The primary purpose of writing a literature review is to provide your audience with a deep insight into the text based on your own research. A well-written literature review never looks like a sequence of names and data, and isn’t just a summary. You have to create a solid structure with clear explanation and substance. Make sure that your audience finds your literature review informative and targeted. Let your reader know precisely what inspires you. Prepare a list of studies or articles, which can support your subject. To help students come up with the best results, PapersOwl, a professional writing service with a good reputation on the market, shares some ideas on how to write a proper literature review.
What Makes a Literature Review Valuable?
A literature review aims to point out different articles and studies which have inspired the writer. However, there are many other approaches a literature review could take. You can also follow oceannenvironment for more tips. Here are just a few:
- It provides a comprehensive report on the significance of a particular subject by proving the cited articles.
- It compares and evaluates the different styles of writing that motivated the writer. The literature review has a theoretical approach, and at the same time, it is an open window of inspiration for other researchers.
- It shows a different perspective on your in-depth research. It reveals any gaps or contradictions.
- It indicates new ways to define an issue.
- A well-written literature review offers the reader an opportunity for new interpretations, where the thesis statement is a starting point for further debates and ideas.
- It highlights the credibility of your in-depth research.
What are the Main Requirements?
A literature review can be presented as a thesis. Most likely, your professors asked you to write a literature review on a specific subject. That is why you must have a clear overview of the subject matter. You should ask your professor whether you have to conduct your own research or evaluate appropriate literature to build up a synthesis of your research. You should use various sources of information: books, newspapers, journals, websites, blogs, etc.
Focus on the Database
Once the subject of the thesis has been established, it is time to gather the pile of writings that you plan to use for your literature essay. Use only relevant sources of information. Use libraries and online catalogs. We recommend you to use specific keywords to search the Internet. However, try not to get overwhelmed by the massive amount of interesting articles to read.
Get Familiar with your Sources
You must have a clear understanding of what you are reading and writing about. Take your time to select which sources of information are perfect for your work. We advise you to read every book/article with considerable attention. Once the deadline is on the horizon, you must focus even more on not overlooking important information. That is why it is essential to estimate the time necessary to complete your readings well in advance.
The Art of Taking Notes
We recommend you take notes as you read. Not only is it the secret that will simplify the entire writing process, but you will deepen your knowledge while doing it and create the foundation for your literature review. It works best when you give yourself enough time to analyze the main facts and present a counter-argument to your reader. Make sure you use inspiring quotes. A citation is the guarantee of credibility to your work. When you choose a quote, you should paraphrase the original words, citing the author.
Be as Organized as Possible
Students who want to write an excellent literature review have to come up with precise classification of all the articles they have used to support their thesis. It is essential to underline your position and bring a new perspective on the issue. It’s also a good idea to divide your literature review into two parts. One part is used to offer sources similar to the thesis statement; the other part will demonstrate the opposite. It will be easier for your target audience to understand your approach.
Conclusion
Once you have composed your literature review, it is crucial to revise your work. This final check will eliminate any grammatical and spelling mistakes and is also your last chance to make sure you have covered all the crucial aspects of your chosen subject. Also, make sure you have not plagiarized anything and you’ve cited all appropriate sources. As you can see, the process of writing a literature review is not complicated, but it surely requires substantial knowledge about a particular field of study. We encourage you to master the topic before you start your research.
