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?

What is a Literature Review? l l l A text that results from reading, analyzing, evaluating, and summarizing materials about a topic. A critical perspective on various views round your topic. Supports for argumentation in your Thesis Statement.

What are its purposes? l Puts your text into perspective: l l what have OTHERS said about your topic? Establishes the academic context of the topic. Provides some analytical and critical evaluation of existing views on the topic. Creates interaction between you and the rest of academia.

Evaluating and analysing readings is important, as… l You have to prioritize the literature you read l Decide l l l which are key sources (=to be read carefully and summarized in your paper) which are supporting sources (= to be mentioned briefly, as they support/give additional information on what another source says) Categorize WHAT the article DOES FOR your Thesis Statement Do NOT include a source simply because it is interesting!

How should I produce it? How to get started? l l Search for literature in the area of your topic / thesis statement. When you find an interesting and potentially useful article, determine whether the whole article is worth reading: Look at the headings in the article l Read Article Abstract and Key Words (if provided) l Skim the text l Evaluate and categorize the relevance of your reading for your study. ONLY AFTER THAT should you read the whole article, if necessary. l

Finally: Write the review l Provide an Introduction/Rationale for you Lit Review l l Write the Body of the text, following the structure given in the Introduction l l Say how your Lit Review is structured (for example, the way your argument will be organized) Discuss sources in groups, linking them to each other AND your Thesis Statement Analyse – do NOT describe; Consider possible reasons for differences / similarities Draw Conclusions for your study l Sum up main findings from your Literature, and relate them to your study /thesis statement

Writing: Use paragraphs and linking words to increase skim value l Group together, into one paragraph, 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 Producing (just) an annotated bibliography. l l l Inappropriate generalizations / irrelevant material; Using sources that lack credibility Shallow, narrow, vague l l Not linking your citations Constructed in an arbitrary way Omitting a contrasting/opposing view Not containing recent / reliable research

For every citation / reference… Ask yourself: ‘Why this? Why here?