Literature Review: A Detailed Student Guide on How to Write a Literature Review
October 27, 2022
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A literature review is a revised summary of all the information that is currently known about a certain domain. This article provides detailed guidelines and tips to write and structure your literature review perfectly.
How to Effectively Structure your Literature Review
Similar to how an essay is formatted, a literature review should include an introduction, main body, and a conclusion.
1. Introduction
The Introduction describes the research problem or question and lays out the justification for undertaking the research. It does not provide the results or conclusions of the research itself.
2. Body Paragraphs
The Middle or Main Body includes all relevant studies and information from your literature search. It might be organized chronologically, by theme, or by methodological approach. The section is generally divided into subsections which begin with brief Introduction of the content in that subsection (without results or conclusions).
3. Conclusion
The Conclusion summarizes what has been learned from the literature search and identifies any gaps in current knowledge that the research aims to address. It does not present new results or conclusions of your own.
4. References
References are always included at the end of the review. Your reference list should include all sources cited in your text as well as any sources you used in preparing for your literaturereview but did not cite in your text.
5. Appendices
Appendices are optional but can be useful if you have conducted surveys or interviews as part of your research. The data or information collected can be presented in tables, graphs or other formats in the appendices, allowing readers to see how you gathered and analyzed your data.
Remember that a literature review is not just a summary of other people's work; it is an analytical discussion of those works and how they contribute to our understanding of the topic under consideration. Therefore, every reference cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and every source in the reference list must also be mentioned (cited) somewhere in the text!
How Can a SWOT Analysis Be Used in a Literature Review?
A SWOT analysis is a framework utilized to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats that may be present in a given situation. This framework can be applied to businesses to assess different areas of the company and determine what may help or hinder their ability to achieve their goals.
SWOT analysis can also be used when conducting a literature review. This type of analysis can help you understand the different factors that may impact your research.
For example, if you are looking at research on a particular topic, a SWOT analysis can help you to identify any gaps in the existing research. Additionally, a SWOT analysis can help you understand what areas strengthen the research and which may represent weaknesses. This type of information can be helpful as you plan future research projects.
Incorporating a SWOT Analysis Into Your Literature Review
When incorporating a SWOT analysis into your literature review, it is important to keep the following things in mind:
- Be sure to identify the focus of your literature review. This will help you to know what factors to include in your SWOT analysis.
- Be sure to critically evaluate the sources that you are using for your literature review. Not all sources are created equal, and it is important to use high-quality sources for your literature review.
- Make sure that your literature review flows well. A SWOT analysis can help identify different aspects of your topic, but it should not disrupt the flow of your paper.
- Finally, carefully proofread your paper before submitting it for grading.
What is Included in the Body Paragraphs of the Literature Review?
- Discussion of the key findings of the literature.
- Critically evaluate the findings of the literature.
- Implications of the findings of the literature.
- Limitations of the studies reviewed.
- Discuss how the literature findings relate to your research question or topic of interest.
- Synthesize the findings of the studies reviewed.
- Provide a critical analysis of the studies reviewed.
- Place the findings of the studies reviewed in context.
- Offer a new interpretation of the findings of the studies reviewed.
- Suggest areas for further research on the topic under discussion
Master your Literature Review by Following These Tips
1. Understand the Assignment
Before you begin writing the literature review, you should understand the assignment. What is the purpose of the literature review? What are you expected to accomplish? Make sure you know the answer to these questions before you begin writing.
2. Choose a Topic
Once you understand the assignment, you can choose a topic. Selecting a topic relevant to the course in which you are writing the literature review is important. For example, if you are taking a course on American literature, you may want to choose a topic related to American authors or American literary movements.
3. Find Sources
After you have chosen a topic, it is time to find sources. Begin by looking for sources that are relevant to your topic. You can find sources through library databases, Google Scholar, or by doing a simple Google search. Once you have found relevant references, make sure to evaluate them carefully before using them in your literature review.
4. Take Notes
As you read through your sources, it is important to take notes. Be sure to write down the main points of each source and any supporting details that may be useful. Keeping good notes will make writing your literature review much easier.
5. Organize your Thoughts
Once you have finished reading and taking notes on your sources, it is time to start organizing your thoughts. One strategy to do this is to create an outline of your paper. Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Within each section, be sure to include relevant information from your sources.
6. Write your Paper
After you have crafted an outline for your paper, you can begin writing your literature review. Start by introducing your topic and providing any necessary background information. Next, discuss the main points of each of your sources in turn. Finally, conclude your review with a summary of the main points and a discussion of their implications for future research
Conclusion
A literature review is an overview of existing knowledge on a topic. It should be structured like any other essay, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. References are always included at the end of the review, and appendices are optional but can be useful if you have conducted surveys or interviews as part of your research.
Writing a literature review can be difficult, but with these guidelines, it doesn't have to be! If you need help along the way, don't hesitate to ask for assistance from your supervisor or a librarian.
