Literature Review

Worksheet Description

This Synthesis Essay worksheet is designed to help students prepare for writing a Literature Review Synthesis Essay. It outlines the essay’s purpose as a tool for synthesizing information from multiple sources to support a new insight or to contribute to a broader research project. The worksheet prompts students to define the topic of their literature review and to list the existing literature they plan to review. It emphasizes that the review should identify common themes, note which areas have been well-researched, and highlight gaps in the literature.

The worksheet teaches students the preparatory steps for conducting a literature review in a synthesis essay. It guides them to critically select and organize relevant literature on a specific topic, helping them to structure their review effectively. Students learn the importance of analyzing the literature to determine the current state of research in a field and to identify areas that require further study. This process not only aids in developing a focused research question but also equips students with the skills to justify the necessity of their future research endeavors.