Writing a Literature Review - Key Points

Introduction to Literature Reviews

A literature review collects and discusses sources related to a specific topic.
It's not limited to literature studies; it applies to any research field.
Terms used interchangeably with literature review include the research, the scholarship, and the literature.

Literature reviews are used in various disciplines, each with specific expectations.
They can be part of larger research papers or standalone assignments.
In research papers, they usually follow the introduction and precede the research methods.
Standalone literature reviews help scholars and students familiarize themselves with research areas and identify research gaps.

Introduction
- Explains the topic and thesis.
- Forecasts the main topics and texts.
- Describes source selection (more common in standalone reviews).
Body
- Summarize and Synthesize: Overview of sources and how they interrelate.
- Analyze and Interpret: Add interpretations and discuss the significance of findings.
- Critically Evaluate: Discuss strengths and weaknesses of sources.
- Structure paragraphs with transitions and topic sentences.
Conclusion
- Summarizes key findings and their significance.
- Connects back to the main research question.

Chronological: Traces topic development over time and analyzes key debates.
Thematic: Organizes by recurring themes (e.g., role of women in religion).
Methodological: Compares results from different research methods.
Theoretical: Discusses theories and models, building a theoretical framework.

Choose sources carefully and conduct thorough research.
An annotated bibliography can aid in drafting a literature review.
Focus on synthesizing information by drawing connections between sources.
Use multiple sources within paragraphs to indicate synthesis.
Approach literature reviews as arguments, establishing the significance of your research in the field.
Attempt to fill research gaps or explain relevance in a broader context.