Synthesizing Research

Synthesizing research – A literature review is a descriptive and synthesized summary of research on a topic that has previously been studied. The purpose of a literature review is to inform readers of the significant knowledge and ideas that have been established on a topic. Its purpose is to compare, contrast and/or connect findings that were identified when reviewing researchers’ work. Oftentimes, literature reviews are written to ground a study in a particular context of what is known about a subject in order to establish a foundation for the topic (or question) being researched.

The purpose of this synthesizing research assignment is to facilitate your abilities to research a topic of study so you can learn to (1) identify and formulate an inquiry question that defines what you’d like to learn, (2) apply your knowledge on reading research that you’ve learned in class, (3) analyze information found in educational journal articles, and (4) synthesize new knowledge into a written small-scale literature review.

Assignment Description:

For this assignment, you are asked to complete a small-scale literature review on an educational topic of your choice. You are asked to begin to synthesize the journal articles on your topic and write a 10-15 page literature review on the articles you’ve selected.  Your review should usually cite at least peer-reviewed articles. 

Steps to complete your small-scale literature review:

1. Choose an educational topic that you are interested in studying.
2. Formulate an inquiry question that specifically describes what would like to know about your educational topic.
3. Go to the library to search for and locate journals that include your topic’s information. (you’ve been doing this throughout the course)
4. Find articles, read the abstracts and skim the articles to determine if they correspond well to your topic AND inquiry question.
5. Select at least 20 + journal articles and save them!
6. Read your articles and begin to sort and classify them according to their findings.
7. Organize your articles by sorting and classifying their findings in a meaningful way, always considering your original topic and inquiry question.
8. Write an outline for your small-scale literature review. Hand this in during class.
9. Write your review.

Order a Similar Paper now and Delegate Fulfilment of your Assignment to Expert Academic Writers. GUARANTEED TOP GRADES, PLAGIARISM FREE, ZERO AI CONTENT, TIMELY DELIVERY.

Outline for writing your small-scale literature review:

1. Introduction

The introduction is used to establish the context of your review to the reader. To establish the context, it is important to do the following in this opening paragraph:

1. Define the topic of your study and provide any background information that helps your reader to understand the topic – this is something of interest that you’ve been gathering throughout this course.
2. Explain your reason (perspective) for reviewing the literature on this topic.
3. State your inquiry question for this review, this is just tentative there is no right or wrong here.

2.  Body

This section of your paper begins with an explanation of how you have organized your small-scale literature review and describes findings from articles that provide answers to your inquiry question. Before you begin this section, be sure that you have sorted your articles into different themes based on the articles’ findings (sometimes called results). After you sort your articles, it is important to give your sorted groups a descriptive name. The names of the sorted articles will become your headings for each of the paragraphs that you write in the body of your review. To write the body of your small-scale literature review, it is important to include the following:

1. Write an introduction paragraph for the body of your review. This paragraph tells the reader specific information on how many articles you reviewed and how you sorted the articles into common themes based on the findings (results).
2. This will be a paragraph that describes the first theme that you identified and compare, contrast and/or connect the articles you’ve selected.
3. This will be a paragraph that describes the second theme that you identified and compare, contrast and/or connect the articles you’ve selected.
4. This will be a paragraph that describes the third theme that you identified and compare, contrast, and/or connect the articles you’ve selected. etc.
5. You can see the pattern – this will ultimately evolve into you grouping your work into themes.

3.  Summary

This is the last paragraph of your small-scale literature review. In this paragraph, it is important to summarize the main findings from the articles that you reviewed and to point out the information that you found particularly important to know that answered the inquiry question that you established in the first paragraph of your review. Try to conclude your paper by connecting your inquiry question back to the context of the general topic of study.

4. References

This is the last page of your review. It serves as a listing of all references that you mentioned in your paper. Please use APA style when completing this list. Every article you use needs to appear in the reference section. A paper cannot appear in the reference section if it is not explicitly cited in the main body of the paper.

Rubric

Research Synthesis

Criteria	Ratings	Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPACommunicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with the expectations for members of an identified field of study, using APA style and formatting.	10 to >8.0 ptsExemplarySkills with grammar, usage & mechanics are strong (suggest no errors found)8 to >5.0 ptsProficientSkills with grammar, usage & mechanics demonstrate are adequate (suggest 2 errors per page5 to >1.0 ptsBasicSkills with grammar, usage & mechanics are incompetent for dissertation work (suggest 3+ errors per page); and1 to >0 ptsNon-PerformanceSkills with grammar, usage & mechanics are incompetent for dissertation work (suggest 6+ errors per page);	10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePurpose/Content	40 to >32.0 ptsExemplaryClearly states a position that is supported, persuasive, & original;32 to >20.0 ptsProficientPosition appears to be supported and somewhat persuasive20 to >4.0 ptsBasicPosition somewhat supported &/or somewhat persuasive4 to >0 ptsNon-PerformancePosition is not supported or persuasive;	40 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOrganization	40 to >32.0 ptsExemplaryStructure & organization are strong (e.g., introduction & conclusion are effective; paragraphs are well-developed & have strong topic sentences. The ideas are arranged logically to support the purpose or argument. They flow smoothly from one to another and are clearly linked to each other. The reader can follow the line of reasoning.32 to >20.0 ptsProficientStructure and organization are proficient. The ideas are arranged logically to support the central purpose or argument. They are usually clearly linked to each other. For the most part, the reader can follow the line of reasoning.20 to >4.0 ptsBasicStructure & organization are adequate but slightly flawed. In general, the writing is arranged logically, although occasionally ideas fail to make sense together. The reader is fairly clear about what author intends.4 to >0 ptsNon-PerformanceStructure & organization are ineffective (e.g., introduction &/or conclusion are missing; paragraphs are undeveloped; topic sentences are missing. The writing is not logically organized. Frequently, ideas fail to make sense together. The reader cannot identify a line of reasoning and loses interest.	40 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeUse of References	10 to >8.0 ptsExemplaryCompelling evidence from professionally legitimate sources is given to support claims. Attribution is clear and fairly represented.8 to >5.0 ptsProficientProfessionally legitimate sources that support claims are generally present and attribution is, for the most part, clear and fairly represented.5 to >1.0 ptsBasicAlthough attributions are occasionally given, many statements seem unsubstantiated. The reader is confused about the source of information and ideas.1 to >0 ptsNon-PerformanceReferences are seldom cited to support statements.	10 pts
Total Points: 100