1. 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?

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

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

4. How should I produce it?
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
Reading Article Abstracts
Skimming
Evaluating and categorizing the relevance of your reading for your study
THEN
Read the whole article, if you deem it useful.

5. Evaluating and analysing readings is important, as…
you have to prioritize the literature you read.
Therefore:
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)

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

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

8. Writing: Use paragraphs and linking words to increase skim value
Group together, into one paragraph / section, sentences that express and develop the same aspect.
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:
Therefore, but, in contrast, as a result, hence, thus
That is why, the reason for this is ... Because...,

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

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