BUSI 643 Literature Review Overview The purpose of this research project is for you to create a scholarly piece of graduate-level research and writing that conforms to current APA format. Competency in APA format is required of all Business graduates of Liberty University, as set forth by policy of both the Graduate Faculty and the administration. You will research and write a literature review on a topic relevant to the course. You will have approximately 7 modules/weeks to research and write the paper. By the end of Module/Week 1, you will choose a topic and begin working on the project. Do not recycle any work from any previous courses you have taken. Your research paper will be a comprehensive thematic review of the scholarly literature related to your topic. What is a Literature Review? “A literature review discusses published information in a particular subject area, and sometimes information in a particular subject area within a certain time period. It has an organizational pattern and combines both summary and synthesis. The summary is a recap of the important information of the source; the synthesis is a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that information. It might give a new interpretation of old material or combine new with old interpretations. Or it might trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates. And depending on the situation, the literature review may evaluate the sources and advise the reader on what is the most pertinent or relevant.” How is a literature review different from an academic research paper? “While the main focus of an academic research paper is to support your own argument, the focus of a literature review is to summarize and synthesize the arguments and ideas of others.” The academic research paper also covers a range of sources, but it is usually a select number of sources because the emphasis is on the argument. Likewise, a literature review can also have an “argument,” but it is not as important as covering a number of sources. In short, an academic research paper and a literature review contain some of the same elements. In fact, many academic research papers will contain a literature review section. but it is the aspect of the study (the argument or the sources) that is emphasized that determines what type of document it is. Why write literature reviews? “Literature reviews provide you with a handy guide to a particular topic. If you have limited time to conduct research, literature reviews can give you an overview or act as a stepping stone. For professionals, they are useful reports that keep them up to date with what is current in the field. For scholars, the depth and breadth of the literature review emphasizes the credibility of the writer in his or her field. Literature reviews also provide a solid background for a research paper's investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the field is essential to most research papers.” What is the format fo.

1. BUSI 643
Literature Review Overview
The purpose of this research project is for you to create a
scholarly piece of graduate-level research and writing that
conforms to current APA format. Competency in APA format is
required of all Business graduates of Liberty University, as set
forth by policy of both the Graduate Faculty and the
administration.
You will research and write a literature review on a topic
relevant to the course. You will have approximately 7
modules/weeks to research and write the paper. By the end of
Module/Week 1, you will choose a topic and begin working on
the project. Do not recycle any work from any previous courses
you have taken. Your research paper will be a comprehensive
thematic review of the scholarly literature related to your topic.
What is a Literature Review?
“A literature review discusses published information in a
particular subject area, and sometimes information in a
particular subject area within a certain time period. It has an
organizational pattern and combines both summary and
synthesis. The summary is a recap of the important information
of the source; the synthesis is a re-organization, or a
reshuffling, of that information. It might give a new
interpretation of old material or combine new with old
interpretations. Or it might trace the intellectual progression of
the field, including major debates. And depending on the
situation, the literature review may evaluate the sources and
advise the reader on what is the most pertinent or relevant.”
How is a literature review different from an academic research
paper?

2. “While the main focus of an academic research paper is to
support your own argument, the focus of a literature review is
to summarize and synthesize the arguments and ideas of others.”
The academic research paper also covers a range of sources,
but it is usually a select number of sources because the
emphasis is on the argument. Likewise, a literature review can
also have an “argument,” but it is not as important as covering a
number of sources. In short, an academic research paper and a
literature review contain some of the same elements. In fact,
many academic research papers will contain a literature review
section. but it is the aspect of the study (the argument or the
sources) that is emphasized that determines what type of
document it is.
Why write literature reviews?
“Literature reviews provide you with a handy guide to a
particular topic. If you have limited time to conduct research,
literature reviews can give you an overview or act as a stepping
stone. For professionals, they are useful reports that keep them
up to date with what is current in the field. For scholars, the
depth and breadth of the literature review emphasizes the
credibility of the writer in his or her field. Literature reviews
also provide a solid background for a research paper's
investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the
field is essential to most research papers.”
What is the format for literature reviews?
“Just like most academic papers, literature reviews also must
contain at least three basic elements: an introduction or
background information section; the body of the review
containing the discussion of sources; and, finally, a conclusion
and/or recommendations section to end the paper.
· Introduction: Gives a quick idea of the topic of the literature

