Should The Government put a high tax on soft drink beverages?

Literature Review/Policy Analysis

Part 1:  Selecting a topic.  Will be reviewed in the first class.  (module 1-due 7.5.2020)

Part 2:  Literature review- understanding the issue.   (assigned module 1; reviewed in module 2; due module 6- 8.8.2020)

The literature review as an advocate is imperative to understand an issue from multiple perspectives.  How can you advocate for a topic if you do not truly understand it?  How can you persuade others or create change if you do not truly understand it?

For the literature review 8 peer-reviewed articles are required to be synthesized in a 6-8 page paper (this is suggested page length and does not include the title page or references page).  The paper should do the following:

• Present the issue or topic (tell the reader why it is an issue or why it is a problem? Why does it need advocating?)- Statistics help here.
• Discuss current research that discusses methods of changing the status quo.
• Discuss research that has a different perspective from that in which you are advocating (if it is available).
• The literature review should not move from article to article, but rather should move from topic to topic and weave together the research.
• Research must only be from peer reviewed sources. No websites or books may be used. (note- the CDC can be used if needed- but this will not count as 1 of your 8 sources)
• The paper should be written in APA format (title page, citations, pagination and references page; no abstract is needed)
• Additionally all 8 articles must be turned in. This can be with a link to a digital drop box or attaching all articles as a PDF file.

1) Make sure all your articles are peer-reviewed.  (watch announcement video from week 3 on this)  Make sure you have 8-15 articles and you have read all your articles.  Outline the main themes of your articles and form an outline.

(2)  You now have an outline that you want to start weaving together your research articles in to.

Tips for writing a literature review:

1. Write objectively. Do not give opinions.
2. Write in academic style. Avoid first person narrative style.  Do not say “I” or “we” in your write up.  This is not a reflective piece. No stories.  Nothing to do with you.  Only the research.
3. Synthesize the research. Not summarize.  Watch the video for how to synthesize and see an example.  The best way to see if you synthesized is to see if your paper moves thematically (from topic to topic) rather than from article to article.  You can also check each paragraph to make sure that you cite multiple sources in a paragraph.
4. After you write your first draft. Go back through and double check your APA style (compare it to Purdue Owl) and make sure you have synthesized the research.
5. Typical format of a literature review is the following:

Title page (in APA style; see how to do this on Purdue Owl)

Introduction:   write a 2-4 sentences introducing the problem, trend or need.

Theme 1:   cite multiple sources (2-3 paragraphs; length will vary for each theme.  If you can only find one article that talks about a theme, then it is probably not a theme.  At this point I would suggest broadening the theme).

Theme 2:  cite multiple sources

Theme 3:  cite multiple sources

(theme 4 if needed)

Opposing side of the issue:  see if you can find research that looks at the other side of the issue or maybe reasons the issue (problem) exists.

Conclusion:  write 4-6 sentences wrapping up your literature.  In this section you can suggest areas of need for future research (gaps in the research) or limitations that you have witnessed in your research.

References Page:  (not bibliography or citations…in APA style it is called a References Page).

You can using headers.  I encourage it.  It really helps to ensure that you move topically rather than from article to article.