Subject guides: Education & Curriculum Studies: Literature Reviews & Writing Guides

Literature reviews

What is a literature review?
Learning module for beginning students

The literature review : a step-by-step guide for students by Diana Ridley
Call Number: Fisher 001.4 73 A
Publication Date: 2012

Website link for companion activities for above title
Additional resources to use alongside each of the chapters in the book - The literature review : a step-by-step guide for students by Ridley
How do I write a literature review?
The Learning Centre, University of Sydney
Literature reviews
University of Melbourne Library's Guide
Write a literature review
Various resources from VCU

Featured book

How to Write a Lot: a practical guide to productive academic writing by Paul J. Silvia
Call Number: Fisher General 808.042 486
ISBN: 9781433829734
Publication Date: 2018

Thesauri

A+ Education Thesaurus
This is officially the Australian Thesaurus of Education Descriptors, these terms are used to index in the A+ Education Database. The University of Sydney Library subscribes to the A+ Education Database, see our database listing to access this resource.
ERIC Thesaurus
Use the ERIC Thesaurus when searching the ERIC database. This Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors, is a list of education-related terms - sometimes called controlled vocabulary - used by ERIC to organise database materials by subject. The Thesaurus is a tool for finding documents relevant to a searcher's area of interest.
AIFS Thesauri
Australian Institute for Family Studies Thesaurus. Use this for the Family - Australian Family & Society Abstracts Database. Useful for social work, sociology and social policy. Scroll down page to download PDF of Family Thesaurus.
Pathways Thesauri
From AIATSIS for Aboriginal place names, Indigenous language groups and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander topics.
VOCEDplus Thesaurus
VOCED Tertiary Education Resource Database. This website contains a list of subjects and keywords used to classify all items indexed in the VOCEDplus database which is freely available.
American Society for Indexing Online Thesauri.
Lists a variety of thesauri, authority files and lists of controlled vocabulary available online.

Finding theorists

The Wiley-Blackwell companion to major social theorists by Ritzer, George. ; Stepnisky, Jeffrey.
Call Number: eBook 2 vols
Publication Date: 2011

Social Theory via Alexander Street
Brings together an extensive range of influential writings representing the most important trends of sociological thought from the eighteenth century to the present day.

Terms & conditions

Theories of Childhood by Carol Garhart Mooney
Call Number: Fisher 305.231 134 A
ISBN: 9781605541389
Publication Date: 2013
This book provides clear, straightforward introductions to the foundational theories of John Dewey, Maria Montessori, Erik Erikson, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky.

Writing journal articles

Writing for academic journals (3rd edition) by Murray, Rowena
Call Number: eBook, 4th ed. on order for Fisher 1.10.20
Publication Date: 2013
Writing for peer reviewed journals : strategies for getting published by Thomson, Pat, Kamler, Barbara
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 2013

Systematic Reviews - Social Sciences

A Systematic Review is a research method in in itself and is different to the traditional literature review.

Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences by Helen Roberts; Mark Petticrew
Call Number: Held SciTech Library and as an eBook
Publication Date: 2005

Systematic Review Guide
A step-by-step guide to conducting a systematic review.
Joanna Briggs Institute
The Campbell Collaboration
What Works Clearinghouse
Best Evidence Encyclopedia- John Hopkins University
EPPI Centre

Academic Integrity and note taking skills

Academic Integrity/ University of Sydney
As a student of the University, you are responsible for taking part in your education in an honest and authentic manner. You need to follow these codes and policies during your time at the University.
How to Avoid Plagiarism and Self Plagiarism/ APA Style Central
Recommended resource: a learning module on the topic from APA Style Central Database.
Paraphrasing Video from University of Melbourne
A short video on how to paraphrase the ideas of others in your writing.
Plagiarism and Paraphrasing
Purdue University, USA
The Write Site: Quoting and Paraphrasing
This University of Sydney Canvas module gives you guidelines on how and when to use quotes and paraphrases from the source materials you have read.
Read effectively and critically
University of Melbourne resource
Nine tips for note taking and synthesising
University of Melbourne resource
Learning Centre Online Resources
Explore the University of Sydney's Learning Centre's range of online resources.
Learning Centre Workshops
The University of Sydney's Learning Centre offers workshops and individual consultations on study and writing skills.

