Each paragraph can be no longer than 8 sentences and must follow the “MEAL” plan (main idea, evidence, analysis, and lead into the next paragraph.
The Literature Review must contain the following sections.
Literature Review
Begin with an introduction with no section heading. Remind the reader of the study
topics and the foundational theories that drove the review of the literature.
Title Searches and Documentation
Describe the approach that you used to search for relevant documentation including key
words used to search for publications. You can opt to include a table in this section to describe
the numbers of journals, books, or other sources used for your various topics.
Begin with an introduction with no section heading. Remind the reader of the study
topics and the foundational theories that drove the review of the literature.
Title Searches and Documentation
Describe the approach that you used to search for relevant documentation including key
words used to search for publications. You can opt to include a table in this section to describe
the numbers of journals, books, or other sources used for your various topics.
Historical Content
Generally, historical content is defined as over 5 years old. Include subsections for each
of the various topics related to your study. The topic subsections should be presented in order
from the broadest topic to the narrowest topic. Include both germinal content and content that is
considered historical based on its publication date. It is crucial that you do not develop your
literature review as merely a series of annotated bibliographies that discuss one source after
another. It is crucial to synthesize the sources by comparing and contrasting the various
perspectives on each topic. Include subheadings to delineate between various historical content
topics.
Generally, historical content is defined as over 5 years old. Include subsections for each
of the various topics related to your study. The topic subsections should be presented in order
from the broadest topic to the narrowest topic. Include both germinal content and content that is
considered historical based on its publication date. It is crucial that you do not develop your
literature review as merely a series of annotated bibliographies that discuss one source after
another. It is crucial to synthesize the sources by comparing and contrasting the various
perspectives on each topic. Include subheadings to delineate between various historical content
topics.
Current Content
Generally, current content is less than 5 years old. Include the same subsections that you
used in the historical content unless there is no current literature for a specific topic. Here again it
is important to synthesize the sources—compare and contrast the various perspectives on each
topic. It is important to describe all perspectives of each research topic including any
controversial literature rather than presenting only literature that supports your own perspective
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in order to create credibility. Include subheadings to delineate between various current content
topics.
Generally, current content is less than 5 years old. Include the same subsections that you
used in the historical content unless there is no current literature for a specific topic. Here again it
is important to synthesize the sources—compare and contrast the various perspectives on each
topic. It is important to describe all perspectives of each research topic including any
controversial literature rather than presenting only literature that supports your own perspective
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in order to create credibility. Include subheadings to delineate between various current content
topics.
Theoretical or Conceptual Framework Literature
(One or the other; must reflect the type of framework used in Chapter 1)
The framework in Chapter 1 should only have introduced readers to the relevant theories.
This section should include subsections for each of the relevant theories and discuss supporting
germinal and current literature on those theories.
(One or the other; must reflect the type of framework used in Chapter 1)
The framework in Chapter 1 should only have introduced readers to the relevant theories.
This section should include subsections for each of the relevant theories and discuss supporting
germinal and current literature on those theories.
Methodology Literature
Describe the various studies that have been accomplished within your topic area. Focus
on the methodologies that have been used in research and on the findings of those studies. Key
objectives are to address what has already been accomplished in previous research and to support
that your methodology will add to the body of knowledge.
Describe the various studies that have been accomplished within your topic area. Focus
on the methodologies that have been used in research and on the findings of those studies. Key
objectives are to address what has already been accomplished in previous research and to support
that your methodology will add to the body of knowledge.
Research Design Literature
In Chapter 1 you briefly described your selected research design. This section should
expand on that discussion and include support from several design methodologists including the
germinal methodologists associated with the design.
In Chapter 1 you briefly described your selected research design. This section should
expand on that discussion and include support from several design methodologists including the
germinal methodologists associated with the design.
Conclusions
It is important to recognize that this section is not the chapter “conclusion”; it is
“conclusions”, meaning what did you conclude from the literature? Focus on what you derived
from the literature you reviewed and remember to cite each assertion.
It is important to recognize that this section is not the chapter “conclusion”; it is
“conclusions”, meaning what did you conclude from the literature? Focus on what you derived
from the literature you reviewed and remember to cite each assertion.
Chapter Summary
The discussion should summarize key points presented in Chapter 2. Information should
be presented in a discussion context. Supporting citations should be provided for key points. The
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chapter summary should end with a transition to next chapter such as “Chapter 3 will…” or “In
Chapter 3
The discussion should summarize key points presented in Chapter 2. Information should
be presented in a discussion context. Supporting citations should be provided for key points. The
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55
chapter summary should end with a transition to next chapter such as “Chapter 3 will…” or “In
Chapter 3