Learning to do a literature review

One of the important aspects as learning how to do a research proposal is the selection, revision and description of

pertinent literature that could help you as a student to support your project. Since our course of Methodology aims to

construct and define the components of the research proposal that you will follow until you fully complete the research

process, this 4th learning strategy emphasizes on the components of Literature Review that in other words corresponds to

the theoretical support.

How do I start my literature revision?

The first aspect to define is the focus of your research. You should know exactly what you intend to investigate. Remember

that our projects in this Licenciatura have three essential components that help you to select, revise and describe the

literature you require to support your research project.

When I plan a pedagogical intervention, then it is necessary to define the component below:

Once you have clear the components of the literature review, it is the moment for you to search and select the references.

We understand as references the set of resources on which you can read, understand and select the literature that is

pertinent for your research proposal.

Where do I find the literature?

Def

inin

g m

y su

bp

roje

ct Literature to define and describe the subproject

Def

inin

g th

e a

spe

ct o

f En

glis

h Litearature to define the specific aspect of English as a Foreign Language that I plan to investigate.

The definition of the Approach or

Method that could support my

pedagogical plan or even my

mediation with ICT

The best literature you can find comes from academic data base, (what people call in Spanish, bases de datos).

Our library USTA has access to wonderful data base for research and any other topic you could be interested in.

The first step is to go to our web site, www.ustadistancia.edu.co

Go to the collection of digital books:

When you click, you will need to register the SAC user name and password. Once you enter, you can search for

the key words of your project. As using key words you will find more pertinent and relevant information:

Read the next example. You see below the title of a research project developed by one student in our

Licenciatura. From the title you can identify the three aspects I explained above in relation to the organization

of literature review.

Interaction is the aspect of English, the student wants to investigate.

Task learning is the pedagogical component for English learning that the student implemented.

Blended learning is the mediation the student proposed through the use of technology. How do the components of the project look like in the literature?

Apart from books, do I have another sources of information to support my literature?

Definitively yes, and it is significant to do it. Through previous research we learn a lot to construct our own investigation.

Language interaction through task and blended learning instruction in an English as a

foreign language group of sixth graders at the Jose Manuel Marroquín School, Bogotá-

Colombia

Literature review (theoretical support)

The student defined (1) the main aspect of

English, “language interaction.” Then she

defined (2) the pedagogical approach to

support the implementation of the project,

Task learning and (3) also the mediation of

technologies that she include, “Blended

Learning.”

Since this research implies a pedagogical

intervention, it belongs to the subproject of

“pedagogical innovations” so she explained

how through action research the project is

viable and doable.

In colombia, we identify specific “journals” on which we can find a big collection of research projects related

to English as a Foreign Language, developed by English teachers and students.

What criteria do I follow to select the references?

As we established it at the beginning of this guide, select the literature that best supports the subproject you

are working on, the components of English as a foreign language and some literature related to the methodology

and projects from other authors. For example, when doing narrative research or studying English contexts,

(subprojects 3 and 4) it is truly relevant to find other research projects related to your own project.

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