英语论文文献综述

How to Write a Literature Review ?

I. The definition of Literature Review

文献综述（Literautre Review）是科研论文中重要的文体之一。它以作者对各种文献资料的整理、归纳、分析和比较为基础，就某个专题的历史背景、前人的工作、研究现状、争论的焦点及发展前景等方面进行综合、总结和评论。通过阅读文献综述，科研工作者可花费较少的时间获得较多的关于某一专题系统而具体的信息，了解其研究现状、存在的问题和未来的发展方向。

II. The purposes of literature review And Its Components

A. The Purposes

On the one hand, it helps you broaden the view and perspective of the topic for your graduation thesis.

On the other hand, it helps you narrow down the topic and arrive at a focused research question.

B. Its Components

There are six parts in a complete Literature Review.

标题与作者(title and author)

摘要与关键词(abstract and key words)

引言(introduction)

述评(review)

结论(conclusion)

参考文献(references)

III. Classification of Source Materials

How can we locate the materials relevant to our topics better and faster?

Basically, all these source materials may be classified into four majors of sources.

A: Background sources:

Basic information which can usually be found in dictionaries and encyclopedia complied by major scholars or founders of the field. Three very good and commonly recommenced encyclopedias are encyclopedias ABC, namely, Encyclopedia Americana, Encyclopedia Britannica, and Collier’s Encyclopedia. There are also reference works more specialized, such as The Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics for linguistics and TEFL studies.

Moreover, you may also find Encyclopedia on the web.

B: Primary sources

Those providing direct evidence, such as works of scholars of the field, biographies or autobiographies, memoirs, speeches, lectures, diaries, collection of letters, interviews, case studies, approaches, etc. Primary sources come in various shapes and sizes, and often you have to do a little bit of research about the source to make sure you have correctly identified it. When a first search yields too few results, try searching by broader topic; when a search yields too

many results, refine your search by narrowing down your search.

C: Secondary sources

Those providing indirect evidence, such as research articles or papers, book reviews, assays, journal articles by experts in a given field, studies on authors or writers and their works, etc. Secondary sources will inform most of your writing in college. You will often be asked to research your topic using primary sources, but secondary sources will tell you which primary sources you should use and will help you interpret those primary sources. To use theme well, however, you need to think critically them. There are two parts of a source that you need to analyze: the text itself and the argument within the text.

D: Web sources

The sources or information from websites. Web serves as an excellent resource for your materials. However, you need to select and evaluate Web sources with special care for very often Web sources lack quality control. You may start with search engines, such as Google, Yahoo, Ask, Excite, etc. It’s a good idea to try more than one search engine, since each locates sources in its own way. When using websites for information, be sure to take care for the authorship and sponsorship. If they are both unclear, be critical when you use information. The currency of website information should also be taken into account. Don’t use too out information dated for your purpose.

IV. Major strategies of Selecting Materials for literature review

A. Choosing primary sources rather than secondary sources

If you have two sources, one of them summarizing or explaining a work and the other the work itself, choose the work itself. Never attempt to write a paper on a topic without reading the original source.

B. Choosing sources that give a variety of viewpoints on your thesis

Remember that good argument essays take into account counter arguments.

Do not reject a source because it makes an argument against you thesis.

C. Choosing sources that cover the topic in depth

Probably most books on Communicative Language Teaching mention William Littlewood, but if this your topic, you will find that few sources cover the topic in depth. Choose those.

D. Choosing sources written by acknowledged experts

If you have a choice between an article written by a freelance journalist on Task-based Teaching and one written by a recognized expert like David Nunan, Choose the article by the expert.

E. Choosing the most current sources

If your topic involves a current issue or social problem or development in a scientific field, it is essential to find the latest possible information. If all the books on these topics are rather old, you probably need to look for information in periodicals.

V. Writing a literature Review

A. When you review related literature, the major review focuses should be:

1. The prevailing and current theories which underlie the research problem.