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Turn Your Literature Review Into An Argument
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Turn Your Literature Review Into An Argument
Little Quick Fix



September 2019 | 144 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Frequently students confuse literature reviews with summaries of existing research, and they can easily get overwhelmed by the amount of material they have to consider and filter as part of their review. Likewise, they don’t often realize that a considered, planned, structured and balanced argument forms the bedrock of a successful research project. Outlining what a literature review is - and isn’t - and showcasing how to use the literature to your advantage to construct a strong academic argument, this Little Quick Fix answers important questions like

- What is the purpose of a literature review?

- How can I tell the difference between an argument and an academic argument?

- What do I need to create my argument?

- What do I need from an article to support my argument?

- How do I create a counterargument?

- How can I make sure I’m creating a strong argument and plausible counterargument?

- How can I win my argument?

Students need help over hurdles at every stage of their research project. They want simple, powerful, accessible tools that deliver results fast. They need to meet interim assessment deadlines and prove that they have successfully passed through multiple stages of their project, or need to master a stage of understanding in a learning cascade before they can proceed to the next week in their methods module. 

Their supervisors are increasingly unable to help, but will still be assessing results. Students need more than YouTube.

Titles in the Little Quick Fix series offer:

·       Visual, design-led learning

·       Clear, structured, useful pedagogy

·       A hand-holding,  step-by-step approach for students who are less able, or less academically prepared by school so far

·       Effective self-directed learning with DIY progress tracking

·       A stand-in for the busy/unavailable supervisor

 
What is the purpose of literature review?
 
How can I tell the difference between an argument and an academic argument?
 
How do I begin to create to create my argument?
 
How do I progress my argument?
 
How do I convey my argument?
 
Why do I need a counter-argument?
 
How can I make sure I’m creating strong arguments?
 
How can I win my argument?

great little go to book full of hits and tips

Mrs erica clough
School of Health and Social Care, Teesside University
December 9, 2019

This is perfect for my level 7 module which involves writing a critical literature review.

Dr Liane Purnell
Department of Education, Newman University
October 11, 2019

In their literature review students often present one theme after the other and one theory or study after the other. Contradicting theories are seldom included. Robert Thomas really puts it in the nutshell: What are the essentials and the methods for a good literature review? How to find the right sources, how to formulate, how to argument.

Professor Anja Tausch
Psychology, SRH Fernhochschule-The Mobile University
December 17, 2019

The book is easy to read and to understand. It contains the essentials of coding qualitative data. For that I like it. Maybe students would like to use it additionally to other sources for qualitative data analysis. It can be used to get a quick overview at the beginning. Maybe it could also be helpful to remember the essential facts for getting started after reading other sources. So it might be helpful for some students at different stages of their studies depending on the individual learning styles.

Professor Anja Tausch
Psychology, SRH Fernhochschule-The Mobile University
December 17, 2019

This is an accessible guide for student researchers on writing a literature review. It is simply written, but artfully so, and is excellent in articulating the meaning and purpose of literature reviews and in advising authors on writing for impact using clear, thoughtful, well-evidenced arguments.

Dr Eileen Hogan
School of Applied Social Studies , University College Cork (NUI)
November 15, 2019

An excellent introduction to writing a convincing literature review for all levels of education courses.

Mrs Michele Fuller
Department of Education, Colchester Institute
June 11, 2020

Nice little guide that focuses on specific issues and are explained in an appealing way for undergraduate students struggling with academic writing and research methods.

Professor Pierre Rafih
Business Psychology, Hochschule für Angewandtes Management
December 13, 2019
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