Planning your Literature Review

 

Maintain focus

Most postgraduate students are asked to write a 'Literature Review' at some point. As a three time English Literature graduate, and having read an estimated 400 of them in the last 12 months I want to share with you some information about the differences between a good one and a bad one . . .

Assuming you have undertaken thorough research and used appropriate search engines to identify recent and relevant articles, and are thus thoroughly prepared, a literature review is actually fairly straightforward. It is crucial to remember that it is a part of your argument and that its structure needs to be planned around your ideas and not around the books/articles/websites you are reviewing.

By this I mean that you will need to create a plan first and then organise how the 'literature' you are reviewing fits into that plan. This helps you to observe the difference between describing the text you are writing about and discussing it in the context of your essay/dissertation/thesis. As you might have already realised, when writing academic papers; describing is not a helpful practice. This might seem obvious to some of you, but I can assure you that many students (especially those familiar with a non-UK education system) find the art of criticism both challenging and uncomfortable. 

Critical capacity is very important when writing a literature review, but you also need to have a structured and clear approach that augments your argument/aims. If you currently need to produce one try following some/all of these tips:

• If possible, choose texts based on lecturers/tutors suggestions (if not make sure the author whose work you are reviewing is well-respected in your field, or that the source publication is peer reviewed);
• Select texts that offer diverse opinions and create a synthesis of the arguments that fits your needs;
• Summarise each text in a way that fits with or contradicts your argument;
• Think about your argument when selecting relevant quotations;
• Be clear in your own mind about why you are including each text;
• Explain why you are including each text and why it is a valid source, either with your argument or directly (signposting);
• Always provide references - even when paraphrasing/summarising;
• Don't forget to explain how the findings of your literature review link to your other research methods and the rest of your essay/thesis.

To conclude: In terms of structure a good literature review should synthesise up to date research in your field published by a reputable source; provide critical evaluation; aim for appropriate breadth and depth; strive for clarity and conciseness; and, show your ability to use rigorous and consistent research methods.

Happy writing/researching - any queries let me know (cdavis.aproofreader@gmail.com) Of course if you would like me to check your literature review for you please contact me via my website and let me know you read this blogpost to receive a 10% discount.