Dr. Dean Taciuch
George Mason University
Spring 2008
English 302: S02 & S05
Literature Review
As part of the research project for this course, you will write a literature
review including 5-10 sources gathered from the GMU library databases. Most
of these sources should be scholarly studies of the topic addressed in
your research proposal.
The literature review should be 5-7 pages, doublespaced. The review should
have three sections:
- Introduction: Brief overview of the issue and of the published research.
The introduction needs to have a thesis – a statement about the
current research situation. The introduction should also outline the main
lines of research you will present in the body of the review.
- Body: Detailed discussion of the main lines of research. The body should
be organized thematically, not by source. (A source-by-source
discussion is a narrative bibliography)
- Conclusion: Summary of the current research situation, including gaps
or weaknesses in the current research.
Resources:
http://psychology.gmu.edu/writing/types.htm#litreview
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html