CSI: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Your Literature Review In Communication Studies

Introduction: Why Do I Have to Do This? The Value of Academic Research and Writing Skills
A. The Importance of Researching Skills in the Digital Information Age
B. Learning Objectives for this Text
1. Information Literacy
2. Critical Thinking
3. Problem-Solving
4. Writing
5. Ethics
C. Introduction to the 8 Steps
References


Step 1: The First Step in Your Investigation: Decide What You’re Looking For
A. Research Within a Communication Context
B. Choose Concepts and Variables Within the Context that is of Interest to You
1. Concepts and Variables in Communication
2. Understanding the Jargon: Know What Your Variables are Called in the Communication Literature
3. Determine if There is a Theory that Can Help You Focus Your Topic
C. Pose an Interesting, Important Question
1. Types of Questions: Fact, Value, and Policy
D. Define Target Variables
1. Independent and Dependent Variables
2. Reportative, Stipulative, and Operational Definitions
References
Activities


Step 2: The Second Step in Your Investigation: Look for Clues in the Academic Literature
A. Understand the Quality and Types of Sources Available
1. Evaluating Sources
2. Types of Sources
B. Search for Sources
1. Finding Academic Research
2. Use Your Library to Find Print Sources
3. Search the Internet
References
Activities


Step 3: The Third Step in Your Investigation: Look Closely at the Evidence
A. How to Read Academic Sources
1. Reading Books: What to Look For
2. Reading Academic Research Articles and Book Chapters that Report Research Studies: What to Look For
B. Writing an Annotation
1. Summarizing and Paraphrasing
2. Writing a Reference in APA Style
C. Examples
References
Activities


Step 4: The Fourth Step in Your Investigation: Compare, Synthesize, and Integrate the Evidence
A. What is Synthesizing Evidence?
B. Why is Synthesizing Important? Because the APA Says So!
C. A Componential Approach to Synthesizing Related Articles
1. Why Use a Componential Method
2. How to Conduct a Componential (Key Components) Analysis
3. A Componential Synthesizing Example
D. A Directed Approach to Synthesizing When Your Paper is Guided by a Theory
1. Why We Use a Directed Approach
2. How to Conduct a Directed Analysis
3. An Example Directed Analysis
References
Activities


Step 5: The Fifth Step in Your Investigation: Outline the Case You’ve Built
A. Writing a Compelling Introduction
B. Developing Your Argument
1. The Toulmin Model
C. Citing Sources: A Basic Overview
1. Types of In-Text Citations
2. APA Rules for In-Text Citations
D. Organizing Main Points
1. The Topical Review: Explaining and Critiquing the Concepts, Findings, or Methods
2. The Comparison/Contrast Review: Comparing Different Explanations
3. The Chronology of Research: Historical Reviews
4. The Sequential Process: Explaining a Sequence of Events or Outcomes
5. The Cause-Effect Approach: Explaining a Direct, Causal Process
6. The Direct Argument: Arguing for a New Theory or Specific Policy
E. Using Transitions
F. Setting Up Hypotheses and/or Research Questions
G. Writing a Good Conclusion
1. Recapping Your Main Argument
2. Writing a Meaningful, Insightful Conclusion
References
Example Literature Review Outline


Step 6: The Sixth Step in Your Investigation: Write up Your Final Report
A. Using Your Outline and Annotations to Write the Paper
B. Defining Concepts and Explaining Theories
C. Grammar and Syntax
1. Active versus Passive Voice
2. Avoiding Bias in Language
3. Parallel Form
4. Subject-Verb Agreement
5. Choosing the Correct Words
D. Punctuation
1. Commas
2. Colon (:) versus Semicolon (;)
3. Quotation Marks
4. Apostrophes 15
E. Clarity
1. Parenthetical Elements
2. Prepositions
3. Terminology
F. Being Concise
1. Wordiness
2. First, Second, and Third Person Pronouns in APA Style
G. Formatting the Paper
1. Spaces and Spacing
2. Headings
3. The Title Page
4. Running Head and Page Numbers
5. The Abstract
References
Example Literature Review


Step 7: The Seventh Step in Your Investigation: Edit Your Paper
A. Academe and Peer Review
B. Faculty Mentors
C. Tracking Reviews
1. Using Track Changes and The Reviewing Pane in Microsoft Word®
2. Editing in Adobe® pdf Documents
D. The “Three Read Rule”
1. Read for APA Style
2. Read for Formatting and Organization
3. Read for Grammar, Punctuation, Voice, and Syntax
References
Activities


Step 8: The Eighth Step in Your Investigation: Present Your Findings
A. Poster Presentations
1. Purpose
2. Organization
3. Delivery Style
4. Visual Aids
B. Panel Presentations
1. Purpose
2. Organization
3. Delivery Style
4. Visual Aids
C. Individual Lectures/Presentations
1. Purpose
2. Organization
3. Delivery Style
4. Visual Aids
D. Online Presentations
1. Purpose
2. Organization
3. Tips for Delivering a Speech with a Webcam
4. Uploading Videos to YouTube
5. Some Great Examples of Online Presentations
References
Activities


Conclusion: Where to From Here?
A. Your Literature Review as a First Step Toward a Research Study
1. Using What You’ve Learned in Your Literature Review: The Case Study Approach
B. Professional Uses of Writing and Presenting Skills
1. Using Research Skills as a Blogger
2. Using Research Skills for Fact Checking and Copy Editing
C. Present Your Research in a Professional and/or Academic Portfolio
1. Social Networks
2. Portfolio-Building Websites
3. Websites
D. Concluding Thoughts
References
Activities