making sense of literatures - working with small groups

of papers

Pat ThomsonPatter – patthomson.net

@ThomsonPat

comparing paperstake four articles and and then for each one note:

• definition of x ( the topic you are reading about)• what kind/aspect of x is spoken about in this article?• what is the argument? ( 4 sentences)• using what evidence?• what claims are made?• how adequate is this?

now make a table and add this information about each article -

Title Definition Aspect Argument Evidence Claims Adequacy

compare and contrast

look at your table and decide:•what do these four texts have in common? (using the comparative criteria from the table)•what are the points of difference (contrast)?(note - this is not yet an argument)

blank and blind spots

relook at your table and the section about inadequacies – were they blank or blind spots?•blind spots – something the method, definitions or theoretical approach does not allow to be seen/said•blank spots – things that are not yet ‘filled in’ by this study

WRITE: a sentence skeleton• write an opening statement about the topic x and why it

is important/interesting/puzzling and to whom, why and where

• I have analysed four articles which address (x). They share (one or two important things).

• While all of the authors are in agreement that …… there are also important differences. These begin with variations in sample/method/place. (1) is…. (2)… ((3) is… )

• There are also differences in findings. For example, (1) suggests that …. while (2) argues ….(4) and (3) propose ……… )

• ( ) is more rigorous/convincing/useful for my study because …… ( consider blank and blind spots here and connections with other literatures)