Guiding Question:
How do I position my research in relation to what others know?

Learning Objectives

• distinguish synthesis from sequential summary;

• organize literature conceptually;

• establish relationships among sources;

• identify debates, tensions, patterns, and absences;

• develop conceptual or theoretical positioning.

Readings

George Mason University Writing Center. Writing a Literature Review. https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/research-based-writing/writing-a-literature-review

George Mason University Writing Center. Organizing Literature Reviews: The Basics. https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/research-based-writing/organizing-literature-reviews-the-basics

Mentor Reading

Furberg & Silseth (2022): literature review and theoretical framing.

Topics

• Literature review as argument

• Summary versus synthesis

• Thematic and conceptual organization

• Scholarly conversations

• Comparing and contrasting studies

• Theory and conceptual frameworks

• Citation and paraphrasing

• Positioning one's own study

Workshop — From Summary to Synthesis

Transform:

Author A found... Author B found... Author C found... into conceptually organized synthesis.

Students construct a literature synthesis matrix using key sources for their own article.

Writing Studio Task — Literature Review

Draft or substantially revise your literature review and, where appropriate, theoretical/conceptual framework.