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By the end of this lesson, students will be able to conduct a comprehensive literature review on a computer science topic of their choice, synthesizing findings from at least 5 academic papers into a cohesive 2500+ word research paper.

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Students will demonstrate proficiency in locating, evaluating, and analyzing scholarly sources using academic databases and search strategies specific to computer science literature.

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Students will apply proper MLA formatting, citation practices, and academic writing conventions while constructing a well-organized literature review with abstract, introduction, synthesis, and conclusion.

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How do we synthesize current research in computer science to identify trends, gaps, and future directions in our field of interest? What makes a literature review valuable to the academic and industry communities?

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Direct Instruction: What is a Literature Review?

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Direct Instruction: What is a Literature Review?

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Teacher presentation covering the purpose and structure of literature reviews in computer science. Discussion of differences between historical analysis and modern research synthesis. Overview of the assignment requirements including word count, source requirements, and formatting expectations.

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How to conduct literature review for your research (a computer science example)?

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Hands-on demonstration of PCCC library databases and Google Scholar. Students practice search strategies using Boolean operators, keywords, and filters to find recent academic papers in computer science subfields.

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Beside the interdisciplinary research databases Web of Science and Scopus there are also academic databases specifically dedicated to computer science. We have compiled a list of the top 5 research databases with special focus on computer science to help you find research papers, scholarly articles and conference papers fast.

1. ACM Digital Library

ACM Digital Library is the clear number one when it comes to academic databases for computer science. The ACM Full-Text Collection currently has 540,000+ articles, while the ACM Guide to Computing Literature holds more than 2.8+ million bibliographic entries.

ACM Digital Library: more than 2.8 million articles covering computing and information technology

2. IEEE Xplore Digital Library

IEEE Xplore holds more than 4.7 million research articles from the fields of electrical engineering, computer science, and electronics. It not only covers articles published in scholarly journals, but also conference papers, technical standards, as well as some books.

IEEE Xplore: more than 4.7 million articles in computer science and related fields

3. dblp computer science bibliography

Hosted at the University of Trier, Germany, dbpl has become an indispensable resource in the field of computer science. It's index covers journal articles, conference and workshop proceedings, as well as monographs.

dbpl: bibliographic information for more than 4.3 million entries in the field of computer science

4. Microsoft Academic

Microsoft Academic is an academic search engine rather than a research database. It let's you filter results by the field of study, and it has currently indexed more than 13.9 million articles for computer science.

Microsoft Academic: apply the

5. Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS)

Springer's Lecture Notes in Computer Science is the number one publishing source for conference proceedings covering all areas of computer science.

Springer LNCS: access to more than 400,000 conference papers

Related Articles

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The best research databases for computer science [Update 2019] - Paperpile

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Beside the interdisciplinary research databases Web of Science and Scopus there are also academic databases specifically dedicated to computer science. We have compiled a list of the top 5 research databases with special focus on computer science to help you find research papers, scholarly articles and conference papers fast.

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Guided practice where students brainstorm computer science topics (AI, networking, software development, etc.) and learn to evaluate source credibility, recency, and relevance. Students begin identifying their 5 required academic papers.

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Interactive lesson on literature review organization: abstract writing, introduction development, synthesis techniques, and conclusion formation. Students practice outlining their papers and organizing sources thematically.

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Direct instruction on MLA citation format for computer science sources including journal articles, conference proceedings, and digital sources. Students practice creating in-text citations and works cited entries.

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General Format - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

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Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

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Small group activity where students share their selected papers and practice summarizing key findings. Groups use Padlet to post brief summaries and receive peer feedback on source selection and analysis.

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Independent practice focusing on connecting ideas across sources, identifying patterns and conflicts in research, and developing original insights. Students work on draft sections with teacher consultation available.

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Additional support for students struggling with source location or evaluation. One-on-one database tutorials and simplified search strategies for finding appropriate academic papers in their chosen computer science area.

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For advanced students: incorporate interdisciplinary sources or conduct comparative analysis across different computer science subfields. Challenge students to identify emerging trends and propose novel research directions.

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Formative Assessment: Source Selection Check

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Formative Assessment: Source Selection Check

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Students submit their 5 chosen academic papers with brief justifications for selection. Teacher provides feedback on source quality, recency, and relevance to chosen topic before students proceed with full paper.

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Formative Assessment: Paper Outline Review

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Formative Assessment: Paper Outline Review

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Mid-process assessment where students submit detailed outlines showing how they plan to organize and synthesize their sources. Teacher evaluates structure and provides guidance for improvement.

