Welcome to Day 4 of the Under(Graduate) Literature Review Challenge!
Thus far, we have focused on refining our topic(s), strategic literature searching, and accessing the literature we need for our research and creative projects. Today, we consider ways to organize what we find and begin to make meaning of it.
Today's Task, Part 1: Use this Template to Create a Literature Review Matrix
Once you find literature that piques your interest and/or resonates with your research question(s), your reading/note-taking process begins. Organizing what you're finding and learning is key to making meaning of it. A literature review matrix can help you track what you're reading, as well as your initial thoughts and reactions to the literature you have found. See an example of this matrix template in action.
Modify this template to fit your needs, and start taking notes on one (or more!) of your sources.
Remember to list page numbers with any direct quotations. This is so important! When you include a quote in your spreadsheet, and the page number where you got the quote, you can help yourself avoid unintentional plagiarism down the line (which happens more often than you might think). Jane Goodall was found to have plagiarized sections of her book, Seeds of Hope, which she famously attributed to "chaotic notetaking."
Today's Task, Part 2: Annotate one (or more!) of the sources you have found.
Annotation can help you more easily identify recurring themes, trends, or patterns among your sources, as well as disagreements and areas for further inquiry (which is a jumpstart to writing your literature review!). This is an updated template from the one above that includes space for annotations. When annotating, remember to think critically about how your sources complement one another, and to not shy away from disagreement, or what may be missing or limiting about your sources. Watch the video below for more insight.
Here's an example annotation:
Lystra, K. (1989). Searching the heart: Women, men, and romantic love in nineteenth-century America. Oxford University Press.
Drawing on love letters from nearly one hundred writers in middle-class Victorian America, the author examines how romantic love was viewed in that society. She describes various notions of “falling in love” through epistles that detail relationships, courtship rituals, and intimate encounters.
Lystra’s thorough textual analysis of these letters brings to light many aspects of romantic love that transcend stereotypical views of Victorian society. While Victorian sexuality is a popular topic of study, few have explicitly examined the topic of romance, making this book a valuable and unique resource regarding Victorian women. Lystra is an accomplished researcher in the study of 19th century romantic love, and supports her arguments with relevant literature on the topic from both literary and historical frames.
Additional examples of annotations:
Pro-Tip from the Writing Center: Locate Key Information Quickly!
Today's pro-tip will have you reading like a pro.
You did it! You're more than halfway through the Under(Graduate) Literature Review Challenge.
Tomorrow, we'll look at how to move from summary to synthesis, as a final approach to making meaning of your research topic and the sources you have found.
