Mini Literature Review Rubric Trevecca Nazarene University – BUS 8010 DEFICIENT (0-2 points) MARGINAL (3 points) PROFICIENT (4 points) OUTSTANDING (5 points) Points Earned Understanding The literature review provides no evidence of understanding of the relevant concepts The literature review provides some evidence of understanding of the relevant concepts The literature review provides significant evidence of understanding the relevant concepts The literature review provides substantive evidence of a deep understanding of the relevant concepts Introduction & Purpose The purpose of the literature review is difficult to pinpoint or impossible to discern The purpose of the literature review is stated but unworkable (e.g., too broad) The purpose of the literature review is stated, but needs more clarity The purpose of the literature review is clearly stated, appropriate, and understandable Development Literature review is poorly organized and demonstrates a lack of organization and coherence The organization of the literature review lacks clarity and/or relevance Organization of literature review needs to be sharper and clearer Literature review is well organized and developed Analysis & Interpretation The literature review provides no evidence of analysis or interpretation of the literature The literature review provides evidence of superficial analysis, with minor gaps or mistakes The literature review provides evidence of coherent analysis The significance of findings in relationship to the literature is thoroughly and appropriately analyzed Evaluation of the literature Sources are accepted at face value with no critical evaluation Limited critical evaluation of the literature Some contributions, strengths, or limitations of the sources are accurately presented Contributions, strengths, and limitations of each source are insightfully presented Conclusion Conclusion is missing, inadequate, or unrealistic Conclusion is shallow or unconvincing Conclusion is satisfactory but needs to be more compelling Conclusion is coherent, perceptive, and brings strong closure to literature review Sources The content of the literature review is not backed by sources of acceptable quality or quantity The content of the literature review is backed by less than four sources or by sources of unacceptable quality The content of the literature review is backed by at least four references of suitable quality The content of the literature review is backed by at least four references of outstanding quality Documentation of Sources Literature review does not list any citations or sources Either in-text citations or references are missing, incomplete, or not in correct APA format In-text citations and references are provided but use incomplete or incorre ...

1. Mini Literature Review Rubric
Trevecca Nazarene University – BUS 8010
DEFICIENT
(0-2 points)
MARGINAL
(3 points)
PROFICIENT
(4 points)
OUTSTANDING
(5 points)
Points
Earned
Understanding The literature
review provides no
evidence of
understanding of
the relevant
concepts
The literature
review provides
some evidence of
understanding of
the relevant
concepts

2. The literature
review provides
significant evidence
of understanding
the relevant
concepts
The literature
review provides
substantive
evidence of a deep
understanding of
the relevant
concepts
Introduction &
Purpose
The purpose of the
literature review is
difficult to pinpoint
or impossible to
discern
The purpose of the
literature review is
stated but
unworkable (e.g.,
too broad)
The purpose of the
literature review is
stated, but needs
more clarity

3. The purpose of the
literature review is
clearly stated,
appropriate, and
understandable
Development Literature review is
poorly organized
and demonstrates a
lack of organization
and coherence
The organization of
the literature
review lacks clarity
and/or relevance
Organization of
literature review
needs to be sharper
and clearer
Literature review is
well organized and
developed
Analysis &
Interpretation
The literature
review provides no
evidence of analysis
or interpretation of
the literature

4. The literature
review provides
evidence of
superficial analysis,
with minor gaps or
mistakes
The literature
review provides
evidence of
coherent analysis
The significance of
findings in
relationship to the
literature is
thoroughly and
appropriately
analyzed
Evaluation of
the literature
Sources are
accepted at face
value with no
critical evaluation
Limited critical
evaluation of the
literature
Some contributions,
strengths, or

5. limitations of the
sources are
accurately
presented
Contributions,
strengths, and
limitations of each
source are
insightfully
presented
Conclusion Conclusion is
missing, inadequate,
or unrealistic
Conclusion is
shallow or
unconvincing
Conclusion is
satisfactory but
needs to be more
compelling
Conclusion is
coherent,
perceptive, and
brings strong
closure to literature
review
Sources The content of the
literature review is