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Summative Assessment: Final Literature Review

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Summative Assessment: Final Literature Review

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Complete 2500+ word literature review evaluated on content synthesis, writing quality, proper MLA formatting, and demonstration of critical analysis skills. Rubric includes criteria for abstract, introduction, synthesis, conclusion, and works cited.

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Students complete metacognitive reflection on their research and writing process, identifying strengths, challenges overcome, and areas for future improvement in academic writing and research skills.

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Class discussion where students share one surprising finding from their literature review research. Focus on new perspectives gained about their chosen computer science topic and the research process itself.

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Group reflection on how literature reviews contribute to the advancement of computer science knowledge. Students discuss the importance of synthesizing existing research for future innovation.

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Individual exit ticket where each student identifies: 1) Most valuable research skill learned, 2) Biggest challenge overcome, 3) How this literature review process will help in future academic or professional work.

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Students create detailed annotations for 2 additional academic papers related to their topic (beyond the required 5). Practice summarizing methodology, findings, and relevance to develop deeper analytical skills.

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Suggested Resources
Style Guide Overview MLA Guide APA Guide Chicago Guide OWL Exercises

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Summary:
This handout provides information about annotated bibliographies in MLA, APA, and CMS.

Overview

Below you will find sample annotations from annotated bibliographies, each with a different research project. Remember that the annotations you include in your own bibliography should reflect your research project and/or the guidelines of your assignment.

As mentioned elsewhere in this resource, depending on the purpose of your bibliography, some annotations may summarize, some may assess or evaluate a source, and some may reflect on the source's possible uses for the project at hand. Some annotations may address all three of these steps. Consider the purpose of your annotated bibliography and/or your instructor's directions when deciding how much information to include in your annotations.

Please keep in mind that all your text, including the write-up beneath the citation, must be indented so that the author's last name is the only text that is flush left.

Sample MLA Annotation

Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Anchor Books, 1995.

Lamott's book offers honest advice on the nature of a writing life, complete with its insecurities and failures. Taking a humorous approach to the realities of being a writer, the chapters in Lamott's book are wry and anecdotal and offer advice on everything from plot development to jealousy, from perfectionism to struggling with one's own internal critic.

In the process, Lamott includes writing exercises designed to be both productive and fun. Lamott offers sane advice for those struggling with the anxieties of writing, but her main project seems to be offering the reader a reality check regarding writing, publishing, and struggling with one's own imperfect humanity in the process. Rather than a practical handbook to producing and/or publishing, this text is indispensable because of its honest perspective, its down-to-earth humor, and its encouraging approach.

Chapters in this text could easily be included in the curriculum for a writing class. Several of the chapters in Part 1 address the writing process and would serve to generate discussion on students' own drafting and revising processes. Some of the writing exercises would also be appropriate for generating classroom writing exercises. Students should find Lamott's style both engaging and enjoyable.

In the sample annotation above, the writer includes three paragraphs: a summary, an evaluation of the text, and a reflection on its applicability to his/her own research, respectively.

For information on formatting MLA citations, see our MLA 9th Edition (2021) Formatting and Style Guide.

Sample APA Annotation

Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. Henry Holt and Company.

In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist's experiential research, Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress, a maid in a cleaning service, and a Walmart sales employee, the author summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow workers, and her financial struggles in each situation.

An experienced journalist, Ehrenreich is aware of the limitations of her experiment and the ethical implications of her experiential research tactics and reflects on these issues in the text. The author is forthcoming about her methods and supplements her experiences with scholarly research on her places of employment, the economy, and the rising cost of living in America. Ehrenreich's project is timely, descriptive, and well-researched.

The annotation above both summarizes and assesses the book in the citation. The first paragraph provides a brief summary of the author's project in the book, covering the main points of the work. The second paragraph points out the project's strengths and evaluates its methods and presentation. This particular annotation does not reflect on the source's potential importance or usefulness for this person's own research.

For information on formatting APA citations, see our APA Formatting and Style Guide.

Sample Chicago Manual of Style Annotation

Davidson, Hilda Ellis. Roles of the Northern Goddess. London: Routledge, 1998.

Davidson's book provides a thorough examination of the major roles filled by the numerous pagan goddesses of Northern Europe in everyday life, including their roles in hunting, agriculture, domestic arts like weaving, the household, and death. The author discusses relevant archaeological evidence, patterns of symbol and ritual, and previous research. The book includes a number of black and white photographs of relevant artifacts.

This annotation includes only one paragraph, a summary of the book. It provides a concise description of the project and the book's project and its major features.

