¶ … MA or PHD level is designed to develop and new argument on a particular subject. Within the overall presentation, a literature review is a section in which previously published information in a particular subject area, time period, or focus level, is discussed. Rather than a summation of sources, a literature review should have an organizational pattern that combines both summary and analysis -- summary to recap the information from the particular author's point-of-view, analysis to provide a way to interpret material and synthesize new information (Literature Reviews, 2004).
Case Studies -- Literature Review Outlines-
Teacher's Perceptions of Strategies and Skills Affecting Learning of Gifted 7th Graders in English Classes (Noble, 2010)
Introduction
Historic Influences on Gift Education
b. Defining Giftedness
c. Precursors to Gifted Performance
Identification of Gifted Students
a. Teacher/Student Motivation
b. Instructional Strategies
c. Relationship between strategies and learning skills
III. Teacher perceptions of giftedness
a. Factors affecting utilization
b. Conclusions
Gifted Student Academic Achievement and Program Quality (Jordan, 2010).
I. Introduction
a. Identification of Gifted
b. Common myths about the gifted
c. Demographics/Psychographics
II. Gifted Programs
a. Acceleration vs. Grouping
b. Standards -- Program design and management
c. Socio-economic and counseling issues
d. Professional Development and evaluation
III. Underachievement Issues
a. Factors affecting utilization
b. Stakeholders (parents, students, teachers).
c. The mythos surrounding underachieving
Having Our Say: Thoughts, Perspectives and Perceptions of Graduates of Satellite East Junior High School for the Gifted and Talented (Alston, 2011).
I. Introduction
a. Review of Gifted Education in NYCity
b. Measures of Intellectual Ability
II. Socio-Cultural differences and academic achievement
a. Underrepresentation of Minorities in Gifted Programs
b. Standards...
Statistical Data and real life implications
d. Scope of the issue
III. Issues surrounding underrepresentation of minorities and identification of giftedness
a. Training of school professionals
b. Self-fulfilling prophecy -- teacher, administrator issues
c. Alternative identification and conclusions
Compilation
I. Introduction
a. Review of giftedness and psychology toward subject
b. Measures of Intellectual Ability
II. Identification of gifted students
a. Class and socio-economic differentiation
b. Standards and stereotypes
c. Real world standards and implications
III. Stakeholders
a. Training of school professionals (teachers, administrators)
b. Types of programs and pedagogical strategies
c. Issues surrounding gifted programs
Analysis of Literature Reviews - Each of the three literature reviews was organized in a similar manner- a combination of chronological and subject analysis development. Each started with the overall definition of the thesis problem -- what is giftedness? Then, moved into more detailed analysis and breakdown of the manner in which giftedness is defined, the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of giftedness, and how the stakeholder perceptions sometimes govern the way giftedness is identified and the manner in which gifted students are treated. The three reviews then took a slightly different approach dependent upon their personal foci: academic achievement, giftedness within a specific area, and giftedness and the subject of diversity and minority issues. The reviews were robust and substantive and while not overlapping in content, did cover the relevant issues of giftedness in an appropriate manner.
The strength of the literature reviews, particularly Alston and Noble, was the breadth of material used to illustrate a number of points: the literature was timely, numerous studies were included within the nature of the question, and results were clearly discussed within the framework of the new hypothesis. Alston and Noble most definitely did not simply synthesize the information, but combined a process of synthesis with a great deal of analysis…
