Thelen Memorial Library Find A-Z eResource List Databases Get Help Chat "How Do I..." Library Tutorials LibGuides Library Handbook Services How to Reserve a Study Room My Account/Interlibrary Loan Requests Writing Center About the Writing Center About APA Academic Writer Access APA Academic Writer About Tutor.com About Turnitin Originality About Biography of George and Sue Thelen Vision & Mission Contact Us Directions Collections and Resources Hours Library Log-In Divine Mercy UniversityLibGuidesNew GuidesNavigating the Research ProcessDetermining Needed Information Search this GuideSearch Navigating the Research Process: Determining Needed Information This guide is a comprehensive overview of the research process. HomeDo You Have a Topic?Topic Background ReadingDeveloping a Research TopicToggle DropdownResearch Topic - Examples Gathering Background InformationDeveloping a Search StrategyToggle DropdownDifferent Resource Types Levels of Resources Developing Key Terms Using Key Terms Where to Search Filters, Sorting, and Saving Revising Your TopicSearch Results AnalysisRevising Your SearchEvaluating ResourcesAnswering the Research QuestionCiting SourcesDetermining Needed InformationWriting Your Paper Determining Needed Information Beginning Steps Now that you have your reference list citations in your paper or academic writer, you can begin reviewing them. It is a good idea to preview them to see if you have all the information you need, although it is possible to add a source or two as you write to fill in the gaps or information needs you did not expect. It may help to make notes in Academic Writer, or on the article if printed, to identify which part of the paper you were going to address it in. This will help structure an outline with headers as you write a comprehensive paper. A literature review should not simply be a long string of research studies that use similar wording to describe them. Review Your Information As you review, think about whether you have all the materials you need and begin to think of the structure and flow of your paper. It may help to outline your paper using headings. Go through the information and pay attention to salient parts and how they are described. Think about What You've Found As you go through your sources, you should begin to see themes in the research. As you write, you may need to adjust what you have and your paper outline first. It would also be helpful to think about the kind of writing and the kind of paper you are trying to write. This will further help you structure your paper. A literature review paper should be structured like an inverted triangle with general research at the top and a couple of specific studies on the bottom, which are the most related to what you are studying. Theoretical papers would have a different style. Persuasive writing or where you are trying to make a statement or argument is a different style other than simply describing research objectively as well. Synthesize the Information It is also important to synthesize and understand what you are seeing in your materials. Try to make connections and bring in other things you might want to write about in the future. Pay attention to the terminology the professionals use in the field as well. Next Steps When you have an idea of how you want to connect your sources and are certain you can write your paper with what you have, you can begin writing. Click here for further details. If you find you are missing aspects or have gaps, you can go back to gathering background information. Click here to go to the Flowchart Home page. << Previous: Citing SourcesNext: Writing Your Paper >>
Beginning Steps
Now that you have your reference list citations in your paper or academic writer, you can begin reviewing them. It is a good idea to preview them to see if you have all the information you need, although it is possible to add a source or two as you write to fill in the gaps or information needs you did not expect.
It may help to make notes in Academic Writer, or on the article if printed, to identify which part of the paper you were going to address it in. This will help structure an outline with headers as you write a comprehensive paper. A literature review should not simply be a long string of research studies that use similar wording to describe them.
Review Your Information
As you review, think about whether you have all the materials you need and begin to think of the structure and flow of your paper. It may help to outline your paper using headings. Go through the information and pay attention to salient parts and how they are described.
Think about What You've Found
As you go through your sources, you should begin to see themes in the research. As you write, you may need to adjust what you have and your paper outline first.
It would also be helpful to think about the kind of writing and the kind of paper you are trying to write. This will further help you structure your paper. A literature review paper should be structured like an inverted triangle with general research at the top and a couple of specific studies on the bottom, which are the most related to what you are studying. Theoretical papers would have a different style. Persuasive writing or where you are trying to make a statement or argument is a different style other than simply describing research objectively as well.
Synthesize the Information
It is also important to synthesize and understand what you are seeing in your materials. Try to make connections and bring in other things you might want to write about in the future. Pay attention to the terminology the professionals use in the field as well.
Next Steps
When you have an idea of how you want to connect your sources and are certain you can write your paper with what you have, you can begin writing. Click here for further details.
If you find you are missing aspects or have gaps, you can go back to gathering background information.
Click here to go to the Flowchart Home page.