For information on formatting Chicago Style citations, see our Chicago Manual of Style resources.

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Summary:
This handout provides information about annotated bibliographies in MLA, APA, and CMS.

Overview

Below you will find sample annotations from annotated bibliographies, each with a different research project. Remember that the annotations you include in your own bibliography should reflect your research project and/or the guidelines of your assignment.

As mentioned elsewhere in this resource, depending on the purpose of your bibliography, some annotations may summarize, some may assess or evaluate a source, and some may reflect on the source's possible uses for the project at hand. Some annotations may address all three of these steps. Consider the purpose of your annotated bibliography and/or your instructor's directions when deciding how much information to include in your annotations.

Please keep in mind that all your text, including the write-up beneath the citation, must be indented so that the author's last name is the only text that is flush left.

Sample MLA Annotation

Lamott, Anne. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Anchor Books, 1995.

Lamott's book offers honest advice on the nature of a writing life, complete with its insecurities and failures. Taking a humorous approach to the realities of being a writer, the chapters in Lamott's book are wry and anecdotal and offer advice on everything from plot development to jealousy, from perfectionism to struggling with one's own internal critic.

In the process, Lamott includes writing exercises designed to be both productive and fun. Lamott offers sane advice for those struggling with the anxieties of writing, but her main project seems to be offering the reader a reality check regarding writing, publishing, and struggling with one's own imperfect humanity in the process. Rather than a practical handbook to producing and/or publishing, this text is indispensable because of its honest perspective, its down-to-earth humor, and its encouraging approach.

Chapters in this text could easily be included in the curriculum for a writing class. Several of the chapters in Part 1 address the writing process and would serve to generate discussion on students' own drafting and revising processes. Some of the writing exercises would also be appropriate for generating classroom writing exercises. Students should find Lamott's style both engaging and enjoyable.

In the sample annotation above, the writer includes three paragraphs: a summary, an evaluation of the text, and a reflection on its applicability to his/her own research, respectively.

For information on formatting MLA citations, see our MLA 9th Edition (2021) Formatting and Style Guide.

Sample APA Annotation

Ehrenreich, B. (2001). Nickel and dimed: On (not) getting by in America. Henry Holt and Company.

In this book of nonfiction based on the journalist's experiential research, Ehrenreich attempts to ascertain whether it is currently possible for an individual to live on a minimum-wage in America. Taking jobs as a waitress, a maid in a cleaning service, and a Walmart sales employee, the author summarizes and reflects on her work, her relationships with fellow workers, and her financial struggles in each situation.

An experienced journalist, Ehrenreich is aware of the limitations of her experiment and the ethical implications of her experiential research tactics and reflects on these issues in the text. The author is forthcoming about her methods and supplements her experiences with scholarly research on her places of employment, the economy, and the rising cost of living in America. Ehrenreich's project is timely, descriptive, and well-researched.

The annotation above both summarizes and assesses the book in the citation. The first paragraph provides a brief summary of the author's project in the book, covering the main points of the work. The second paragraph points out the project's strengths and evaluates its methods and presentation. This particular annotation does not reflect on the source's potential importance or usefulness for this person's own research.

For information on formatting APA citations, see our APA Formatting and Style Guide.

Sample Chicago Manual of Style Annotation

Davidson, Hilda Ellis. Roles of the Northern Goddess. London: Routledge, 1998.

Davidson's book provides a thorough examination of the major roles filled by the numerous pagan goddesses of Northern Europe in everyday life, including their roles in hunting, agriculture, domestic arts like weaving, the household, and death. The author discusses relevant archaeological evidence, patterns of symbol and ritual, and previous research. The book includes a number of black and white photographs of relevant artifacts.

This annotation includes only one paragraph, a summary of the book. It provides a concise description of the project and the book's project and its major features.

For information on formatting Chicago Style citations, see our Chicago Manual of Style resources.

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Style Guide Overview MLA Guide APA Guide Chicago Guide OWL Exercises This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved.

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Complete MLA citation exercises using various computer science source types including journal articles, conference papers, and online resources. Focus on accuracy and consistency in formatting.

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Continue working on literature review draft, focusing on one section at a time. Students should utilize Grammarly and tutoring resources before submission as recommended for quality improvement.

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Identify and analyze current trends in your chosen computer science field by reading recent industry reports or additional academic sources. Prepare to incorporate these insights into your conclusion section.

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Complete final literature review paper ensuring all requirements are met: minimum 2500 words, 5 academic sources, proper MLA formatting, and all required sections. Use AI tools and tutoring resources for final review before submission.