Doctor of Education

1. Doctor of Education Module 1 Education Policy and Social Justice: An Overview Writing a Literature Review

2. Your literature review should • identify the policy context for your topic • identify the relevant bodies of academic literature and any key texts • identify major debates and/or trends in this literature • select the key texts and identify the key concepts that are most pertinent to your topic • Group the literature to provide a structure to your review • note any gaps in the literature (gaps that your research can address!).

3. Writing your literature review 1 Think about structure: • Introduction (topic) • Policy context • Main body of literature review (discussion of literature appropriately grouped/organised – e.g. thematically, chronologically) • Conclusions – summarise what the literature says. Identify any gaps, and/or further steps in reviewing the literature.

4. Writing your literature review 2 • Be selective – about literature to include and about the main points to highlight about each text. • Show how the literature builds on/relates to other texts. • Highlight key studies • Critically discuss the literature - point to what it adds to the field and what it doesn’t do • Use evidence – refer to other writers to support the point you are making. • Use direct quotes sparingly – and keep them short. Use your own words. • Be careful when paraphrasing to ensure you are accurately reflecting what the author said (and not what someone else they have cited said!) • Be prepared to revise again and again..... and again!

5. Being critical • Be respectful: what does a text contribute, rather than and/or as well as what doesn’t it do? • Being critical involves asking about: the argument, specific focus, theoretical position, evidence, claims made – and evaluating how adequate these are – gaps, omissions, etc.