A literature review is a survey of everything that has been written about a particular topic, theory, or research question. It may provide the background for larger work, or it may stand on its own.
Much more than a simple list of sources, an effective literature review analyzes and synthesizes information about key themes or issues.
Read your assignment instructions carefully. Questions about your literature review? Ask your instructor or TA.
Focusing your research topic is a challenging process which takes time and work. Try brainstorming through pre-writing strategies, creating a concept map, or asking questions to generate possible topics.
Create a working thesis statement.
Note that a working thesis will change as you work with your topic, and you will eventually create a final thesis statement.
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Choose the best sources for your assignment. Consider:
- Type of Source: Does it fulfill your assignment requirements and/or information needs?
- Relevance of Source: Is the source relevant to your research topic? Is it relevant to your discipline? How will it help you discuss your research question or thesis?
- Additional criteria: Consider the RADAR test to evaluate and select sources.
Look for patterns and themes in the research. Try using a note-taking worksheet to gather and analyze your research.
Consider the role of sources in your assignment to decide how you will integrate them into your essay.
Develop an outline of your literature review.
Write a first draft. Be careful to construct a logical argument, with coherent paragraphs, and a strong introduction and conclusion.
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Revise drafts of your work.
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