PURPOSE
The purpose for reviewing the body of literature about an issue or topic is to understand its history and context.
Before we can examine an issue in depth, we need to learn about events that are relevant to the issue. We also need to know what has already been studied, learned, or attempted when addressing the issue.
This assignment prepares you to build the depth of knowledge required to analyze conditions, propose findings, and identify areas of further study.
Keep these questions in mind while you collect and read relevant sources of information about the issue you are studying:
• What is the history of this issue? What are some important events that caused this issue to occur?
• What have you learned about this issue from each of the sources included in this table?
• How does each source support, contradict, or expand on results from some of the other sources?
• How will you use this information to analyze the issue and make recommendations for further study or action?
INSTRUCTIONS
You will search, select, read, and organize key points of information from at least 10 sources about an issue that you have chosen to examine.
Your review MUST include a variety of source types:
• peer-reviewed journal articles
• textbooks, academic course materials
• government reports, summary analyses, legislative priorities
• investigative journalism, news media
• research center (“think tank”) analyses, field reports
• demographic information (census, labor statistics, library databases)
• practitioner resources (organization websites, videotaped meetings, working documents)
FORMAT
Use the attached template to organize your examination of the sources. Type directly into the template.
PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE: Use this template to record and organize key points during your review of relevant sources.
TOPIC/ISSUE: [Briefly describe the topic/issue you have chosen to learn about for this assignment]
• Crime and Public Safety ( Los Angeles, CA)
This is information you will retrieve from each source separately. This is information is based on your examination of all the sources collectively.
SOURCE: APA Citation, and
TYPE: (Article, Report, Media) PURPOSE:
Thesis being Tested/
Question being Analyzed FINDINGS:
Results of the Research/
Answer to the Question EXAMINATION:
Similarities to Findings from Other Sources in this Table EXAMINATION:
Differences from Findings in Other Sources in this Table IMPLICATIONS:
Question You will Ask/
Analysis You will Pursue
SCHOLARSHIP
RESEARCH REPORTS
JOURNALISM/REPORTING
GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
OTHER
Last Completed Projects
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