Loyola Marymount University Chemistry Lit Review Essay

Pick your own topic and write minimum 4 pages.

A literature review is an objective, critical summary of published scientific literature relevant to a
topic under consideration for research. Its purpose is to create familiarity with current thinking
and research on a particular topic.
A typical literature review consists of the following:1. Introduction: 1 page – 20 Points
1. • A concise definition of a topic under consideration (this may be a descriptive or
argumentative thesis, or proposal), as well as the scope of the related literature being
investigated.
2. • Another purpose of the introduction is to state the general findings of the review
(what do most of the sources conclude), and comment on the availability of sources
in the subject area.
2. Main Body: 2-4 pages 50 Points
1. • There are many ways to organize the evaluation of the sources. Chronological and
thematic approaches are each useful examples.
2. • Each work should be critically summarized and evaluated for its premise,
methodology, and conclusion. It is as important to address inconsistencies, omissions,
and errors, as it is to identify accuracy, depth, and relevance.
3. • Use logical connections and transitions to connect sources.
3. Conclusion- 1 page- 15 Points
1. • The conclusion summarizes the key findings of the review in general terms.
Notable commonalities between works, whether favorable or not, may be included
here.
2. • This section is the reviewer’s opportunity to justify a research proposal. Therefore,
the idea should be clearly re-stated and supported according to the findings of the
review.
4. References – 15 Points
1. • As well as accurate in-text citations, a literature review must contain complete and
correct citations for every source. At least 8 pub med published papers are required
for this. Please ensure that they are all published after 1990.