Topic: sports in literature reivew in asain cluture
Order Description
The aim of a literature review is to demonstrate that you have made a careful and critical study of work on a particular topic, and have the ability to identify
relevant information and to outline existing knowledge. You show that, on the basis of relevant concepts, you can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in an argument
and, by a process of comparison and contrast, can synthesise information. In this way you show that you are developing an understanding of the research in a particular
area. Thus a literature review gives a perspective on what has been said on the topic, who the important scholars are, what the prevailing theories and hypotheses are,
what questions are being asked, and what methodologies and methods are appropriate and useful.
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW
At various stages of your academic program, you may be required to write a
‘literature review’ (that is, an analysis and discussion of some of the scholarly publications
about a topic or field). This task may vary from a review of a small bundle of articles to a
doctoral student’s account of almost everything that has been written on a topic. These notes
are concerned with the former type of review, which may be encountered as part of
undergraduate study.
What is a Literature Review?
The aim of a literature review is to demonstrate that you have made a careful and critical
study of work on a particular topic, and have the ability to identify relevant information and
to outline existing knowledge. You show that, on the basis of relevant concepts, you can
evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in an argument and, by a process of comparison and
contrast, can synthesise information. In this way you show that you are developing an
understanding of the research in a particular area. Thus a literature review gives a perspective
on what has been said on the topic, who the important scholars are, what the prevailing
theories and hypotheses are, what questions are being asked, and what methodologies and
methods are appropriate and useful.
How Does a Literature Review Differ From Other Assignments?
A review is organised like other forms of expository writing: it will have an introduction, a
central argument, and a conclusion, its overall structure will be logical, and it will be
presented in well-formed paragraphs. However, where in an essay, for example, you use
relevant literature to support an argument, in a literature review the literature itself is the
subject of discussion.
The introduction should set out the nature of the topic under discussion, its parameters (what
it includes and excludes), and an explanation of why you chose these texts. The conclusion
should include a summary of major agreements and disagreements amongst your texts, and a
summary of general conclusions that draw from them.
What Questions Should Be Asked?
Within the scope of a small number of works (and usually a limited word length), you can
begin by asking questions of an individual study, and determining whether the same
questions are dealt with in the other works you are examining. You then begin to form an
understanding of the larger field. Questions might typically include some of the following:
What are the major issues and debates about the topic?
What are the key theories, concepts and ideas which are used?
What are the main questions and problems that have been addressed?
How is knowledge on the topic structured and organised?
What kinds of methodology are used? Is it an empirical report, a theoretical study, a
sociological or political account, a historical overview, etc.? All or some of these?
What kinds of data does it use to back up its argument?
Does it follow a particular school of thought?
What are the political standpoints of the authors of each study?
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What conclusions does it come to?
When analysing two or more studies in the same area, you might do the following:
Compare and contrast how different authors view the issue.
Group authors who draw similar conclusions.
Note areas in which authors are in disagreement.
Criticise aspects of methodology.
Identify exemplary studies.
Identify patterns or trends in the literature.
Comment on questions left unanswered.
A good literature review raises questions and identifies areas to be explored.
Writing the Review
Do not confuse a literature review with an annotated bibliography.
An annotated bibliography deals with each text in turn, describing and evaluating the text,
using one paragraph for each text. In contrast, a literature review compares and contrasts
studies. Each paragraph should deal with a different aspect of the topic as it is dealt with in
the studies you are reviewing.
Discussion must be focussed on the literature.
Compare the various arguments, theories, methodologies, approaches and findings
expressed in the literature: What do the authors agree on? Are the approaches similar
or different?
What are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, debate? Contrast the various
arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches and controversies expressed.
Evaluate the literature: Which arguments are more persuasive, and why? Which
approaches, findings, methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate, and
why?
The verbs you use to describe what it is an author says/does (e.g. argues, suggests,
asserts, demonstrates, proves, etc.) convey an attitude and a judgment, so think
carefully about your word choice.
