Literature Review (aka The Research Paper)
This is a research report on the current status, facts, and reasons to be concerned about an issue affecting Canadian youth today (under 25 yrs.)
PROCESS - PHASE 1: THE RESEARCH
Step 1. Choose a social issue that impacts Canadian youth today (under 25).
Step 2. Do some preliminary research to help narrow the scope of the issue and also to confirm it as your topic.
Step 3. Research, find and print at least 4 articles (3 with named authors) on this topic. See the model on STIs here. Make sure you are finding reliable sources online - use this resource guide to help you.
Step 4. Read each article and highlight the parts that represent each of the 4 components you’re looking for for this review. You must use 4 different colours and create a legend for which colour is which component). This is a process called coding data. See the STI article example highlighted. You are creating a code for how you read and make notes. These are the 4 components you are reading for:
Step 6. Look over your note-sheets now. You will see holes – there will be areas you have less information than others. Identify these areas and now refine your research to look for articles specifically on that topic. Print and repeat Steps 1-5 – but just filling in the gaps in your research so far.
Step 7. On each page and for each component – now look at the triangulation you have on each component / page. Find the patterns / categories in that information from all 3 sources. Write these bullet points in the center square, and do it for each note-sheet / component. These will form the basis of the mini-chapters of each section. This is called synthesizing your data.
CHECKPOINT #1 - All this research is done, coded, collated, and synthesized. You MUST hand in all articles and all notes with GC.
PROCESS - PHASE 2: WRITE & CITE
Step 1. Look at and break down the models
Step 3. Using the common squares for each component, identify the pattern you will use to formulate / organize each of the 4 sections of your paper.
Step 4. Write the first section on Risk Factors - using the information from your note-sheets and citing your sources properly
Step 5. Peer review the intro and section 1
Step 6. Repeat Step 2 for all the other 3 sections
Step 7. Draft the conclusion and the Works Cited page
Track and cite sources with one of these Bibliography Generators: Select MLA style. Choose one: CiteFast EasyBib BibMe CitationMachine
Make sure your formatting is MLA - remind yourself with this tutorial, MLA 8 requires a running header, don't forget that part.
CHECKPOINT #2 Peer review the entire document
CHECKPOINT #3 Submit GC, RD peer- and self-reviewed, RD intro and section 1 peer- and self-reviewed, 4 note-sheets and all articles (highlighted) and the checklist
Research paper assignment sheet & checklist
PROCESS - PHASE 1: THE RESEARCH
Step 1. Choose a social issue that impacts Canadian youth today (under 25).
Step 2. Do some preliminary research to help narrow the scope of the issue and also to confirm it as your topic.
Step 3. Research, find and print at least 4 articles (3 with named authors) on this topic. See the model on STIs here. Make sure you are finding reliable sources online - use this resource guide to help you.
Step 4. Read each article and highlight the parts that represent each of the 4 components you’re looking for for this review. You must use 4 different colours and create a legend for which colour is which component). This is a process called coding data. See the STI article example highlighted. You are creating a code for how you read and make notes. These are the 4 components you are reading for:
- Risk Factors: the factors / qualities that place the person at risk for engaging in the issue
- Protective Factors: the factors that protect/ prevent the person from engaging in the issue
- Consequences: the results of engaging in the issue
- Programs in Place: the help / resources / studies / programs that are in place to help deal with, cure, or prevent the issue.
Step 6. Look over your note-sheets now. You will see holes – there will be areas you have less information than others. Identify these areas and now refine your research to look for articles specifically on that topic. Print and repeat Steps 1-5 – but just filling in the gaps in your research so far.
Step 7. On each page and for each component – now look at the triangulation you have on each component / page. Find the patterns / categories in that information from all 3 sources. Write these bullet points in the center square, and do it for each note-sheet / component. These will form the basis of the mini-chapters of each section. This is called synthesizing your data.
CHECKPOINT #1 - All this research is done, coded, collated, and synthesized. You MUST hand in all articles and all notes with GC.
PROCESS - PHASE 2: WRITE & CITE
Step 1. Look at and break down the models
- Research paper draft example & Works Cited page example using STI as a class model
- Student model #1 - divorce
- Student model #2 - substance abuse
- Student model #3 - stress
- Student model #4 - depression
Step 3. Using the common squares for each component, identify the pattern you will use to formulate / organize each of the 4 sections of your paper.
Step 4. Write the first section on Risk Factors - using the information from your note-sheets and citing your sources properly
Step 5. Peer review the intro and section 1
Step 6. Repeat Step 2 for all the other 3 sections
Step 7. Draft the conclusion and the Works Cited page
Track and cite sources with one of these Bibliography Generators: Select MLA style. Choose one: CiteFast EasyBib BibMe CitationMachine
Make sure your formatting is MLA - remind yourself with this tutorial, MLA 8 requires a running header, don't forget that part.
CHECKPOINT #2 Peer review the entire document
CHECKPOINT #3 Submit GC, RD peer- and self-reviewed, RD intro and section 1 peer- and self-reviewed, 4 note-sheets and all articles (highlighted) and the checklist
Research paper assignment sheet & checklist