Writing the Literature Review What is a Literature

Writing the Literature Review What is a Literature Review? What are its purposes? How should I produce it? How should I organize it? What are the main pitfalls?

A Literature Review is … l the outcome of reading, analyzing, evaluating, and summarizing materials about a specific topic; l a critical synthesis of previous research; • a lead up to your Research Question / Conceptual Framework

What are its purposes? A Lit Review … l shows how what HAS previously BEEN DONE / said about your topic relates to what YOU are going to do/say; l establishes the context / conceptual framework of the topic; l provides an analytical and critically evaluative stance to the existing literature on the topic; l creates interaction between you and the rest of academia.

How should I produce it? l l Search for literature in the area of your thesis statement When you find an article, determine whether the whole article is worth reading, by: Using key words l Reading Article Abstracts l Skimming l Evaluating and categorizing the relevance of your reading for your study THEN l Read the whole article, if you deem it useful. l

Evaluating and analysing readings is important, as… l you have to prioritize the literature you read. Therefore: l Decide which are key sources (=to be read carefully and summarized in your paper), and which are supporting sources (= to be mentioned briefly, as they support/give additional information on what another source says)

How should I produce my Lit Survey? l l Make comparisons across studies, and identify areas of (dis)similarity with l your hypothesis / Research Questions l data l methodology/approach l research findings l interpretations Use a Literature Matrix or Mind Map.

Finally: Write the review l Provide an Introduction/Rationale for you Lit Review l l Write the Body following, for example, the way your argument will be structured. l l Indicate scale and structure Consider possible reasons for differences / similarities (critique the sources!) Draw Conclusions for your study l Sum up main findings from your Literature, and relate them to your study

Writing: Use paragraphs and linking words to increase skim value l Group together, into one paragraph / section, sentences that express and develop the same aspect. l l Unless the paragraph gets very long! Form paragraphs around similarities / differences Use topic sentences in paragraphs Make comparisons/similarities/differences explicit through linking (signposting) words/expressions: l l Therefore, but, in contrast, as a result, hence, thus That is why, the reason for this is. . . Because. . . ,

What are the main pitfalls? l l ‘Describing’ – NOT analysing / discussing Producing (just) an annotated bibliography l l l Making inappropriate generalizations / irrelevant material Using sources that lack credibility Producing shallow or no criticism / vague linkage to your topic l l Not linking your citations Reporting literature in an arbitrary way Omitting a contrasting/opposing view Not containing recent research

For every citation / reference in your Literature Review … Ask yourself: ‘Why this? Why here? And make sure your reader gets the answer clearly!