MED 380

An integrated analysis that:

• Summarizes
  • What questions were addressed?
  • What are the main conclusions (What does the study argue?)
• Synthesizes
  • Where do the studies agree?
  • Where do they disagree?
    • What are the bases for disagreement?
  • What theories/policies/evidence were looked at?
• Critiques (strengths/weaknesses)
  • How solid are the conclusions?  Or, is there reason to doubt the conclusions? Are they based on:
    • Sound reasoning
    • Careful assessment of evidence
    • Well-executed methodology
  • What is overall quality of the literature?
• Points out gaps
  • What questions were neglected?
  • What relevant information and alternative theories were not discussed?
  • What problems require additional research?

• Introduction
  • Define topic and establish reason for literature review
  • Point out general trends about topic
  • Explain criteria used in analyzing and comparing articles
• Body of Review
  • Groups articles in
    • Thematic clusters (chronologically, thematically, or methodologically)
    • Subtopics
  • Smooth, logical transition between clusters
  • Emphasizes main findings or arguments of articles in student’s own words (very limited direct quotations from articles)
• Conclusion
  • Summarizes major themes and identifies areas of controversy
  • Pinpoints strengths and weaknesses among articles
    • Innovative methodology
    • Gaps in research
    • Etc.
  • Concludes by forming questions that need further research
  • Provides insight into relationship between that topic and larger field of study/discipline

• Point out relationships between articles
• Define connections
• Explain how they come together to represent a body of knowledge