The Literature Review

Lawrence A. Machi is a Professor Emeritus of Organizational Leadership at the University of La Verne, in La Verne, California. He holds an MA in curriculum development and an Ed.D. in organizational leadership. He has taught research methods and design and has chaired doctoral dissertation research in addition to teaching classes in organizational development. He has extensive experience in higher education, and prior to his tenure at La Verne, he taught in schools of education at the University of San Francisco, St. Mary’s College of California, and Sonoma State University. Dr. Machi has served as a Fulbright Specialist and recently completed his third assignment in Taiwan at National Chung Cheng University, where he currently serves as a visiting professor.With K–12 experience as well, he has worked as a secondary teacher and served as a school administrator in both secondary and elementary school districts in northern California. He has occupied the roles of vice principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent, frequently consulting with many ­California school districts and non-profit organizations. His specialties are in the areas of organizational leadership, finance, negotiations, organizational development, and strategic thinking.Brenda T. McEvoy taught high school English, history, and science for 36 years. Research skills were always part of her curriculum. For eight years, she worked for the California State Department of Education, leading groups of educators in improving their ability to edit and assess student writing. She has also served as a mentor for beginning English and history teachers. Participation in the California Writing Project extended her knowledge of writing and the difficulties students face when producing a major assignment. She has worked as an editor for several books, focusing on helping writers create work that is clear and logical.

• Literature Review Flow ChartPrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorsIntroduction: Doing and Producing a Literature ReviewKey VocabularyIntroduction OverviewThe Purpose of a Literature ReviewThe Literature Review DefinedThe Literature Review ProcessMindset: Personal Dispositions on Thinking, Doing, and DecidingThe Ethics of Reviewing the LiteratureReflective OversightPlan Wisely Before You BeginSummaryChecklistReflective Exercise1. Step 1: Select and Define a TopicKey VocabularyChapter OverviewTask 1. Identify a Subject for StudyTask 2. Translate the Personal Interest or Concern Into a Research QueryTask 3. Link the Research Query to the Appropriate DisciplineTask 4. Write the Preliminary Research Topic StatementSummaryChecklistReflective Exercise2. Step 2: Develop the Tools of ArgumentationKey VocabularyChapter OverviewConcept 1. Building the Case for a Literature ReviewConcept 2. Arguments—the BasicsConcept 3. Evaluating the Basic Parts of an ArgumentConcept 4. Understanding ClaimsConcept 5. Building EvidenceConcept 6. Warrant—Logically Connecting the Evidence to the ClaimConcept 7. Complex ClaimsSummaryChecklistReflective Exercise3. Step 3: Search the LiteratureKey VocabularyChapter OverviewTask 1. Select the Literature to ReviewTask 2. Conduct a Literature SearchTask 3. Refine Your TopicSummaryChecklistReflective Exercise4. Step 4: Survey the LiteratureKey VocabularyChapter OverviewTask 1. Assemble the Collected DataTask 2. Organize the InformationTask 3. Analyze the Patterns of DataSummaryChecklistReflective Exercise5. Step 5: Critique the LiteratureKey VocabularyChapter OverviewWhat Is a Literature Critique?Concept 1. Making the Case for the Literature ReviewConcept 2. Descriptive Argument Patterns: Factual ReasoningConcept 3. Implicative Argument Patterns: Implicative ReasoningConcept 4. The Implicative Argument: Nine Basic PatternsConcept 5. BackingDoing a Critique of the Literature: Building the Advocacy ArgumentTask 1. Determining the Implicative Logic Pattern Inferred by the Topic of StudyTask 2. Reframe Claims to Meet the Prerequisite Conditions Identified by the Selected Logic TypeTask 3. Build the Advocacy ArgumentConcept 6. FallaciesConcept 7. The Case Is EverythingSummaryChecklistReflective Exercise6. Step 6: Write the ReviewKey VocabularyThe Writing Process: OverviewTask 1. Write to UnderstandTask 2. Write to Be UnderstoodStyle ManualsChecklistReflective ExerciseLast WordsSupplementsSupplement A The Role of the Literature ReviewSupplement B Literature Review 101Supplement C Writing a JournalSupplement D SQRRRGlossaryReferences and Further ReadingIndex

This book is clearly outlined with easy-to-understand steps supported by wonderful visuals. The key vocabulary, tips section, and checklist all provide tremendous support to any reader wanting to take the needed steps to write a meaningful literature review. This book provides sections that are concise and to the point, making it very easy for readers to skim and refer back to as needed. I commend the authors for presenting such a complex task with so much simplicity. The exercises provided are a great resource for the reader, as well as to a professor who wants to use this book as a text and assign the exercises as class activities . . . I will be sharing this book with colleagues and recommending it to my graduate students. I will also be considering how I can incorporate this book into classes that I teach.