how to start the body of a literature review

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Writing a Literature Review

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A literature review is a document or section of a document that collects key sources on a topic and discusses those sources in conversation with each other (also called synthesis ). The lit review is an important genre in many disciplines, not just literature (i.e., the study of works of literature such as novels and plays). When we say “literature review” or refer to “the literature,” we are talking about the research ( scholarship ) in a given field. You will often see the terms “the research,” “the scholarship,” and “the literature” used mostly interchangeably.

Where, when, and why would I write a lit review?

There are a number of different situations where you might write a literature review, each with slightly different expectations; different disciplines, too, have field-specific expectations for what a literature review is and does. For instance, in the humanities, authors might include more overt argumentation and interpretation of source material in their literature reviews, whereas in the sciences, authors are more likely to report study designs and results in their literature reviews; these differences reflect these disciplines’ purposes and conventions in scholarship. You should always look at examples from your own discipline and talk to professors or mentors in your field to be sure you understand your discipline’s conventions, for literature reviews as well as for any other genre.

A literature review can be a part of a research paper or scholarly article, usually falling after the introduction and before the research methods sections. In these cases, the lit review just needs to cover scholarship that is important to the issue you are writing about; sometimes it will also cover key sources that informed your research methodology.

Lit reviews can also be standalone pieces, either as assignments in a class or as publications. In a class, a lit review may be assigned to help students familiarize themselves with a topic and with scholarship in their field, get an idea of the other researchers working on the topic they’re interested in, find gaps in existing research in order to propose new projects, and/or develop a theoretical framework and methodology for later research. As a publication, a lit review usually is meant to help make other scholars’ lives easier by collecting and summarizing, synthesizing, and analyzing existing research on a topic. This can be especially helpful for students or scholars getting into a new research area, or for directing an entire community of scholars toward questions that have not yet been answered.

What are the parts of a lit review?

Most lit reviews use a basic introduction-body-conclusion structure; if your lit review is part of a larger paper, the introduction and conclusion pieces may be just a few sentences while you focus most of your attention on the body. If your lit review is a standalone piece, the introduction and conclusion take up more space and give you a place to discuss your goals, research methods, and conclusions separately from where you discuss the literature itself.

Introduction:

• An introductory paragraph that explains what your working topic and thesis is
• A forecast of key topics or texts that will appear in the review
• Potentially, a description of how you found sources and how you analyzed them for inclusion and discussion in the review (more often found in published, standalone literature reviews than in lit review sections in an article or research paper)
• Summarize and synthesize: Give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole
• Analyze and interpret: Don’t just paraphrase other researchers – add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole
• Critically Evaluate: Mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources
• Write in well-structured paragraphs: Use transition words and topic sentence to draw connections, comparisons, and contrasts.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance
• Connect it back to your primary research question

How should I organize my lit review?

Lit reviews can take many different organizational patterns depending on what you are trying to accomplish with the review. Here are some examples:

• Chronological : The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time, which helps familiarize the audience with the topic (for instance if you are introducing something that is not commonly known in your field). If you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order. Try to analyze the patterns, turning points, and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred (as mentioned previously, this may not be appropriate in your discipline — check with a teacher or mentor if you’re unsure).
• Thematic : If you have found some recurring central themes that you will continue working with throughout your piece, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic. For example, if you are reviewing literature about women and religion, key themes can include the role of women in churches and the religious attitude towards women.
• Qualitative versus quantitative research
• Empirical versus theoretical scholarship
• Divide the research by sociological, historical, or cultural sources
• Theoretical : In many humanities articles, the literature review is the foundation for the theoretical framework. You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts. You can argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach or combine various theorical concepts to create a framework for your research.

What are some strategies or tips I can use while writing my lit review?

Any lit review is only as good as the research it discusses; make sure your sources are well-chosen and your research is thorough. Don’t be afraid to do more research if you discover a new thread as you’re writing. More info on the research process is available in our "Conducting Research" resources .

