Mills, G. E. 2003. Action Research: A guide for the teacher researcher, 2nd ed. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Prentice Hall.

2. Write an Action Research Paper! Why? The process of writing requires the writer to clarify meaning. The act of putting information on paper for your peers and teachers necessitates honesty, accuracy, clarity, and thought. Research, once written, can be shared with a wider audience.

3. Review of Related Literature: Search for others� theories and research on your topic. Give your paper a Theoretical Framework of theories that support your study. Review Research Studies that have been done by others that pertain to your study.

4. What is the difference between Theory and Research? �It is theory that decides what can be observed� (Albert Einstein, Retrieved March 01, 2009). �

5. Steps for creating a goodTheoretical Framework Based on your Area of Focus � Search for Theories of other people that relate to your area of focus. Summarize the theories as they relate to your area of focus.

6. Search & Summarize Theories Find information on theories/theorists related to your topic from: Friends, teachers, experts, the internet, books, journal articles, textbooks Record the References in APA format (see Worksheet for References)

7. Worksheet for References

10. 1. Search for Research Articles Find related research articles in journals, EBSCO, ERIC and others.

13. 2. Make a Literature Matrix

14. Literature Review Matrix

15. Literature Review Matrix

17. Look For Patterns Look at Matrix: What patterns are there? What variables are considered by most/few studies? Which studies considered each variable?

19. Variable Summaries Quickly write 1-2 sentences about the importance of each variable based on all the research studies regarding that variable. This will help you later with your introduction to that variable within your review of related literature.

21. Steps for WritingReview of Related Literature Based on your Area of Focus � Make a Cluster Diagram of theories and research read, based on the most important variables from your Literature Matrix. Outline the paper. Draft the paper from your outline. Review, revise, edit. Add Reference Page (APA format). Check citations, references, format.

22. 1. Make a Cluster Diagram

23. Attach the theories, studies and details to the appropriate variable.

24. 2. Write the Outline Make each variable a sub topic in your outline. The variable summary becomes the introduction to the sub-topic.

25. Under each sub-topic� Outline a theory related to the sub-topic (include its citation) from your theory summaries. Outline each research study related to the sub-topic (include its citation) from your research review summaries. (see example)

27. 3. Draft the Paper Review, analyze and synthesize important theories and previous research studies regarding the topic. Compare/Contrast theories/studies Note which studies are newer/older to see changing trends Include correct APA citation Be organized by theme. Inform and support the importance of the theme/variable to the theory & previous research, and then to your own research. Written mostly in 3rd person, past tense (what did, theorized and/or found,)

31. Transitions when you compare/contrast

33. First paragraph Hook- something to make your readers want to read your analysis (short account of an important moment that made you interested). Example: I have often wondered why students resist writing a literature review as though they were being pushed to walk the dry, hot Sahara desert barefoot.

34. First (or Second) Paragraph State your Area of Focus or research question. Example: Due to the confusions I had in my practice, I decided to study the following question: What are the areas of resistance to writing a literature review and what instructional activities help students move along the process?

35. Second (or Third) Paragraph Introduces the general variables that are related to the area of focus and the general conclusions that have been identified in the research literature. Example: I found four areas of study on this subject. Theories that support� are� Some studies analyzed the role of� Other studies focused on the effects of� Yet others looked at the importance of� Lastly another group of studies analyzed how�

38. Conclude� Summarize the various sub-topics Discuss any gaps in the research Show how the study you will do fits or connects with the theories and previous studies.

41. 3. Review, Revise and Edit Read over your paper and have someone else read over your paper. Look for � Cohesion and clarity Word choice and sentence structure Spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Correct reference to theory and/or research, and correct citations in APA format. Make sure that all citations match a reference on the reference page and visa versa.

42. 4. Reference Page Type references on a separate page. Put references in alphabetical order and in APA style formatting. Make sure that every citation has a reference and every reference has a citation. Only references that refer to a citation are included Check Formatting: The title References is written on the top center of the page. All are double-spaced. References have a hanging indent.

43. Reference Page