Format of writing a literature review
A literature review is a critical analysis of published sources on a specific topic or research question. It provides an overview of the current knowledge and research on the subject, identifies gaps or inconsistencies in the literature, and ultimately helps to establish the context and significance of your own research.
When writing a literature review, it is important to follow a structured format to ensure clarity and organization. Here is a general format to consider:
1. Introduction:
- Briefly introduce the topic of your literature review and explain its relevance and importance.
- Clearly state your research question or objective.
2. Search Strategy:
- Describe your search method and criteria for selecting sources (e.g. databases searched, keywords used, inclusion/exclusion criteria).
- Explain how you selected and evaluated the sources included in your review.
3. Organizing the Literature:
- Group the sources into themes or categories to help organize and structure your review.
- Identify key concepts, trends, and debates within the literature.
4. Synthesizing the Literature:
- Summarize and critically analyze the main findings, arguments, and methodologies of the sources.
- Identify patterns, gaps, and inconsistencies in the literature.
- Compare and contrast different perspectives and approaches.
5. Conclusion:
- Summarize the main findings of your literature review.
- Discuss the implications of the literature for your research question or topic.
- Suggest directions for future research and highlight areas that require further investigation.
6. References:
- Provide a list of all the sources cited in your literature review, following a specific citation style (e.g. APA, MLA, Chicago).
It is important to ensure that your literature review is well-organized, coherent, and focused on your research question. Be sure to critically evaluate each source and provide a balanced and objective analysis of the existing literature. Additionally, make sure to use clear and concise language to convey your ideas effectively.