How to write a literature review:
sample notes by Idea Rover
0000 Literature review outline
0100 Introduction section
0101 Context
0102 Key terms
0103 Problem
0104 Hypothesis
0105 Methods
0200 Analysis section
0201 Key works
0202 Theories
0203 Concepts
0204 Findings
0205 Differences
0206 Advances
0207 Gaps
0300 Conclusion section
0301 Solution
0302 Implications
0303 Significance
"A literature review is an examination of the research that has been conducted in a particular field of study."1
"While the main focus of an academic research paper is to support your own argument, the focus of a literature review is to summarize and synthesize the arguments and ideas of others."2
"There are good reasons for beginning a literature review before starting a research paper."3
"Some questions to think about as you develop your literature review: What is known about the subject?"4
"What is the most productive methodology for your research based on the literature you have reviewed?"5
"A literature review gives an overview of the field of inquiry: what has already been said on the topic, who the key writers are, what the prevailing theories and hypotheses are, what questions are being asked, and what methodologies and methods are appropriate and useful."6
"The purpose of a literature review is: to demonstrate your ability to identify the relevant information and outline existing knowledge; identify the "gap" in the research that your work will address; produce a rationale or justifiction for your study."7
"Remember, the literature review organizes the previous research in the light of what you are planning to do in your own project."8
"The review should therefore also demonstrate to the reader why the writer's research is useful, necessary, important, and valid."9
"Even a descriptive review however should not just list and paraphrase, but should add comment and bring out themes and trends."10
"In the introduction, you should: Define or identify the general topic, issue, or area of concern, thus providing an appropriate context for reviewing the literature."11
"In the body, you should: Group research studies and other types of literature (reviews, theoretical articles, case studies, etc.) according to common denominators such as qualitative versus quantitative approaches, conclusions of authors, specific purpose or objective, chronology, etc."12
"Besides enlarging your knowledge about the topic, writing a literature review lets you gain and demonstrate skills in two areas: information seeking : the ability to scan the literature efficiently, using manual or computerized methods, to identify a set of useful articles and books critical appraisal : the ability to apply principles of analysis to identify unbiased and valid studies."13
"A critical literature review shows how prevailing ideas fit into your own thesis, and how your thesis agrees or differs from them."14
"When you read for your literature review, you are actually doing two things at the same time (which makes things more difficult for you!): you are trying to define your research problem: finding a gap, asking a question, continuing previous research, counter-claiming (see the introductions page); you are trying to read every source relevant to your research problem."15
"Some questions you may think about as you develop your literature review: What is known about the subject?"16
"What is the most productive methodology for your research based on the literature you have reviewed?"17
"The purpose of a literature review is to help you explain how the question to be investigated fits into the larger picture and why you have approached the topic the way you have."18
"In writing the literature review, your purpose is to convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic, and what their strengths and weaknesses are."19
"As a piece of writing, the literature review must be defined by a guiding concept (e.g., your research objective, the problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative thesis)."20
"However, if you are writing a review in the humanities, history, or social sciences, a survey of the history of the literature may be what is needed, because what is important is how perspectives have changed through the years or within a certain time period."21
"A literature review, like a term paper, is usually organized around ideas, not the sources themselves as an annotated bibliography would be organized."22
"Some sample thesis statements for literature reviews are as follows: The current trend in treatment for congestive heart failure combines surgery and medicine."23
"In other words, a chronological review would have subsections for each vital time period."24
"A thematic review would have subtopics based upon factors that relate to the theme or issue."25
"Here is a sample paragraph from a literature review about sexism and language to illuminate the following discussion: However, other studies have shown that even gender-neutral antecedents are more likely to produce masculine images than feminine ones (Gastil, 1990)."26
"Keep your own voice. While the literature review presents others' ideas, your voice (the writer's) should remain front and center."27
"The purpose of a literature review is to convey to the reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic and what are the strengths and weaknesses."28
"The literature review must be defined by a guiding concept (eg. your research objective, the problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative thesis)."29
"Discuss advantages and drawbacks of known solutions that are relevant to your problem, and also discuss the relevance of each reviewed item to your topic and your solutions."30
"Conclude by providing some insight into the relationship between the central topic of the literature review and a larger area of study such as a discipline, a scientific endeavor, or a profession."31
1 "Getting Started on your Literature Review Academic Skills Resources, The Learning Centre UNSW," <http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/litrev.html>.
2 "Literature Reviews," <http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html>.
3 "How To Do A Literature Review," <http://www.library.ncat.edu/ref/guides/literaturereview03.htm>.
4 "How To Do A Literature Review," <http://www.library.ncat.edu/ref/guides/literaturereview03.htm>.
5 "How To Do A Literature Review," <http://www.library.ncat.edu/ref/guides/literaturereview03.htm>.
6 "Writing a Literature Review Academic Skills Program University of Canberra," <http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/literature>.
7 "Literature review," <http://www.ucd.ie/library/students/information_skills/lit_review.html>.
8 "How to Write a Literature Review," <http://www.smu.ca/administration/library/litrev.html>.
9 "How to Write a Literature Review," <http://www.smu.ca/administration/library/litrev.html>.
10 "How to... write a literature review Part 1," <http://info.emeraldinsight.com/authors/guides/literature.htm>.
11 "uw-madison writing center writer's handbook," <http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html>.
12 "uw-madison writing center writer's handbook," <http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html>.
13 "The Literature Review A Few Tips On Conducting It," <http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/litrev.html>.
14 "Writing a Literature Review Academic Skills Program University of Canberra," <http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/literature>.
15 "Writing up Research discussion," <http://www.languages.ait.ac.th/EL21LIT.HTM>.
16 "Washington and Lee University Information Fluency & Quantitative Analysis," <http://info.wlu.edu/literature_review/literature_review.html>.
17 "Washington and Lee University Information Fluency & Quantitative Analysis," <http://info.wlu.edu/literature_review/literature_review.html>.
18 "Washington and Lee University Information Fluency & Quantitative Analysis," <http://info.wlu.edu/literature_review/literature_review.html>.
19 "The Literature Review A Few Tips On Conducting It," <http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/litrev.html>.
20 "The Literature Review A Few Tips On Conducting It," <http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/litrev.html>.
21 "Literature Reviews," <http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html>.
22 "Literature Reviews," <http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html>.
23 "Literature Reviews," <http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html>.
24 "Literature Reviews," <http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html>.
25 "Literature Reviews," <http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html>.
26 "Literature Reviews," <http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html>.
27 "Literature Reviews," <http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html>.
28 "How To Do A Literature Review," <http://www.library.ncat.edu/ref/guides/literaturereview03.htm>.
29 "CQUniversity CQUniversity Library - LibGuides - Literature Review Tutorial - What is a literature review," <http://libguides.library.cqu.edu.au/litreview>.
30 "The best method for presentation of research results in theses and papers," <www.site.uottawa.ca/~ivan/presentstyle.pdf>.
31 "uw-madison writing center writer's handbook," <http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html>.
