Top Tips for Writing a Literature Review

ASK WEEK Pathways to Success

18-22 November 2013

Monica Fernandes, Academic Skills

Adviser

+ Objectives

What is a literature review?

What should a literature review accomplish? How to start a literature review

How to write and structure a literature review

+

#1

Know what it is

+ A literature review is…

1. An critical evaluation of scholarly articles, books and other sources (e.g. dissertations etc)

2. that are relevant to your study

3. It is also selective and refined –from general to specific

It is not… An exhaustive bibliography

A selection of quotes, summaries and abstracts – the

sources must be discussed by you

A description of the topic area

+

# 2

Know what it should do

+ What your literature review should do?

It should…

Tell the story that leads to your project

Give an overview of the ‘big issues’

Summarise and evaluate other people’s work related to your study. What gaps are there?

Show your research skills – it must be logical, systematic and accurate

+

#3

Research your topic extensively

+

Make use of all your resources

Library sources

Websites

Databases

Do general readings of your topic

Identify main keywords

Use these key words in your search

+

#4

Organise your materials

+

Chronological • Show advances • Changes over time • Issues to be addressed

Thematic • Key issues, themes, debates • Isolate key issues

Methodological • Different methods – evaluate • Identify key method

Categorise your work...

+

#5

Have a strong structure

+ Paragraph structure...

Statement/Topic sentence

Evidence or Examples

Explanations and Reasoning

Evaluation/Transition: So what?

+ Good topic sentences

In a literature review, specifically, a good topic sentence will…

• Draw connections between multiple sources

• Contextualise the research broadly in relation to multiple sources

• In short, it will say something about what the sources do or contribute to the body of knowledge, rather than just what they’re about.

+ Signposting

+ General tips

Read other great literature reviews to know what’s expected from you

Read books specialising in Lit reviews

Check you have provided sufficient context and justification for your research project

Credibility of source (author, publication)

+ Summary A literature review is not a bibliography. It needs to summarise, synthesise and evaluate.

The review needs to be organised and structured appropriately.

The review must discuss different schools of thought

and arguments and present a balanced picture of any

debates.

It must ‘tell the story’ leading to your project and provide a rationale for it.

+ For more help...

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