1、Unit Four Materials and Literature reviewTeaching Aims: Students should be able to 1. know how to collect materials2. learn how to write literature reviewI. Materials1. How to collect materials? Collecting materials is a process, a process of researching .Collect ample materialsCollect the original
2、or first-hand materials NoticeWe should also be careful with the following points: 1) It is wrong and impossible to try collecting all the materials that have little to do with what you are writing. It is most important of all to collect the most important and most typical materials that you need. 2
3、)Dont be afraid that you cant collect enough materials. You can get materials by many channels: A. Library B. Reading room C. Internet D. Bookstore E. Teachers F. Friends3) Understand your materials completely and make good use of the materials. Dont cut the meanings in the materials into broken pie
4、ces without any relations.4) Not only collect the materials that support your arguments, but also collect the materials that dont support your arguments. Only in this way can your writing be proved to be scientific, and your arguments can hold water.2. What should we write down when we collect and r
5、ead materials?While we are collecting and reading materials, try to form the habit of taking notes, including: the author, title, edition, press, publishing place and time, page, etc. for a book; magazine, volume, page, author, title and publishing place and time for a magazine, or else. 3. Note-tak
6、ing1) Preliminary bibliographyBibliographya list of sources about a subjectPreliminary bibliography helps you to pinpoint sources that might prove valuable.Whenever you find a promising source, jot it down.The informationBook Article Name of author, editor Name of authorDate Date Title and subtitle
7、TitleEdition Name of publicationPlace of publication Volume of publicationPublisher Page numbersPage numbers2) Types of notes(1) Quotation note A direct quotation copies exactly what your source said or wrote.Four reasons for using a direct quotation:A. Accuracy when the precise language of the orig
8、inal is crucial.B. Authoritywhen the exact words of a writer or a speaker carry more weight than a summary.C. Concisenesswhen a quotation states an idea in fewer words than a summary would require.D. Vividnesswhen the language of the source is more colorful or more descriptive than a summary would b
9、e.Not overuse quotation less than 30%(2) Paraphrase noteIts purpose is to clarity the meaning of a passage.Remember : A paraphrase is a complete rewriting, not just a game of rearranging words.(3) Summary note A summary is a statement in your own words of the main idea of a passage.Use summary notes
10、 to record:A general idea; a large amount of information succinctlyRemember:You must separate what is most important from what is less important.(4) Combination noteA combination note contains both quotation and summary.(5) Outline note When only factual information is taken from a source, rough not
11、es in outline form may be sufficient.(6) Personal comment noteyour own thoughts3) Qualities of good notes(1) Legibility Suggestions :Take notes on 4x6-inch cards Take notes in inkWrite on only one side of a card.Put only one idea on a card.Use whatever abbreviations you find convenient for notes. (2
12、) AccuracyRead your research material carefully.Read preciselyDistinguish among fact, inference, and opinionUse conventional mechanics of spelling, capitalization, and punctuation (3) CompletenessIdentify the source of what appears on each card.Note the page number from which you obtained informatio
13、n by putting them in the top right-hand corner.Identify the subject of each card in the top left-hand corner.II. Literature review1. PurposeOnce the area or topic of the research paper has been chosen and defined, it needs to be placed in a broader context by reviewing related literature.On the one
14、hand, it helps you broaden the view and perspective of the topic for your graduation thesis;On the other hand, it helps you narrow down the topic and arrive at a focused research question.It also helps you to learn what has been done and what is going on.2.Major sources of related literatureFour maj
15、or kinds of sourcesBackground sources; Original sources; Critical sources; WEB sourcesFour major kinds of sources1) Background sourcesbasic information, usually can be found in dictionaries and encyclopedia; major scholars, founders of the field, definition, masterpieces, classic works, approaches,
16、sutobiography, collection of letters, etc2) Original sourcesthe books in libraries and bookstores. You can search the catalogue by author, title or subject.3) Critical sourcesrefer to journal articles, which are quality and scholarly sources for research.4) Web sourcesthe sources or information from
17、 websites.3. Major strategies of literature review1) Choose primary sources rather than secondary sources2) Choose sources that give a variety of viewpoints on your thesis3) Choose sources that cover the topic in depth4) Choose sources written by acknowledged experts5) Choose the most current source
18、s4.Evaluating materialsYou can make evaluations at three stages:Before you read, when you readand after you read.1) Before you readTake time to preview your sources and be able to know:Authorship and authorityAccuracy and verifiablilityCurrency 2) When you readRead the tables of contents of several
19、booksLook through the indexes of several booksRead over the table of contentsLook at prefaces, forewords, glossaries, indexes, and appendicesPay attention to chapter titles, headings, and subheadings before reading selections so you will know what is coming2) When you readDiscover the organization o
20、f what you are about to read.Look at the beginning and endings.3) After you readYou value relevance over convenience.5. Writing literature reviewWhen you review related literature, the major review focuses should be:1) The prevailing and current theories which underlie the research problem.2) The ma
21、in controversies about the issue, and about the problem.3) The major findings in the area, by whom, and when.4) The studies which can be considered the better ones, and why.5) Description of the types of research studies which can provide the basis for the current theories and controversies6) Critic
22、ism of the work in the area7) The rationale and purpose of the proposed study.When you write literature review, the two major principles to follow are:A. Review the sources that are most relevant to your thesisB. Describe or write your review as clear and objective as you canSome tips:A. Define key terms or concepts clearly and be relevant to your topicB. Discuss the least-related references to your question first and the most related references last.C. Conclude your review with a brief summaryD. Start writing your review early.Homework: Write your literature review7 / 7