As you’re doing your research, create an annotated bibliography ( see our page on the this type of document ). Much of the information used in an annotated bibliography can be used also in a literature review, so you’ll be not only partially drafting your lit review as you research, but also developing your sense of the larger conversation going on among scholars, professionals, and any other stakeholders in your topic.

Usually you will need to synthesize research rather than just summarizing it. This means drawing connections between sources to create a picture of the scholarly conversation on a topic over time. Many student writers struggle to synthesize because they feel they don’t have anything to add to the scholars they are citing; here are some strategies to help you:

• It often helps to remember that the point of these kinds of syntheses is to show your readers how you understand your research, to help them read the rest of your paper.
• Writing teachers often say synthesis is like hosting a dinner party: imagine all your sources are together in a room, discussing your topic. What are they saying to each other?
• Look at the in-text citations in each paragraph. Are you citing just one source for each paragraph? This usually indicates summary only. When you have multiple sources cited in a paragraph, you are more likely to be synthesizing them (not always, but often
• Read more about synthesis here.

The most interesting literature reviews are often written as arguments (again, as mentioned at the beginning of the page, this is discipline-specific and doesn’t work for all situations). Often, the literature review is where you can establish your research as filling a particular gap or as relevant in a particular way. You have some chance to do this in your introduction in an article, but the literature review section gives a more extended opportunity to establish the conversation in the way you would like your readers to see it. You can choose the intellectual lineage you would like to be part of and whose definitions matter most to your thinking (mostly humanities-specific, but this goes for sciences as well). In addressing these points, you argue for your place in the conversation, which tends to make the lit review more compelling than a simple reporting of other sources.

The Guide to Literature Reviews

• What is a Literature Review?
• The Purpose of Literature Reviews
• Guidelines for Writing a Literature Review
• How to Organize a Literature Review?
• Software for Literature Reviews
• Using Artificial Intelligence for Literature Reviews
• How to Conduct a Literature Review?
• Common Mistakes and Pitfalls in a Literature Review
• Methods for Literature Reviews
• What is a Systematic Literature Review?
• What is a Narrative Literature Review?
• What is a Descriptive Literature Review?
• What is a Scoping Literature Review?
• What is a Realist Literature Review?
• What is a Critical Literature Review?
• Meta Analysis vs. Literature Review
• What is an Umbrella Literature Review?
• Differences Between Annotated Bibliographies and Literature Reviews
• Literature Review vs. Theoretical Framework
• How to Write a Literature Review?
• How to Structure a Literature Review?
• How to Make a Cover Page for a Literature Review?
• How to Write an Abstract for a Literature Review?
• How to Write a Literature Review Introduction?

How is the body organized in a literature review?

• How to write the body of a literature review?

Tips for writing good literature review paragraphs

• How to Write a Literature Review Conclusion?
• How to Make a Literature Review Bibliography?
• How to Format a Literature Review?
• How Long Should a Literature Review Be?
• Examples of Literature Reviews
• How to Present a Literature Review?
• How to Publish a Literature Review?

How to Write the Body of a Literature Review?

The body of a literature review is the central part of the review where you discuss, analyze, and synthesize the relevant research related to your topic. It forms the core of your literature review, providing a comprehensive overview of existing studies, theories, and findings. The purpose of the body is to organize and present this information logically and coherently, allowing readers to understand the current state of knowledge in your research area. In the body of a literature review, you critically evaluate the literature, highlight key themes, and identify gaps in the research. This section should not just be a summary of each study but should also integrate and compare the findings, demonstrating how they contribute to the overall understanding of the topic. By doing this, the body of your literature review lays the groundwork for your own research, showing how it fits into the existing body of knowledge and what new insights it might offer.

Organizing the body of a literature review is crucial for clarity and coherence. There are several common organizational structures that you can use, each offering a unique way to present your findings and analysis.

