Not to be confused with a book review a literature review surveys scholarly articles books and other sources eg dissertations conference proceedings relevant to a particular issue area of research or theory providing a description summary and critical evaluation of each work The pu ID: 200865
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Slide1
What is a Professional Literature Review?
Not to be confused with a book review, a
literature review
surveys scholarly articles, books and other sources (e.g. dissertations, conference proceedings) relevant to a particular issue, area of research, or theory, providing a description, summary, and critical evaluation of each work. The purpose is to offer an overview of significant literature published on a topic
. USC Libraries
HOWEVER
For this class, you will NOT survey the literature regarding an issue, but you WILL survey a journal in your field. Slide2
Professional Literature Review
Evaluate a journal in your field
Summarize questions or controversies
Explain why it is important for someone entering your field to be aware of the conversations that are presented in this journal, web site, trade magazine, etc.Slide3
Magazine Or Journal?
Scholarly Journals
Report original research, discoveries, experimentation, reviews, or essays
Are written by and for scholars and researchers in the field, and aimed at scholarly readers such as professors, scientists, and advanced students
Cite sources and provide footnotes and/or bibliographies
Are often peer reviewed by an editor or specialists in the field for accuracy
Often contain graphs, statistics, case studies
Are often published by academic or association presses
Example:
Journal of Political Ecology, Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, Journal of AdvertisingSlide4
Magazine Or Journal?
Popular Magazines
Articles are written and designed to entertain or persuade
Articles are usually written by professional journalists or writers for a general audience
Articles rarely cite sources or contain a bibliography
Are published by commercial, for-profit presses
Example:
The Economist, The Atlantic Monthly, Popular PhotographySlide5
Magazine Or Journal?
Trade Journals
Focus on a specific profession or industry
Articles are written for professional or trade-associated audiences by scholars, freelance writers, or magazine staff
Are published by professional or trade associations
Articles occasionally cite sources
Articles may include photographs, illustrations, industry-specific statistics, and information
Example:
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Society for Technical Communications (STC), Slide6
Magazine Or Journal? For this paper, you may use a scholarly or a trade journal. Slide7
ASSIGNMENT (This is only one option!):
Step One:
Locate
3 journals
in your field. They might be scholarly journals or trade journals. Choose 2 of these journals to read.
Step Two:
Choose the “better” journal.
Step Three:
(Audience and occasion for writing) In a 3-5 page paper, write a letter to student(s) entering your major in an attempt to persuade them to read this journal. In this letter, you will:
1. Summarize the questions or controversies this magazine addresses. Talk about major themes you observe that would acquaint a new student to your future profession.
2. EVALUATE the journal based on any set of criteria you choose. You want to persuade students that this journal deserves their attention. You might base your evaluation on:
Strength of rhetorical appeals in each article
Scope of issues addressed
Visual rhetoric (layout, color, design features, advertising, etc.)
Relevance to issues you think matter in your field
Lack of regional, racial, age, gender, economic, political, religious bias
Grading Criteria:
This paper will endorse a journal in your field based on clear and important criteria (determined by you). You must have many points of evidence from your journal as to what makes it “good.” Also note the audience of this paper, and write in a way that would interest freshman or sophomores. What sorts of things might concern them as they think about choosing professional literature to read? Why would such an activity be so important? What do they miss out on by not acquainting themselves with professional conversations in their future career? Slide8
Finding a Journal
Google Scholar
Google
JSTOR (journal storage
)
Arts and Humanities Citation Index
Web of Science