Literature Review

Write a literature review that synthesizes the readings on the subject of Forbidden Knowledge

1) Intro and Thesis Statement (Length: one paragraph/half a page):

A. Intro: Briefly introduce the story of your conversation/subject by providing key facts about it. For example, you should include an 1) an ethos appeal that locates the reader in time and place. When and where is this conversation taking place? Who is talking about it? And you also want to include 2) a pathos appeal to the audience that establishes the importance of the subject. What is at stake? 3) Including a quotation from an expert on the subject is a good way of establishing ethos and pathos in the intro.

B. Thesis Statement (Part of your intro paragraph): A literature review needs a thesis, but it won’t be in the form of “I will argue…” Instead, the thesis of a literature review needs to overview the conversation, calling attention to the major topics of convergence, divergence, key ideas, terms, camps, or speakers. It might follow this template:

In reviewing the literature on ideology, I will show that Eagleton and Jameson converge with Zizek on the topics of false consciousness and class conflict while Derrida and Tyson diverge from Foucault on the definition of identity, and what is ultimately at stake in this conversation is ____________.

*Include all three of your main topics for review in your thesis statement. They can be revised in the final draft.

2) Body Paragraph 1/Synthesis of Topic 1 (a single long paragraph/.75—1.0 pages):

A. Introductory Sentence: Introduce your first topic (ethos) and explain why it’s important to the conversation (pathos). B. Synthetic Analysis of Literature (logos; ethos): Explain what at least three (or more) of your authors say about topic one. Analyze how they converge or diverge on the topic and why. Do they define their key terms/concepts similarly or differently? Are their claim types different? Do they support their claims with facts (grounds/evidence) or are their claims based on values and assumptions? Explain what the facts/values/assumptions are. Do they converge or diverge due to camp or ideology? C. Evidence/Support (ethos): Use direct quotations and/or paraphrases (including parenthetical citations) that support your claims and analysis about what the authors say and why they say it; you must have at least 2-3 supports for each of your major claims. D. Logical Transition (logos; ethos): Each sentence/idea must transition logically to the next (see stock transition phrases handout!). Do not drop in quotes without introducing and explaining them sufficiently; do not expect the reader to analyze or understand quotes on their own. E. Conclusion: The paragraph must end with a logical conclusion to what’s been previously discussed/analyzed (logos), and the importance/relevance of this conclusion must be clearly explained (pathos).

3. Body Paragraph 2/Synthesis of Topic 2 (a single long paragraph/.75—1.0 pages):

A. Introductory Sentence: Introduce your second topic (ethos) and explain why it’s important to the conversation (pathos). B. Synthetic Analysis of Literature (logos; ethos): Explain what at least three (or more) of your authors say about topic two. Analyze how they converge or diverge on the topic and why. Do they define their key terms/concepts similarly or differently? Are their claim types different? Do they support their claims with facts (grounds/evidence) or are their claims based on values and assumptions? Explain what the facts/values/assumptions are. Do they converge or diverge due to camp or ideology? C. Evidence/Support (ethos): Use direct quotations and/or paraphrases (including parenthetical citations) that support your claims and analysis about what the authors say and why they say it; you must have at least 2-3 supports for each of your major claims. D. Logical Transition (logos; ethos): Each sentence/idea must transition logically to the next (see stock transition phrases handout!). Do not drop in quotes without introducing and explaining them sufficiently; do not expect the reader to analyze or understand quotes on their own. E. Conclusion: The paragraph must end with a logical conclusion to what’s been previously discussed/analyzed (logos), and the importance/relevance of this conclusion must be clearly explained (pathos).

4. Body Paragraph 2/Synthesis of Topic 3 (a single long paragraph/.75—1.0 pages): see 3. Above.

5. Conclusion Paragraph (one single paragraph/half page): A. Summarize the conversation (“In this literature review, I have overviewed the topics of identity and institutions in the conversation on ideology”); B. summarize what you think the key challenges, problems, or questions are in the conversation (“The authors I’ve reviewed agree that ideology tends to be overlooked by common discourse, but their answer varies on how to solve the problem.”); C. issue a call to action (pathos appeal: “More people must learn how to think critically or else others will think for us.”); end the story of your conversation with a stylistic flourish, perhaps on a quote (ethos appeal) or figure of speech.

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