3. review, such as the central theme or organizational pattern.
· Body: Contains your discussion of sources and is organized
thematically (see below for more information on each).
· Conclusions/Recommendations: Discuss what you have drawn
from reviewing literature so far. Where might the discussion
proceed?”
What is a thematic literature review?
“A thematic review would have subtopics based upon factors
that relate to the theme or issue.
Sometimes, though, you might need to add additional sections
that are necessary for your study, but do not fit in the
organizational strategy of the body. What other sections you
include in the body is up to you. Put in only what is necessary.
Here are a few other sections you might want to consider:
· Current Situation: Information necessary to understand the
topic or focus of the literature review.
· History: The chronological progression of the field, the
literature, or an idea that is necessary to understand the
literature review, if the body of the literature review is not
already a chronology.
· Methods and/or Standards: The criteria you used to select the
sources in your literature review or the way in which you
present your information. For instance, you might explain that
your review includes only peer-reviewed articles and journals.
· Questions for Further Research: What questions about the
field has the review sparked? How will you further your
research as a result of the review?”

4. Important Points to Consider
The paper is to be written in strict conformance to current APA
standards and contain at least 8–10 pages of content (excluding
the title page, abstract, and references) that utilizes at least 12
scholarly articles from peer-reviewed journals, published within
the past 5 years. References may not come from websites, blogs,
newspapers, books, dictionaries, conference proceedings, or
magazines.
The paper is to be posted in the SafeAssign software area at the
end of Module/Week 7. It is highly recommended that each
student download and read the instructions to avoid any stress
created by issues that are the result of waiting until the last
minute.
· A SafeAssign draft check area will be provided for you to use
to improve your Originality Score, prior to your final
submission.
Three levels of APA headings must be used throughout the
paper as this is a graduate-level research paper.
Some students do not fully understand the difference between
Plagiarism and Paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is when you take a
source or someone else's idea and say it in your own words.
When you paraphrase you must still give the author's name,
date, title of the source, the scholarly journal where it came
from, and the exact website address or book.
However, when you directly quote a source, it must have
quotation marks around the quote or (if 40 words or more) it
must be set in block quotation format. If you directly quote
anyone, you must set it in quotation marks (or a block
quotation) and give detailed information of where you acquired
the quote.
For the purpose of this academic paper, adhere to the following
rules when quoting or using a source:

5. · Do not directly quote more than 120 words from any one
source.
· If the source is 2,000 words or less, do not directly quote more
than 50 words from any one source.
· Do not use the same source more than a total of 3 times within
the whole document for quoting or paraphrasing.
· Quotations must contain the section (if provided) and
paragraph or page numbers of the quote and this information
must be placed in the reference.
· In all instances, be sure to use the current APA guidelines for
citations and references.
The paper must not be a series of quotations.
Email your instructor with any questions regarding the project.
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BUSI 643
LITERATURE REVIEW GRADING RUBRIC
Student:
Criteria
(150 Points)
Levels of Achievement
Content 70%
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not present
Abstract
(5 points)
5 points
A scholarly abstract summarizing the key points of the literature
review is present.
4 points
A proficient abstract summarizing the key points of the

7. literature review is present
3 to 1 points
An abstract was present but was limited or incomplete.
0 points
An abstract was not present.
Introduction
(10 points)
10 points
A scholarly, complete introduction of the topic of the literature
review is present, including the central theme and/or
organizational pattern. The Introduction begins with a Level 1
heading. This section is at least 1 page of original discussion in
length.
9 to 8 points
An introduction of the topic of the literature review is present,
including the central theme and/or organizational pattern. The
Introduction begins with a Level 1 heading. This section is at
least 0.75 pages of original discussion in length.
7 to 1 points
An introduction of the topic of the literature review was limited
or incomplete; a Level 1 heading was not used; or this section
was less than 0.75 pages of original discussion in length.
0 points
An Introduction was not present.
Findings
(75 points)
75 to 69 points
A comprehensive, scholarly review and discussion of each of
the 12 articles on the reference list is present, organized
thematically (or by topic) under APA-formatted headings. Each

