Tips For Success
Before You Begin
 Re-read “Introduction to Literature Reviews” on the
home page of RW.
 Re-read the assignment description in RW.
 Re-read and annotate (take notes) on the examples of
Literature Reviews in your textbook.
Thesis: Before & After
 Use this thesis if literature WAS focused on one aspect,
but is NOW focused on another aspect.
 “While previous literature centered around ______ and
______, current literature focuses on _______.”
 Your conclusion paragraph would look to the future of
the research. What will scholars focus on in coming
years?
Thesis: The Debate
 Use this thesis if scholars agree or disagree on some or all
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aspects of the issue.
Their disagreements can be small in scale.
“While scholars agree about _______, they disagree
whether __________ or ________.”
“While scholars disagree about _______ and _______, they
agree in general that ________.”
If the majority of your paper focuses on disagreement, then
your conclusion would reinforce the similarities in their
positions. Likewise, if the majority of your paper focuses on
agreement, then your conclusion would highlight the
disagreements.
Thesis: Methodology
 This thesis focuses on the type of research present in
each article: hard data, case studies, surveys, etc.
 While past scholars use _______ method to study the
issue, current scholars use ______ method because
_________.
 Depending on the focus of their research and the
desired results, scholars in _______ field use various
methodologies. _____ scholars use _____ while ______
scholars use _____.
Thesis: Key Figures
 Identifies several key scholars and/or seminal articles
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and shows which current scholars are following their
lineages.
Different camps of thought
Shows a history of research on the issue
“While many current scholars look to _____’s research
for clues on how to proceed, ______ and _______ base
their research on _______’s findings.
Your conclusion might describe some emerging key
figures in the field.
Thesis: Rhetorical Devices
 This thesis focuses on HOW the scholars present their
information in the articles.
 How do they appeal to their readers?
 ________ and ________ primarily use hard data to
convince readers of their positions, ______ and
________ use case studies and questionnaires to
provide a human element to the issue of _______.
Introduction
 Give a brief explanation of your topic and sub-topic.
 Tell what current research is focused on.
 Then your thesis should be the last sentence or couple
of sentences in your intro
Topic Sentences
 Topic sentence should focus on relationships, not
necessarily scholars themselves.
 Try to avoid mentioning specific scholars in the topic
sentences.
 Again, focus on the relationships you’ve presented in
your thesis.
 Use your thesis as your guide.
In class . . .
 We’ll look at some specific examples of good writing
from this summer.
 Bring your thesis and topic sentences. We’ll work on
them together.
 Bring a draft of your introduction.
 I’m going to make a note of who brings these things
and who doesn’t. Remember, I’m entirely in charge of
your participation grade.
INTRO example
 For those who describe war as something that needs to be
prevented, understanding its etiology is particularly
important. Most political scientists and historians agree
that they are still in the correlation stage of investigating
conflict, and have yet to concretely identify the causation
of war. However, the democratic peace theory is one that
resides in the upper echelon of war prevention theories
(Elvis 782). As many researchers, and US presidents alike
subscribe to the theory of democratic peace, a comparable
amount question its validity and seek to explain the
existence of democratic peace by other, more sound means.
 There is no need to define democratic peace theory or other
concepts related to your research. Who is your audience?
Relationships
 Regardless of which theory political scientists side with, the majority
agree that there is a correlation between democracies in that they do
not go to war with each other (Dopey 5, Sleepy 463, Sneezy 768, Doc
453, Grumpy 397). Even Curly, a strong opponent of the democratic
peace theory admitted that “democratic peace theorists have
discovered a powerful empirical generalization: Democracies rarely
go to war or engage in militarized deputes with one another.
Although there have been several attempts to challenge these
findings, the correlations remain robust” (585).
 Moreover, “nondemocracies are neither trusted nor respected,” by
democracies, “because they are considered to be in a state of war
against their own citizens” (“Article Title” 586). However,
democracies do not fight each other because they “trust and respect
one another when a conflict of interest arises between them” (“Article
Title” 586). Thus, Elvis believes conflicts between democracies can be
solved peacefully, while conflicts with nondemocracies will almost
surely result in war, and war as explained by Larry and Curly, does not
end successfully.