6. not backed by
sources of
acceptable quality
or quantity
The content of the
literature review is
backed by less than
four sources or by
sources of
unacceptable
quality
The content of the
literature review is
backed by at least
four references of
suitable quality
The content of the
literature review is
backed by at least
four references of
outstanding quality
Documentation
of Sources
Literature review
does not list any
citations or sources
Either in-text
citations or
references are

7. missing, incomplete,
or not in correct
APA format
In-text citations and
references are
provided but use
incomplete or
incorrect APA
format
All sources are cited
with in-text
citations and
references. All
citations and
references are in
correct APA format
Writing
Mechanics
The writing is
unclear and is
flawed by several
grammatical or
spelling errors
The writing is
somewhat clear and
somewhat flawed
The writing is clear
and contains few
flaws

8. The writing is clear
and flawless
Format The style and
format of the
literature review
departs significantly
from APA
The literature
review generally
follows APA style
and format, with
several exceptions
The literature
review generally
follows APA style
and format, with a
few exceptions
The literature
review accurately
follows APA style
and format, with no
exceptions
TOTAL
(Max = 50)

9. Mini Lit Review
BUS 8010 – Current Topics in Leadership & Management
Robert H Roller, PhD
TREY
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Purpose of the Mini Lit Review
Evaluate the state of current research on the topic
Demonstrate your understanding of issues and scholarly debates
about the topic
Purpose
2
Purpose
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10. 2
Define your topic
Develop a key question that will direct your search of the
literature.
Your question must be able to be answered from existing
literature without collecting original data.
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Search the literature
Use the library databases, not search engines!
Create a list of keywords
Read abstracts to help determine relevance
Use an article’s bibliography to find other relevant articles
4
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Select sources
Make sure your sources are credible: use the CRAAP test
Use recent sources (this is a current topics course)
Sources should contribute to your understanding of the topic
Use quality sources that are relevant to your topic
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Look for themes, debates, and gaps
Look for relationships and connections between your sources
Themes: What concepts or questions are evident in the lit?
Debates: Where are sources in conflict or disagreement?
Gaps: What is missing from the lit? What weaknesses should be
addressed?

12. 6
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Organize the body of your lit review
A thematic approach is best for a current topics course
Analyze the topics, concepts, and theories central to your topic
Critically evaluate each source for its premise, methodology,
and conclusion
Identify the contributions and limitations of each source
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Write the lit review
Follow best practices…

13. Summarize and synthesize. Note the main points of each source
and combine them into a coherent whole.
Analyze and interpret. Discuss the significance of findings in
relationship to the literature.
Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your
sources.
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Write the conclusion
Ensure that your readers understand the key takeaways from
your review.
Summarize the key points you have found in the literature and
describe their significance
Discuss the implications
Suggest future research based on the gaps you have identified
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14. Citations
A few tips on citations…
If a statement is not common knowledge, it must be cited
Anytime you draw information from a source, you must cite it
If you quote, you must provide a page number or other locator
in the citation
If multiple sources are used, put in the same citation
Failure to cite or to provide locators constitutes plagiarism
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The word “References” should be at the top, centered
References should be double-spaced, with a ½” hanging indent
References should be in alphabetical order by first author’s last
name
References must be in APA 7 format
Last name and initials for first/middle names
Only the first word of the title and subtitle are capitalized,
along with proper names and acronyms
Publication is in italics
APA 7 does not include “Retrieved from” or a retrieval date
Page numbers are indicated by “p.” for a single page or “pp.”
for multiple pages (not “pg.”)

15. If you use a references generator, you must double-check to
make sure the references are correct
References page
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11
Post your Mini Lit Review to TWO places:
Mini Lit Review assignment
Topic Discussion
Purpose
12
Submission
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16. research
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For more information
Check out the following websites
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Lit review websites
Ensure that your readers understand the key takeaways from
your review.
https://www.d.umn.edu/~hrallis/guides/researching/litreview.ht
ml
https://papersowl.com/blog/literature-review-structure-example
https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/literature-review/
https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/Literature_Review_Template
30564.pdf
https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/12177/WE_

17. Writing-a-literature-review.pdf
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Thank You
Robert H Roller, PhD
[email protected]
[email protected]
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BUS 8010
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