AWA: Academic Writing at Auckland

A Literature Survey provides an overview of the relevant research on a topic. They are often used to build towards a larger research project, such as a Research Report or a dissertation. 3 types of Literature Survey are found in AWA:

An Annotated Bibliography is a list of sources on a topic, usually with the reference details as a heading for each source, and with brief comments on the methods and value of the research in each source. A Research Methods Review reviews research on a topic, but focuses more on the research methods used to investigate the topic (Nesi & Gardner, 2012, p. 148). A Literature Review is like the literature review section of an academic article, dissertation or thesis. The writer surveys existing research on a topic to identify gaps in the knowledge on the topic before explaining their own research. A Literature Review may be presented as an essay or as a chapter.

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AnnotatedTitle	Subject	Paper type	Level
Access to emergency contraception for young people and adolescents This literature survey summarizes research evidence about the barriers that young people and adolescents face when accessing emergency contraception.	Population Health	Literature survey	Second year
Analytical techniques to study domestication A review of the literature around techniques used by archaeologists in understanding domestication, particularly in Polynesia.	Anthropology	Literature survey	Third year
Chemical morphology of hoverflies Choose a topic in chemical ecology of insects and write a review.	Biological Sciences	Literature survey	Honours year (postgraduate)
Dating human arrival Summary and evaluation of each reference.	Archaeology	Literature survey	Second year
Early adversity and depression A discussion of literature surrounding the relationship between early adversity and depression.	Nursing	Literature survey	Second year
Establishing the date of the first human (Polynesian) settlement in New Zealand You will write a 3000 word review paper on a topic selected from the list below. A review paper is a critical synthesis of past and current research in a particular topic area, which aims to present new ideas and identif ...	Geography	Literature survey	Third year
Gymnosperms and 'superior' angiosperm competitors Question: How have gymnosperms fared in the face of their 'superior' angiosperm competitors? With this assignment, the lecturer was aiming to "promote discussion of a topical area rather than offer an exhaustive ...	Biological Sciences	Literature survey	Honours year (postgraduate)
Health care for cardiovascular disease (CVD) Survey of the factors that influence quality in cardiac care and how one of these factors comes into play in New Zealand.	Population Health	Literature survey	Third year
Plant evolution and effects on photosynthesis and water conduction Literature review. Describe the steps in the evolution of xylem and wood from the first plants with a bifacial vascular cambium, to gymnosperms with tracheid based xylem and finally to the angiosperm vessel. Include the ...	Biological Sciences	Literature survey	Third year
Why are orchids so diverse? This article reviews the main theories put forth to explain orchid evolution and speciation. These theories need not be mutually exclusive and each have valuable insight into the many processes likely to have affected or ...	Biological Sciences	Literature survey	Third year

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