Relationships, Cont.
 The main goal of each of these studies was to investigate all aspects of
pain and how each patient went about their daily lives. The purpose
behind this form of research was to get a better sense of what it is like
to live with chronic pain. By understanding this, professionals get an
enhanced idea of how to treat and or manage chronic pain. Similar to
these trials, Scholar A and Scholar B allowed their participants to speak
about their experiences but also asked them to partake in relaxation
classes. The objective of this form of study was to try something other
than “traditional medical techniques” (Scholar B et al. 1160) to try to
lessen the pain for the sufferers. Scholar C took a slightly different
approach on the topic and instead collected data that was formed over
a thirty-year period from assorted medical trials, evaluations, and
literature.
 Mickey Mouse’s research concerns the widely accepted notion that over
the next few decades, as aerosol emissions decrease relative to the
emission of greenhouse gases, the Earth will experience a rather
substantially steep rise in climate temperatures.
Topic Sentences
 Opponents of the democratic peace theory often find the
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aforementioned correlation to be a phenomenon. Thus, it is not
something that can or should be replicated worldwide.
Common among all of the research is some permutation of the
hypothesis that anthropogenic aerosols either have had or will have an
temperate effect on the Earth's climate.
Aside from the somewhat common goal, the various research teams use
quite a diverse array of methods to conduct their research.
Consistent throughout the majority of the research is the admission to
a possible linkage between democracy and peace. However, the
determinable factors that influence that relationship are still under
tight scrutiny, and each and every author is unified in the fact that they
all call for more thorough, systematic analysis on the subject.
Similarly, ethicists also do not collectively agree that the potential of
therapeutic human cloning to heal ailments should morally justify
legalizing cloning although many of them seem to believe so.
Thesis Examples
 While it was long believed that aerosols had little to no effect on
atmospheric phenomena, the scientific community is conducting
increasing amounts of research into the significance of
anthropogenic aerosols in combating the effect of global warming.
 Might be more specific regarding this research.
 Meanwhile, a substantial collection of counter-arguments have
surfaced, disputing the correlation between democracies and peace
altogether. These claims, and counter-claims, will be addressed in
greater detail later.
 Might be more specific regarding the nature of these claims and
counter-claims.
 Researchers of chronic pain are looking into figuring out the most
effective treatments. With limitations between physical and
psychological boundaries concerning chronic pain treatments, new
studies have surfaced to draw more connections to treatment and
chronic pain. Current research has revealed that there is a definite
link between chronic pain and three major amendable lifestyle
factors: substance abuse, sleep deprivation, and obesity.
Conclusion: Chronic Pain
 Most chronic pain experts such as Dr. Walter White and Jax
Teller would agree on addressing the physical and psychological
limitations of diagnosed patients together as one of the central
concerns for treating this overbearing symptom. Their studies
suggest that the confusion of different types of treatments affect
diverse forms of chronic pain and further proposing that chronic
pain alters a patient’s mental state and view, proving treatment
to be more challenging. The other conflicting issue is simplifying
current treatment methods and ensuring progress on
improvements to prevent an increase in pain levels for patients
as hinted by Barney Stinson’s discovery of pain inhibitors like
opioid, which no longer have an affect on chronic pain because
of overuse in patients. All in all, these research studies indicate a
necessity for future research in order to determine and
understand the best and simplest approach to aiding chronic
pain patients.
Groups: Questions About Thesis &
Topic Sentences
 Thesis:
 Does the thesis concern relationships? A debate? A change in research?
A difference in rhetorical styles?
 Is the thesis specific? Does it mention specific areas of research? Does
it mention specific sub-topics.?
 Topic Sentences:
 Do the topic sentences discuss relationships?
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They should not mention specific scholars.
 Do the topic sentences align with the thesis? Is it clear how they relate?
 Introduction
 Does the introduction explain the topic BRIEFLY?
 Does the introduction stage the debate (if necessary)?
 Does the introduction introduce current research?
 Is the thesis the last sentence (or sentences) in the introduction?