Topic: Music and the Brain
Paper instructions:
Literature review
Type: Written Assignment
Learning Objectives Assessed: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Due Date:
9 May 13 17:00
Weight: 40%
Task Description:
Music and the brain
For the topic that you choose:
1. Select at least 10 recent book chapters, journal articles and/or case studies that address issues relating to the topic you have chosen (NOTE: recent means published in the last 10 years).
2. Write the essay in two sections, using the selected articles as references.
Section A (1000 words)
Review the critical points of current knowledge including substantive findings as well as theoretical and methodological contributions to the topic. Write in such a way that you bring the reader up to date with current literature on the topic which shows you have a good understanding of the area and you know the most important issues.
In the introduction, you should identify the topic you have chosen and provide a context for the literature. Point out the history and the trends in the literature you have reviewed and any conflicts in theory, methodology, evidence or gaps in research. Explain the organization of the review and if necessary why you have decided that certain literature is or is not included.
In the body, you should group the types of literature (chapters, journal articles, case studies) according to common areas such as qualitative versus quantitative approaches, the conclusions or the objective of the study/review. Summarize individual studies, chapters or articles with as much or as little detail as you think is significant.
It can be helpful to provide sentences at the beginnings of paragraphs as ‘signposts’ pointing to the main idea being presented and then brief summary sentences throughout the review to articulate your understanding of the comparisons and analyses of the literature.
In the conclusion, you should summarise by highlighting the main contributions of the studies and articles that you have reviewed. Maintain the focus established in the introduction. Evaluate the body of knowledge you have reviewed, pointing out any gaps or inconsistencies in the findings and conclude by addressing your responses to the research outlined in Section B.
Section B (500 words)
Discuss your reaction to your readings for the literature review using the following questions as a guide:
How has researching this subject changed the way you think about the subject? What are the most significant aspects of the research and work in your opinion? What do you consider the most important research and development work in this area recently? Have you noticed any trends and developments emerging over time in this area?