One effective method is to organize it in chronological order , where studies are arranged by their publication date. This approach allows you to showcase the evolution of research over time, highlighting how theories and findings have developed. It can be particularly useful for topics that have undergone significant changes or advancements.

Another popular method is thematic order . This structure groups literature by themes or topics, highlighting different aspects of the research. It helps to draw connections between studies that address similar issues or concepts, making it easier for readers to understand the various dimensions of your research topic.

A third approach is a methodological order , which organizes studies based on the research methods used. This structure is beneficial when comparing and contrasting different approaches, as it allows you to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of various methodologies. It can also provide insights into how different methods have contributed to the understanding of your topic.

Finally, theoretical order arranges literature according to theoretical frameworks , presenting different perspectives. This method is ideal for exploring how various theories have shaped research in your field. It helps to contextualize your work within existing theoretical debates and identify areas where further theoretical development is needed.

How to write the literature review body?

Define clear themes or topics : Identify the main themes or topics that emerge from your literature search. These will serve as the subheadings under which you organize your review. Each theme should cover a specific aspect of your research topic.

Summarize relevant studies : For each theme, summarize the key findings, methodologies, and conclusions of relevant studies. Be concise but comprehensive, ensuring you capture the essence of each work.

Synthesize information : Synthesize the summarized information by comparing and contrasting different studies. Highlight agreements, disagreements, and trends in the research. This synthesis will help you identify gaps in the literature and areas for further investigation.

Critically evaluate the literature : Critically evaluate the studies by discussing their strengths and weaknesses. Consider the quality of the research, the credibility of the findings, and the relevance to your study. Highlight any limitations and suggest how future research could address these issues.

Organize logically : Organize the synthesized and evaluated information logically under each theme. Ensure each paragraph flows smoothly to the next, maintaining a coherent narrative. Use a topic sentence to introduce the main idea of each paragraph and transition sentences to connect different sections.

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Stay focused : Writing an effective academic writing paragraph requires focus and clarity. Each body paragraph should focus on a single theme or topic. This ensures that your discussion remains coherent and that each aspect of your research is thoroughly explored. Staying focused helps prevent the inclusion of unrelated information that can confuse the reader.

Construct arguments : The body paragraphs are where you can walk readers through your justification for why your research contributes something novel and interesting. Instead of only summarizing previous studies, build your arguments by referring to relevant literature that backs up your claims. A good starting point is to begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence that synthesizes the main point of that paragraph and how it adds to the story of your research.

Use evidence : Supporting your summaries and evaluations with evidence from the literature is crucial. Use direct quotes sparingly and paraphrase when possible. This not only strengthens your arguments but also demonstrates your understanding of the source material. Evidence-based writing adds credibility to your review and helps readers follow your analysis.

Be concise : Clarity and conciseness are key in academic writing. Write clearly and concisely, avoiding jargon that might be unfamiliar to some readers. This makes your literature review accessible and easy to understand. Overly complex sentences can obscure your main points and make it difficult for readers to grasp your analysis.

Critically reflect : Acknowledging and assessing underlying assumptions is essential. Present a thoughtful discussion of the literature by acknowledging differing perspectives. Avoid personal opinions and focus on presenting a balanced analysis. Critical reflexivity helps establish your credibility as a researcher and provides a fair representation of the existing research.

Ensure coherence : Ensuring coherence in your writing is vital for a well-structured literature review. Use transitional phrases to ensure a logical flow between paragraphs and sections. This helps readers follow your argument and see the connections between different studies. Coherence makes your review more readable and easier to navigate.

Writing the body of a literature review involves summarizing, synthesizing, and critically evaluating existing research. By organizing your review logically and maintaining a clear focus, you can create a coherent and comprehensive synthesis of the literature. This not only provides a solid foundation for your research but also highlights the significance of your study in the broader academic context.

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Conducting a Literature Review

• Getting Started
• Define your Research Question
• Finding Sources
• Evaluating Sources
• Organizing the Review
• Cite and Manage your Sources

Introduction

Once you have your literature review planned out, you are ready to begin writing! Good organization and a clear focus are key to writing a successful academic paper of any kind, which is why the previous steps in this guide are so important; the more thorough you are with each of the preceding elements of writing the literature review, the easier this final step will be.

