Tag Archives: Literature Review

student blogs

Literature Review & Part III

After our workshop session with Craig, I found myself returning to my literature review with a more critical and reflective lens. Revisiting the articles I initially gathered was a meaningful exercise. Some still resonate deeply and align with the direction of my project, while others no longer feel as relevant as my ideas have evolved. That realization, in itself, feels like progress. The timing of the workshop was especially helpful, as it arrived right when I’m transitioning into Part III of my project.

This next section will be more research-driven, with a stronger emphasis on integrating my literature review. Going back to my sources now feels not only necessary, but purposeful. I’m beginning to identify which texts genuinely support my argument and contribute to the story I’m telling, and which ones may need to be replaced with stronger, more aligned scholarship.

At this stage of my writing journey, I’ve finished the autoethnography portion of the memoir, with just a few minor edits left and a full revision of that section underway. Entering Part III marks a significant evolution in both the structure and focus of my writing. I’m eager to continue developing this section and see how it takes shape.

Below is a draft outline for the remainder of the semester:

  • 3/24–3/30: Continue developing Part III
  • 3/31–4/6: Continue developing Part III and prepare for presentation series
  • 4/7–4/13: Finalize Part III
  • 4/14–4/20: Revise Parts I, II, & III as needed
  • 4/21–4/27: Design and format the book using Pressbook, Flipbook, or Canva
  • 4/28–5/4: Finalize all revisions and edits; submit all work

student blogs

Building the Squares of the Quilt

I really appreciated our library visit with Craig last week, it was both informative and meaningful. I learned valuable tips and techniques for finding information in the Kean database, which I’m confident will be useful for the research and literature review portion of my thesis. This week I wrote some more and focused on finding more articles, applying Craig’s suggestion from class to use the PsycArticles database, which is ideal for trauma-related topics, one of the key themes of the memoir. Another great recommendation he gave me for PTSD-related articles was to explore the EBSCOhost database.

Another useful trick I learned from Craig was using the * symbol when searching for articles in the database, known as truncation. Truncation lets you search for a word that may have multiple endings. The symbol is typically an * placed where the word’s spelling might vary. For example, “educat*” can help locate articles on “education,” “educating,” or “educators.” With all of this information, I found a few more articles to add to the “buckets” of my literature review. 

I’m working on different parts of my thesis; from researching, writing the story, and preparing for interviews with my sister and parents. Dr. Zamora said it perfectly last week when she said I’m “building the blocks/squares to the quilt.” That analogy has stuck with me. I had been feeling scattered and worried about not having the story fully mapped out, especially without having the chapters clearly defined. I’m still uncertain about the exact order of the story and how much each chapter will contain, but I know that with time, the chapters will eventually come together seamlessly.

Another really good idea, Dr. Zamora suggested I start the memoir with an autoethnography about myself… So I spent last weekend reading some examples to help me get some inspiration.  I’ve also worked on the questions I would like to ask my sister during our interview, which I’ll paste below… I would love to hear your thoughts and/or suggestions on the questions and how I can better them so that I ensure I get the information/details needed for the story. Let me know your thoughts!

  • Can you tell me about what you remember from the day of the accident? 
  • What were some of your initial thoughts or feelings in the moments after? 
  • How did it feel when you first realized the severity of your injuries? 
  • Did anyone share the news with you directly, or did you sense it on your own?
  • What was going through your mind during those first few days and weeks of recovery?
  • Can you describe what it was like going through physical therapy? What were some of the hardest parts for you?
  • What was it like knowing that I was taking care of Daniela during this period? Did it bring you any sense of comfort?
  • How would you say this experience has shaped you as a person? Do you feel that you’ve grown or changed in ways you didn’t expect?
  • What role did hope, faith, or any specific beliefs play in helping you through this journey?
  • When you reflect on everything you’ve gone through, what stands out most to you about the recovery experience?
  • What are you most hopeful for? How do you see yourself moving forward and continuing to embrace life?