Quick links

Essay writing

Effective academic writing : an essay-writing workbook for school and university by Thomson, Elizabeth.; Droga, Louise.
Call Number: Fisher 808.042 436
Publication Date: 2012
Good essay writing : a social sciences guide. by Redman, Peter, 1964-; Maples, Wendy (Wendy E.)
Call Number: Health Sciences 808.042 324 B, 5th ed on order 21.10.2020
Publication Date: 2011

How to write better undergraduate essays
Blog by Tim Squirrell, PhD

APA Style - useful resources

APA 7th Reference Guide for journal articles, books and edited book chapters
PDF 2 page handout from APA
APA 7th Style handouts and guides
APA Website
APA format for academic papers and essays
Word Templates
Cite|Write tool
Queensland University of Technology
Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) APA 7th workshop and writing guide
Purdue University, USA
Citation Guides
Purdue University USA

Writing your literature review and thesis

The library holds many titles which relate specifically to the literature review in academic research; do a keyword search in the Library Search catalogue to find some specific to your area of research.

Books on the broader aspects of academic writing, research and research methodology may also include sections on the literature review. Browse the following Library searches to locate additional resources.

Academic writing

Education -- research -- methodology

Social sciences -- research -- methodology

Doing Your Literature Review by Jill Jesson; Lydia Matheson; Fiona M. Lacey
Call Number: 300.72 459
ISBN: 9781848601543
Publication Date: 2011
Evaluating Research Articles from Start to Finish by Robert I. Kabacoff; Ellen R. Girden
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9781412974462
Publication Date: 2011
How to critically read a research article from start to finish
Helping Doctoral Students Write 2nd ed by Barbara Kamler; Pat Thomson
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 0415823498
Publication Date: 2014
How to fix your academic writing trouble : a practical guide by Mewburn, Inger, author.; Firth, Katherine, author.; Lehmann, Shaun, author.;
Call Number: Fisher 808.02 336
ISBN: 9780335243327
Publication Date: 2018
How to Research and Write a Successful PhD by Jonathan D. B. Weyers; Kathleen McMillan
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9780273773917
Publication Date: 2013
How to Write a Better Thesis by David Evans; Paul Gruba; Justin Zobel
Call Number: Fisher 808.02 205 A
ISBN: 3319042866
Publication Date: 2011
How to Write a Thesis by Umberto Eco; Caterina Mongiat Farina; Geoff Farina; Francesco Erspamer
ISBN: 9780262328753
Publication Date: 2015
Mapping Your Thesis: the comprehensive manual of theory and techniques for masters and doctoral research by Barry White
Call Number: Fisher General 808.066378 11
ISBN: 9780864318237
Publication Date: 2011
Research and Evaluation for Busy Students and Practitioners by Helen Kara
Call Number: Fisher General 300.72 503
ISBN: 1447338413
Publication Date: 2017

Writing guides and tools

The Write Site - essay writing guide
University of Sydney
Preparing an annotated bibliography
UNSW
Writing an annotated biblography
University of Melbourne
Writing an abstract
University of Melbourne
Academic Phrasebank/ Uni of Manchester
A general resource for academic writers
Academic Word List / Victoria University
Frequently used academic words
Academic skills resources
University of Melbourne
Essential skills for academic success
Monash University
Quick Study Guides
Monash University
Graduate research and writing
Monash University
Microsoft Word for dissertations
University of Michigan

Research methods

Research Methods and Methodologies in Education by Robert Coe (Editor); Michael Waring (Editor); Larry V. Hedges (Editor); James Arthur (Editor)
Call Number: Fisher 370.72 159
Publication Date: 2017

Sage Research Methods
A tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. It focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, so can be used across the social, behavioural, & health sciences, and more. It helps you design and conduct your own research projects, understand and teach research methods, and write up findings. Includes journal, book, & reference content, quantitative & qualitative tools.

Terms & conditions
Sage Research Methods: Video Collections
This databse  includes tutorials, interviews, video case studies, and mini-documentaries covering the entire research process. 

Chrome browser is recommended for effective use of multimedia collection.