When it comes to "literature review", some people may think that writing one just means reading a couple of books and then saying if they liked them. In reality, this is not the case. A literature review is a review of various books, articles and essays on a certain topic, ranging from book series to shorter pieces, such as pamphlets. Sometimes, this type of text belongs to a larger research project. Its purpose is to prevent duplication of effort, resolve conflicts and offer a point of view for future research.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Before Writing
Step 1. Clarify what the professor asked you for
Some teachers may commission a literature review and not provide any specific details. Or, maybe they explain everything just as the students play “Plants vs Zombies”. Whatever the reason that makes you doubt what you have been assigned, knowing precisely what the professor wants is the first step towards a 10.
- How many resources should you include? Has the teacher made it clear that he wants a specific amount for each type? Should they be at least semi-recent?
- In the discussion of your themes, will you have to make a simple summary or a critique? Some reviews involve developing a thesis, others don't.
- Should you offer your opinion on your sources?
- Do you have an obligation to provide background information, such as definitions or stories, to give readers a broader understanding?
- Is there a maximum number of pages or words?
Step 2. Narrow the topic
Limit it as much as possible while still having the necessary amount of sources. Studying a birth order in a family could lead you to open dozens of books; studying the birth order of brothers or sisters will make your search for sources quicker and more manageable.
Stay up to date. If you're writing a review on a humanistic, historical, or social science-related subject, you can afford to worry less about the time factor (in fact, changing an opinion throughout history may be an aspect of your essay). But, if you compile a literature review on a scientific topic, such as diabetes treatment, for example, the five-year-old information may already be out of date. Discern current bibliographies or reviews of the field literature to get an idea of what is expected in your discipline
Step 3. Find a point of view
Unfortunately, you won't just have to collect sources and summarize what they say. You should consider the themes and ideas that connect them. Think of these books as a group of friends discussing the same topic. What is the idea of each one? Does everyone see it the same way? How are they different?
Read between the lines. You don't necessarily have to search for explicit content only. Is there a missing aspect related to the field? Do all your sources establish a single and specific theory? Do you notice the revelation of some trends? This will help you really structure the essay, getting you into what will give the article purpose
Step 4. Develop your thesis
Now that you've found your point of view, it's time to write your thesis. Have you always believed that literature reviews don't have this element? This is, in part, both true and false. This text has a thesis, but not the one you are used to. Your thesis statement will not necessarily serve to discuss a position or opinion, but will offer a particular perspective on the material.
- For example, "The current trends of [topic] are A, B and C" or "Theory X has been accepted by most sources from 1985 onwards." Making such a statement requires questions, making your review more interesting and meaningful: How will trends change in the future? What if the approved theories were wrong?
- We repeat, this information is not new. You are not analyzing the sources and then offering your fresh perspective. You are simply acting like a computer: you write down the patterns, shortcomings and assumptions of all your sources.
Step 5. Evaluate your sources
You may have the best of intentions and prose that might convince even the least of the skeptics, but, if your sources aren't trustworthy, you won't get far. Make sure they are valued on different levels.
- What are the author's skills? How does it hold up its arguments (stories, statistics, historical artifacts, etc.)?
- Is your perspective free of prejudice and objective? Is he ignoring certain data so that his point of view seems stronger?
- Can he be persuasive? Do some of its points leave something to be desired?
- Does your work lead to a better understanding of the subject?
Method 2 of 3: Write the Review
Step 1. Start with a solid introduction
As with everything, the first impression is what matters. The introduction should give you a quick idea of the subject of the review, either in a thematic way or according to an organizational scheme.
Help the reader by letting them know what journey to expect. If you will be using a thesis statement, present it towards the end of the introductory paragraph. When finished, the reader should anticipate what the evidence and dimensions of your essay will be
Step 2. Organize the body of the text
This is the part that allows you to choose between various options. You have several sources, and as they all relate to the same theme, they probably have a lot in common. Choose the drafting that feels most natural to you for your specific point of view.
- Write chronologically. If you are faced with various opinions marked by different eras or trends that have changed over time, this is the most sensible organization.
- Write for publication. This organizational method is ideal if each publication has a different stance. If there is a natural progression (from radicalism to conservatism, for example) between the sources, opt for this draft.
- Write for trends. If you notice patterns in your sources, organizing them by trend is the most obvious structure. Some sources together may suggest a pattern that changes over time or due to other variables, such as regional.
- Write by topic. This depends a lot on your thesis statement and which sources you have chosen. If you opt for a more abstract point of view (for example, "Colonialism is considered bad"), the subsections could be organized according to the different methods used to generate the theme.
Step 3. Come to a crystal clear conclusion
The closing paragraph should finish packing your article, reiterate what was said in the introduction, and discuss what you learned from your studies.
You could write a suggestive conclusion. Where could the discussion go if someone picks up where you left off? What are the consequences of the patterns and shortcomings among today's sources?
Step 4. Use the evidence
Feel free to combine multiple sources and put them in your own words to create an argument. You will use your own linguistic expressions supported by the work of professionals.
Use quotes sparingly. The nature of a literary review is research, which does not allow for in-depth discussions or detailed citations from a text. It is possible to do this once in a while, but the article should ultimately be written by you
Step 5. Keep your voice
This does not mean that you have to present information that emerged from your very personal reasoning, but to begin and end each paragraph in your own words. Your voice should be the glue between the sources.
- When paragraphing a source not yours, be sure to accurately represent the writer's information or opinion in your own words. Then, relate it to the context of your review.
- Some professors may ask you to evaluate the sources and conclude by stating which pieces add the most contribution to the industry. Should yours require such a task, determine your perspective and stick to it throughout the essay.
Method 3 of 3: Correct the Job
Step 1. Review the guidelines
Some teachers have clear style preferences. Make sure your essay respects not only those in terms of content, but also those regarding the format.
Did your professor request APA formatting? What should the margins be? How should the titles, subtitles, your name, footnotes and page numbers be entered? How to submit citations?
Step 2. Make sure the text and its transitions are consistent and fluent
Better to go for a clear and concise style, even if this doesn't always happen when writing for the first time. Review the text and rewrite it in case there are ambiguous or verbose parts.
- Besides being clear, does it flow fluently? Do you move consistently and naturally from paragraph to paragraph and sentence to sentence? Make sure the evidence lines up with support and that the organization of sources flows logically.
- Eliminate unnecessary jargon or slang. While researching, you may have gained a whole new vocabulary, but your professor didn't. Write an essay that can be read by the masses. Don't make it unnecessarily incomprehensible.
Step 3. Correct the drafts
The hardest part is over, but don't neglect reviewing spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Take a break between writing and proofreading - your brain may be saturated. Come back to it once you're ready.
It would be better for another person to also read your work before you turn it in. Perhaps you have read it so many times that certain errors automatically escape you. Another reader can locate missing typos, ask questions you didn't realize were left uncovered, or seek clarification of the more nebulous points
Advice
- Use the right quotes. Your professor will likely tell you which formats you should use for in-text citations. Often, teachers severely evaluate this part before putting the grade.
- Make a map of the literature review you will write. It will help you sort your thoughts in an organized presentation, making it easier to write your essay.