A literature review is organized into an introduction, multiple body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This format should be familiar to you, as it is the general outline of most academic essays; what is new and exciting about this literature review is the information you've gathered in your research and synthesized in your organization and outlining process.

Remember, if you ever need help with writing an essay of any kind, the ACPHS Writing Center is here to help! You can book an appointment with one of the peer tutors or reach out by email. The Library is also here to provide assistance with your assignments, particularly finding or citing resources.

Additional Resources

• Write a Literature Review by the University of Guelph McLaughlin Library

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Intro Paragraph & Thesis

Introductory paragraphs can be the most challenging part of writing a paper. Instead of laying out the evidence (or in the case of a literature review, analyzing your resources), you must first provide background information and context for the topic, discuss the body of literature in general as well as the scope of your review, and give a brief outline of how you will organize the review.

It is generally a good idea to open an introduction with a hook, or an interesting first sentence. This could be a statistic or fact about the topic that you find relevant, a rhetorical question that will be answered in the rest of the introduction, or even an appropriate anecdote. The point of a strong hook is to catch the reader's attention; for a literature review, it can help get the reader invested in the research around your topic, as well as your analysis of it.

Some authors prefer to write their introductory paragraph after completing the body of the essay, finding it easier to summarize what will be shared with the reader after it has already been written. There is no right or wrong order for crafting your paper, so if this method appeals to you then you should make use of it. However, with appropriately detailed planning it can be simple to write out an introduction prior to the body. Using an outline  (using the methods provided by Walden University, for example) can make writing the introduction and the entire essay much simpler.

Your literature review's introduction should contain four major elements:

• Establishing the topic, including providing background information and any necessary definitions to make sure your reader has all the context necessary to understand the rest of the literature review
• The trends or themes of the research that you noticed while compiling your sources, including any that you will use to organize your literature
• The purpose, criteria, and scope of the literature review: how will the literature be organized? What is your reason for examining this topic? What will you be analyzing about the sources (comparing/contrasting research methodology, conclusions, etc.)? Is there any literature you decided not to include -- if so, what disqualified it from the review?
• Introduce your thesis statement by drawing on the previous 3 components of the introduction to state what you discovered about the literature on this topic. Specifically, the thesis should answer where the current literature's strengths and weaknesses lie, and where additional research may be needed

The purpose of the introduction is to make sure that your reader has all the information they need to understand and appreciate your literature review, and to provide them a general blueprint of the analysis and arguments you will be making.

• 5 Questions to Strengthen Your Thesis Statement by the University of Guelph Digital Learning Commons

Body Paragraphs

With the introduction out of the way -- or perhaps even before you've written the introduction -- it's time to examine the literature you've gathered. We established how to organize the literature in the previous section of this guide, and that organization will serve as the framework for the body paragraphs. For example, if you organized your literature into themes, then each theme would serve as its own paragraph, in which you'd compare and contrast the sources within each theme; if you organized it by methodology or historical era, each of those would be a body paragraph.

As you write your literature analyses, keep the following recommendations in mind, provided by Shona McCombes at Scribbr :

Summarize  and synthesize:  give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole Analyze and interpret:  don’t just  paraphrase  other researchers—add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole Critically evaluate:  mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources Write in well-structured paragraphs:  use  transition words  and  topic sentences  to draw connections, comparisons and contrasts

Your summary of each source can be as detailed as is appropriate, based on how important the source is to the overall literature or how much analysis you have to perform on it. In general, the more significant a source is to your review, the more time should be devoted to summarizing and analyzing it.

While looking at individual sources, remember to keep connecting them back to the theme of the body paragraph and the overall thesis; explaining their relevance in a particular section of literature helps the reader follow along and better understand your overall arguments.

