CONTENT & STRUCTURE Introduction Describes the topic generally. Defines any key

CONTENT & STRUCTURE
Introduction
Describes the topic generally.
Defines any key terms.
Defines and gives an overview of the the intellectual camps that will structure the rest of the literature review.
Body
Section 1 (Needs a subheading that indicates the general subtopic you will discuss):
This section should be about the fundamental concepts and the beginning points of the conversation.
Should include the major authors who are nearly always referenced in other articles on the same topic.
Call attention to what is at stake in the conversation.
Describe the subtopic by bringing together the clustered ideas, calling attention to and explaining what kinds of arguments are already being made about that subtopic. You should note the relationships between ideas, authors, clusters/camps as you describe the big idea of that section.
Your thesis probably belongs in this section.
A literature review needs a thesis, but it won’t be in the form of “I will argue…”. Instead, the thesis of a literature review needs to overview the conversation, calling attention to the major points of convergence, divergence, and clusters. It might follow this template: In reviewing the literature on ____________, I will show that ____________________ viewpoint differs from ________________viewpoint, and that ultimately what is at stake in this conversation is _________________________.
Section 2 (Needs a subheading that indicates the general subtopic you will discuss):
What’s the next logical idea? What is the big idea that most closely builds and develops our understanding of the topic?
Brings together the clustered ideas, calling attention to and explaining what kinds of arguments are already being made about that subtopic.
You should note the relationships between ideas, authors, clusters/camps as you describe the big idea of that section.
Section 3 (Needs a subheading that indicates the general subtopic you will discuss):
What’s the next logical idea? What is the big idea that most closely builds and develops our understanding of the topic?
Brings together the clustered ideas, calling attention to and explaining what kinds of arguments are already being made about that subtopic.
You should note the relationships between ideas, authors, clusters/camps as you describe the big idea of that section.
Conclusion
Situates you to progress to Stage 3, the Researched Argument.
Draws some general conclusions about the conversation in general.
Explains why the topic is broadly relevant–the stakes for the writers, their audience, and the world at large.
Also explains why the topic is narrowly relevant to YOU–your stake in the topic as a researcher, including any of your own biases or preconceived notions you needed to be mindful of in order to get closer to the truth.
Points out existing holes in the conversation, gaps in the conversation where more research needs to be done, where a different argument needs to be made, or where part of the story needs to be reconsidered.
Works Cited
FORMAT & GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
.doc or .docx file
academic heading and title
5-7 double-spaced pages with 1” margins
12-point Times New Roman font
All source material cited consistently (may be MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.—as long as it is consistent to a single style guide) with a works cited page at the end