Literature Review
For this assignment you are asked to complete a literature review on a single journal article of your choice and give a brief oral summary (5 minutes) during class. A literature review paper reviews and synthesizes the current understanding of a particular topic. It is a very useful way to become up to date on the state of knowledge and the research that has been done in a particular area. Writing a review paper is good practice for synthesizing and organizing a lot of information into a concise product (i.e. a short written document).
Reviewing and summarizing the literature is a critical skill for successful engineers. In particular, this skill is an important component of identifying research questions and writing research proposals.
Select an article from one of the following sources:
1. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (ASCE)
2. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (ASCE)
3. Canadian Geotechnical Journal (CGJ)
4. Geotechnique (ICE)
5. Soils and Foundations (JGS)
Related to one of the following geotechnical topics:
1. Case Histories of Geotechnical Failures
2. Shear Strength
3. Stress
4. Unsaturated Soil Mechanics
5. Dilatancy
6. Numerical Models/ Constitutive Modelling
You may work with a partner if you prefer. Start by giving a brief introduction and the necessary background to the study, and state its purpose. Describe the specifics of what this study involved. What were the major findings and results? How useful or significant are the findings. Identify any gaps in the study. In general, your written review should provide enough detail so that someone reading it can understand the approach taken by the researchers, the findings, and any shortcomings or limitations of the study.
Your final document should be well written and checked for grammatical errors. Be prepared to answer questions following your presentation.