Title Page
- Introduction setting the stage for the importance of your research question (this information must be referenced and cited)
- Sub-headings for each of your topic areas and information about each section (again, this must be referenced and cited)
- Section focusing on gaps and limitations
- Conclusion
- Reference page
This paper should be between 8 to 12 pages.
| Final Literature Review Rubric (2) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts |
|
Title Page
|
0.5 pts
Title page is clear, includes a descriptive title, student name
0.25 pts
Attempt at a title page but does not meet the requirements of the assignment
0 pts
No title page
|
/ 0.5 pts
|
|
Introduction
|
1 pts
Introduction describes in detail the area of research inquiry including the nature of the social problem or issue. The importance of this area for social work and its relevance to social work practice. Literature is used throughout to support statements.
0.5 pts
Introduction attempts to describe the area of research inquiry including the nature of the social problem or issue, the importance of this area for social work and its relevance to social work practice, and some literature is used to support statements, but not consistently throughout
0.25 pts
Introduction is minimal in description of the area of research inquiry including the nature of the social problem or issue, the importance of this area for social work and its relevance to social work practice and minimal literature (or no literature) is used to support statements
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 1 pts
|
|
Literature Review: Original Content
|
2 pts
Original content (student voice/not quoted material)
1 pts
Some original content (student voice/not quoted material)
0.5 pts
Minimal original content (student voice/not quoted material)
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 2 pts
|
|
Literature Review: Enough
|
2 pts
There is enough literature used to make the arguments the writer is trying to convey. Enough literature is used to provide a complete picture of the research question and area of focus
1 pts
Some literature is used to make the arguments the writer is trying to convey but there are still areas missing that would help provide a more complete picture of the research question and area of focus
0.5 pts
Minimal literature is used to make the arguments the writer is trying to convey. Literature is sparse and areas are missing that would provide a complete picture of the research question and area of focus
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 2 pts
|
|
Literature Review: Clarity
|
2 pts
Literature review is consistently clear and thoughtful. The connections between the sub-headings and the literature used are consistently clear
1 pts
Literature review is mostly clear and thoughtful. The connections between the sub-headings and the literature used are mostly clear
0.5 pts
Literature review is sometimes clear and thoughtful. The connections between the sub-headings and the literature used are sometimes clear
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 2 pts
|
|
Literature Review: Literature is Used to Back up Ideas
|
2 pts
Literature is used to back up statements and ideas consistently throughout
1 pts
Literature is used to back up statements and ideas sometimes
0.5 pts
Literature is used to back up statements and ideas minimally
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 2 pts
|
|
Literature Review: Related to Research Question
|
2 pts
Link between the literature sub-headings and literature cited throughout is clearly related to the research question and focus area
1 pts
Link between the literature sub-headings and literature cited throughout and the connection to the research question and focus area is sometimes clear
0.5 pts
Link between the literature sub-headings and literature cited throughout and the connection to the research question and focus area is vague
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 2 pts
|
|
Literature Review: Groupings/Sub-headings
|
2 pts
There are enough sub-headings and the sub-headings are appropriate to provide a compelling and thorough review of the literature related to the research question and focus area
1 pts
There are adequate sub-headings and the sub-headings are adequate to provide a compelling and thorough review of the literature related to the research question and focus area
0.5 pts
There are not enough sub-headings and the sub-headings are not appropriate to provide a compelling and thorough review of the literature related to the research question and focus area
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 2 pts
|
|
Gaps and Limitations
|
2 pts
Gaps and limitations section describes in detail what is missing from the literature (based on literature used for the review) and areas of future research. This section is well thought out and effort is demonstrated to draw conclusions of what is missing and the limitations of what we know based on the current literature. This information in this section will be related back to social work and social work practice. Use of appropriate citations.
1 pts
Gaps and limitations section attempts to describe shat is missing from the literature, may or may not always base statements in the reviewed literature. Section appears to be somewhat thoughtful and may or may not draw conclusions about what is missing and limitations based on the current literature. This section attempts to relate back to social work and social work practice and may or may not appropriately use citations.
0.5 pts
Gaps and limitations section shows minimal attempt to describe what is missing from the literature, base statements in the reviewed literature. Minimal effort is demonstrated to be written thoughtfully or draw conclusions about what is missing and limitations. Minimal attempt to relate back to social work and social work practice and citations are minimal.
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 2 pts
|
|
Conclusion
|
1 pts
Conclusion provides a well-articulated recap of information presented above drawing all pieces together in a succinct summary of main ideas presented throughout
0.5 pts
Conclusion attempts to recap information but is not clear or well articulated
0.25 pts
Minimal attempt to recap information or clearly articulate conclusion
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 1 pts
|
|
Empirical Articles
|
1 pts
At least 15 empirical articles were used and referenced throughout the assignment
0.5 pts
9-14 empirical articles were used and referenced throughout the assignment
0.25 pts
5-8 empirical articles were used and referenced throughout the assignment
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 1 pts
|
|
APA Formatting
|
0.5 pts
APA formatting is correct and consistent throughout the assignment, including reference page
0.25 pts
APA formatting is correct more than 50% of the time, including reference page, but not always
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 0.5 pts
|
|
Mechanics, Grammar, Punctuation, Writing, and Flow
|
1 pts
Assignment is well-written consistently throughout
0.5 pts
Assignment is well-written more than 50% of the time, but not always
0.25 pts
Assignment is well-written about 30% of the time
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 1 pts
|
|
Critical Thinking
|
1 pts
Assignment consistently demonstrates critical thinking throughout including making connections between areas related to the research question and the larger context as well as demonstrates consistently throughout that student is thinking about the material and writing in such a way that it is more than just stating pieces of information from one article to another.
0.5 pts
Assignment demonstrates critical thinking sometimes but not always, including making connections between areas related to the research question and the larger context as well as demonstrates consistently throughout that student is thinking about the material and writing in such a way that it is more than just stating pieces of information from one article to another.
0.25 pts
Assignment minimally demonstrates critical thinking including making connections between areas related to the research question and the larger context as well as demonstrates consistently throughout that student is thinking about the material and writing in such a way that it is more than just stating pieces of information from one article to another.
0 pts
Does Not Meet Requirements of Assignment
|
/ 1 pts
|