1 Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography Basics Amber Cook Walden University Online Writing Center.

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Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography Basics

Amber Cook

Walden University

Online Writing Center

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Housekeeping• Muting

• Questions

• Tech trouble? http://support.citrixonline.com/en_US/GoToTraining

• Recording: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/415.htm

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An Overview

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Alternative Names

Shorthand

1. annotated bib = annotated bibliography2. annotation = part of annotated bibliography3. lit review = literature review

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1. The Annotated Bibliography

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Annotated Bibliography

Annotate: “to make or furnish critical or

explanatory notes or comment”

Bibliography: “the history, identification, or

description of writings or publications”

(Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, 2012)

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Annotations at Walden

• KAM Depth section• Course assignments• Prewriting for large projects

(optional)

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• The format of an annotated bibliography varies by assignment

• Typical format is an alphabetized list, with reference entries followed by annotations.– Alphabetized by author– No headings– Brief

Be sure to ask your instructor about any alternative expectations for your specific assignment.

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APACommon Reference Examples

Remember to use APA format for reference entries, just like in a typical reference list.

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Annotated Bibliography: Example

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An annotation (usually) has three components:

Each component normally appears as its own

paragraph within the annotation.

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1. Summary Paragraph

You will want to answer some or all of the following questions:

• What is the topic and purpose of the study?• What actions did the researcher perform and

why?• What were the methods?• What was the theoretical basis?• What were the conclusions?

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• Take careful factual notes while reading• Use the past tense– Smith and Jones found…• Use your own words (not the abstract of the

article)• Focus on purpose, methods and findings.

Remember, you don’t have to include everything.

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Thompson, Kirk, and Brown conducted a study to determine how burnout and emotional exhaustion of female police officers affect their family environment based upon role ambiguity and role overload. Thompson et al. mailed out surveys to 1,081 female police officers employed by the Australian State Police; however, only 421 surveys were useable. The researchers predicted that supervisor support would reduce role stressors and emotional exhaustion and improve family cohesion and conflict. They found a relationship between supervisor support and reduced role stressors, family functioning, and emotional exhaustion, but did not find a correlation between coworker support and work stress. Thompson et al. suggested that further research is needed on how emotional exhaustion affects family stressors in policewoman.

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2. Critique/Analysis Paragraph

You will want to answer some or all the following questions:

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the article?– Methodology, language, organization, detail

• What, if any, information is missing?• Is researcher bias present? • Is the article scholarly or generalizable? Why or why

not?

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• Take questioning notes while reading.• Break it up: Focus first on strengths and then

on weaknesses.• Start with your overall view and then get

more specific as you go through the paragraph.

• Do not feel the need to be “nice.”

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Although Masterson et al. made a significant contribution to the field of police research, the article had several limitations. First, the researchers chose a small and specialized sample that did not include policewomen or other minorities. Second, the researchers potentially influenced results by asking leading questions in the interviews and focus group meetings. Therefore, further research is needed with a wider demographic range and completely impartial interviewers.

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3. Application Paragraph

You will want to answer some or all of the following questions:

• Does this article fill a gap in literature?• How does the study apply to your KAM?• Is the article universal?• How does it inform your professional field?

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• Jot down three things you’ve learned from reading the article. Use these to write about the overall value.

• Ask yourself• How the source is different than others in

the same field or on the same topic.• How the source informs your future

research.

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This study was valuable to understanding the relationship between employees’ views of change and the coping mechanisms used. Based on the results, the business sector should reinforce positive emotions to reduce withdrawal and increase commitment to the change. This implication aligns with Kotter’s 8-step change model emphasizing the positive and reinforcing employees for their efforts. This study, as well as Kotter’s model, will serve as the basis for the Business Change Strategy of my Application.

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All Together

Now!

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Annotated Bibliography vs. Literature Review

Annotated bibliography

=precursor to a

literature review

Literature review

= foundation for one’s research

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2. The Literature Review

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Literature Review

A literature review:• overviews your chosen

topic or field• demonstrates your depth

of knowledge• supports/guides future

research

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Literature Review

What is not a literature review?

• A collection of source summaries or abstracts• A copy/paste of annotations• A discussion of your opinions on a topic

Instead, your job as the writer is to synthesize the literature to create that foundation for your research or argument.

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Literature Review

What is synthesis?

• Identifying patterns among the sources• Critically discussing strengths/weaknesses

of the sources or in the field• Comparing and contrasting the authors’

findings• Interpreting what is known in your field and

what is missing

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Literature Review

Remember:• No required formatting• An introduction and conclusion• Avoid overreliance on quotes/

paraphrases

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Literature Review

…by author (bad)

•Limits a paragraph to one source•Does not allow for direct comparison•Tends to come across as a series of “book reports”

…by theme (good)

•Allows for a unique organization•Can have the authors “talk to each other”•Demonstrates the writer’s analysis of the literature

Organize…

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Literature Review

When organized by theme, writers can also

use headings and comparative terms within

the text.

• Headings– Cue your reader to organization and changing topics– Note subtopics of themes

• Comparative terms– Demonstrate where authors agree or disagree – Highlight your interpretation of the authors’ findings

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Literature Review

Example Synthesis

As Stragalas (2010) argued, sharing specific details about the change will help to eliminate any difficulties. Steele-Johnson et al. (2010) echoed these sentiments when they reported that revealing all of the details about a change process can help those involved better understand and support the change. Steele-Johnson et al. also asserted that a high level of transparency during the change can help those involved prepare for and welcome the change. Similarly, Nahata et al. (2010) showed that transparency through excessive communication can allow for a wider range of acceptance of the change.

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Literature Review

HELPFUL TOOLS

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Literature Review

Literature Review MatricesMatrices are documents that allow you to

compile details about your sources and begin to

note similarities among the authors.

• Theoretical framework• Methodology• Conclusions• Implications or need for future research

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Literature Review

Example Matrix

Example matrices on Writing Center website: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/50.htm

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Literature Review

Zotero Reference Manager

While a matrix can help you make connections between your sources, the software Zotero can help you store and organize your references.

Library website and Zotero information: http://libraryguides.waldenu.edu/zotero

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Literature Review Help

• Library Resources– Guide to Literature Reviews– Literature Review Appointments

• Writing Center Lit Review page• Writing a Lit Review Course

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Recap

• Annotated Bibliographies– Summary, analysis, and application– See assignment details for particulars

• Literature Reviews– Synthesis, not summary– Themes, not authors

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References

Merriam-Webster. (2012). Annotate [Dictionary definition]. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annotate

Merriam-Webster. (2012). Bibliography [Dictionary definition]. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bibliography

(He just checked out

our Common Reference

List Examples page.) →

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