You should be aware that in some subject areas the literature review has to be produced as a separate piece of work and is marked accordingly. A review also forms a required part of grant and research proposals and should be a crucial element in your thesis. This makes it even more important that you get it right.

Before you start any serious writing you must undertake a literature review, the main purpose of which is to discover what work has already been done on your topic. This is important as it will help you to avoid inadvertently replicating any previous research and wasting valuable time. In addition, it will contribute to increasing your knowledge of your chosen subject and/or opening up new avenues for you to explore. References to the work of recognised authorities in the field will lend validity and substance to your contribution. A review may also help you to identify gaps, inconsistencies and errors in previous research which you may wish to exploit.

Consult as many sources as possible but make sure that they are academically valid and relevant to your topic.

Things to consider whilst writing your review:

Within your review you should include the following :

Try to include the points above in your review as follows:

Introduction

Use this section to expand upon why your subject is worth researching.

• Go into some detail in order to explain the scope of your topic. This will clarify the reasons for your initial choice of literature.
• Explain the criteria you have used to analyse and compare the literature.
• If you have decided to exclude certain categories of literature explain why e.g. not anecdotal accounts, not articles in foreign languages, or unscientific findings.
• Incorporate, from your reading, any trends, theories, areas of conflict or gaps in other people’s arguments.
• Suggest methodologies you might use which have not previously been explored by others.
• Describe the structure of your review.

Main Section

• Group the different types of literature (case studies, reports, reviews etc.) into various categories. For example group together readings that use qualitative or quantitative methodologies, or articles that come to similar conclusions, or theories that are related, etc.
• Summarize each piece of literature, and rank them according to how you view their significance. Make sure you include a critical analysis of the content, since the purpose is to ‘review’ the literature not describe it.
• Use the first sentence of each paragraph to draw attention to its content. As you proceed, use ‘signposts’ to show the direction you are heading in and then create a logical path through to your conclusion.

The Conclusion

Use the conclusion to:

• Summarize how what you have read has contributed to the topic under review, drawing particular attention to the most significant studies. Make sure that it relates to what you have outlined in your introduction.

• Evaluate the current state of development of your topic, pointing out any major gaps or methodological flaws in previous research. It is important to point out any inconsistencies in existing theories and findings.
• Point out areas or issues worthy of future study which you might pursue.
• Relate the topic of the literature review to the larger academic discipline.