Writing a literature review

Writing a literature review

 · The primary purpose of writing a literature review is to establish your opinion or research by showing the previous works of eminent researchers on a particular topic. The earlier works on the field provide support to your extensive research What is involved in writing a literature review? 1. Research – to discover what has been written about the topic 2. Critical Appraisal – to evaluate the literature, determine the relationship between the sources and ascertain what has been done already and what still needs to be done 3. Writing 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. 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)

Start Here - Write a Literature Review - Guides at University of Guelph

Sources covered in the review may include scholarly journal articles, books, government reports, Web sites, etc. The literature writing a literature review provides a description, summary and evaluation of each source.

It is usually presented as a distinct section of a graduate thesis or dissertation. The purpose of the literature review is to provide a critical written account of the current state of research on a selected topic:.

Writing a literature review reviews are often published as scholarly articles, books, and reports.

Here is an example of a recent literature review published as a scholarly journal article:. Ledesma, M. Critical race theory in education: A review of past literature and a look to the future. Qualitative Inquiry, 21 3 Link to the article. Adapted with permission and thanks from How to Write a Literature Review originally created by Kenneth Lyons, McHenry Library, University of California, Santa Cruz. Concordia University. On this page, writing a literature review. What is a literature review The literature review is a written overview of major writings and other sources on a selected topic.

Purpose of the literature review The purpose of the literature review is to provide a critical written account of the current state of research on a selected topic: Identifies areas of prior scholarship Places each source in the context of its contribution to the understanding of the specific issue, area of research, writing a literature review, or theory under review.

Describes the relationship of each source to the others that you have selected Identifies new ways to interpret, and shed light on any gaps in, previous research Points the way forward for further research.

Components of the literature review The literature review should include the following: Objective of the literature review Overview of the subject under consideration. Clear categorization of sources selected into those in support of your particular position, those opposed, and those offering completely different arguments.

Discussion of both the distinctiveness of each source and its similarities with the others. Steps in the literature review process Preparation of a literature review may be divided into four steps: Define your subject and the scope of the review. Search the library catalogue, writing a literature review, subject specific databases and other search tools to find sources that are relevant to your topic.

Read and evaluate the sources and to determine their suitability to the understanding of topic at hand see the Evaluating sources section. Analyse, interpret and discuss the findings and conclusions of the sources you selected.

Evaluating sources In assessing each source, consideration should be given to: What is the author's expertise in this particular field of study credentials?

Are the author's arguments supported by empirical evidence e, writing a literature review. Is the author's perspective too biased in one direction or are opposing studies and viewpoints also considered? Does the selected source contribute to a more profound understanding of the subject? Examples of a writing a literature review literature review Literature reviews are often published as scholarly articles, books, and reports. Here is an example of a recent literature review published as a scholarly journal article: Ledesma, M.

Additional sources on writing literature reviews Further information on the writing a literature review review process may be found below: Booth, A. Systematic approaches to a successful literature review Fink, A.

Conducting research literature reviews: From the Internet to paper Galvin, J. Writing literature reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences Machi, L.

The literature review: Six steps to success Adapted with permission and thanks from How to Write a Literature Review originally created by Kenneth Lyons, McHenry Library, University of California, Santa Cruz. Back to top.

How to Write a Literature Review in 30 Minutes or Less

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How To Write A Literature Review, with Example

 · The primary purpose of writing a literature review is to establish your opinion or research by showing the previous works of eminent researchers on a particular topic. The earlier works on the field provide support to your extensive research 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. 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)  · Writing a literature review involves finding relevant publications (such as books and journal articles), critically analyzing them, and explaining what you found. There are five key steps: Search for relevant literature; Evaluate sources; Identify themes, debates and gaps; Outline the structure; Write your literature review