8. article is correctly cited in the narrative at least once, is from a
peer-reviewed journal, and current scholarship is used (articles
are not more than 5 years old).
This section consists of at least 6 complete pages of original
discussion in length.
68 to 63 points
A scholarly review and discussion of each of the 12 articles on
the reference list is present, organized thematically (or by topic)
under APA-formatted headings. Each article is correctly cited in
the narrative at least once, is from a peer-reviewed journal, and
current scholarship is used most of the time (1-2 articles were
more than 5 years old).
This section consists of 5.5-6 pages of original discussion in
length.
62 to 1 points
The discussion of sources on the reference list was limited or
incomplete; the findings were not organized thematically (or by
topic) or under APA-formatted headings; one or more sources
were not cited in the narrative; one or more sources were not
from a peer-reviewed journal; current scholarship was not used
most of the time (more than 3 articles were more than 5 years
old). This section was less than 5.5 pages of original discussion
in length.
0 points
Findings were not present.
Conclusions and Recommendations
(15 points)
15 to 14 points
A scholarly, complete discussion of conclusions is present,
including what the student has drawn from reviewing the
literature; and a comprehensive, scholarly discussion of
recommendations is present, including where discussions might
proceed. An APA-formatted heading is present.

9. This section is at least 1 page of original discussion in length.
13 points
A discussion of conclusions is present, including what the
student has drawn from reviewing the literature; and a
comprehensive, scholarly discussion of recommendations is
present, including where discussions might proceed. An APA-
formatted heading is present.
This section is at least 0.75 pages of original discussion in
length.
12 to 1 points
A conclusion was present but was limited or incomplete;
Recommendations were present but were limited or incomplete;
or a discussion of conclusions or a discussion of
recommendations was missing; a heading was not present; or
this section was less than 0.75 pages of original discussion in
length.
0 points
Conclusions and Recommendations were not present.
Structure 30%
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Not present
APA Formatting
(25 points)
25 to 23 points
An APA-formatted in-text citation was provided for each
reference at the appropriate places in the narrative. An APA-
formatted reference list was provided. APA-formatted headings
were used (Level 1, and Level 2 if necessary).
No more than 2 APA errors were present.
22 to 21 points

10. An in-text citation was provided for each reference at the
appropriate places in the narrative. A reference list was
provided. Level 1 headings were used (and Level 2, if
necessary).
3 – 6 APA errors were present.
20 to 1 points
In-text citations were missing or contained errors; references
were missing or contained errors; headings were missing or
contained errors.
More than 6 APA errors were present.
0 points
The APA format was not used.
Spelling, Grammar and Mechanics
(20 points)
20 to 18 points
The Literature Review begins with a title/cover page and was
typed in 12-point Times New Roman fonts on all pages; all
pages were double-spaced; 1-inch margins on all four sides
were used.
Correct spelling and grammar were present throughout.
Correct punctuation and spacing were present throughout.
The paper was typed in a formal style, and written in the third
person.
No more than 2 errors were present.
17 points
Some errors with the title/cover page, 12-point Times New
Roman fonts, double-spacing; or 1-inch margins were present.
Some errors with spelling and/or grammar were present.

11. Some errors with punctuation and spacing were present.
Some errors with formal style and/or third person were present.
3 – 6 errors were present.
16 to 1 points
Significant errors with the title/cover page, 12-point Times New
Roman fonts, double-spacing; or 1-inch margins were present.
Significant errors with spelling and/or grammar were present.
Significant errors with punctuation and spacing were present.
Significant errors with formal style and/or third person were
present.
More than 6 errors were present.
0 points
Errors with spelling, grammar, and/or mechanics were so
pervasive that the readability and level of scholarship of the
paper were substantially reduced.
/150
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