Other useful tips to keep in mind when writing your body paragraphs, provided by the Writing Center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill :

• Use evidence to support your claims
• Be selective, and focus on the most important points for each piece of literature rather than trying to describe everything
• Use quotes when appropriate, but know that literature reviews do not frequently require direct quotations
• Paraphrase accurately
• Literature Reviews by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Writing Center

Conclusion & Reviewing Your Paper

Concluding Paragraph

A conclusion is used to provide further reinforcement of the arguments presented throughout the paper. In general, this consists of briefly summarizing the body paragraphs and reasserting their connection to your thesis. This is also good practice for a literature review; in addition, your conclusion should again summarize the broad trends of the research on your topic, as well as any opportunities for additional or more thorough research that you've found. 

Below are some helpful recommendations for writing conclusions, compiled from advice explained in more detail in the links below:

• Address the broader implications of the existing research, and why it is important to close the gaps you evaluated during your literature review
• Include a quotation or fact that effectively illustrates your thesis in a provocative or interesting way
• Use simple, clear language without jargon
• Reestablish your thesis and its connection with the literature reviewed

Your goal with the concluding paragraph of your literature review should be to leave the reader with a firm understanding of the existing literature on your topic, where additional research may be necessary, and why it matters.

Revising Your Literature Review

Revision is a process that goes beyond simply correcting spelling and grammar mistakes -- though proofreading is an important part of the writing process as well. The purpose of revising your literature review before submission is to look at it the way your reader will and pick up on any potential leaps of logic, unclear explanations, or shoddy evidence. The revision process should not begin immediately after finishing the paper; whenever possible, wait a few hours or days before looking at your draft, so that you can approach it with fresh eyes. 

When revising, focus on major issues with the paper such as organization, clarity, and thoroughness. Trying to both revise your writing and proofread it for small spelling or grammar issues may distract you from more important areas that could be improved. Ask yourself if your thesis is well-defended by the body paragraphs, and if you still agree with the conclusions you stated in the introduction. If more or better arguments are needed, find places in the body paragraphs to add evidence or make clearer connections to your thesis. Focus on the flow of the review; does each body paragraph move naturally into the next one? Do your paragraphs need to be reordered or restructured?

After major revisions are done, it is time to proofread for spelling, grammar, and general writing errors. Try reading the paper out loud and seeing where your word choice could be strengthened or a run-on sentence could be amended.

It can sometimes be difficult to revise an essay on your own, so consider booking an appointment with the ACPHS Writing Center to go over your writing with a tutor. Friends, classmates, or your professor can also be useful sources of feedback, and if possible try to get as many different readers to look over your writing and provide insight.

• Revising Drafts by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing Center
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• Next: Cite and Manage your Sources >>
• Last Updated: Sep 4, 2024 1:20 PM
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Written by: Oliver Wilkin

In a literature review, it is the literature itself that you should frame your argument around, by providing an in-depth analysis of the ‘conversation’ around your topic. Usually, when given a literature review assignment, you will have to answer a question or topic but do not take this as a prompt to just write an essay about the issue(s).

A literature review is there to show your understanding of a topic by identifying major debates and trends between authors and/or schools of thought, and establishing which ideas and methods are most significant to it. It should also include an argument, and identify gaps and limitations in the literature to show why your research is important and how it fills these gaps.

Research and Planning

Your academic lead should give you an idea of how many sources they expect you to review, but you can always ask them for advice and look at other literature reviews in your field for inspiration. Just like any other assignment, use the key words from your essay or research question(s) to search for studies.

To make sure your review is relevant, only discuss research from the timeframe considered ‘current’ in your field. When reading the literature you choose, try to answer these questions:

• What is the main idea?
• What points are used to develop this?
• What evidence is being used?
• What is the support for these claims?
• Do you agree?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses?
• Do other authors challenge or agree?
• What is the methodology?
• How relevant is this to my own research?

Just like a typical essay, a literature review should include an introduction, themed paragraphs and a conclusion, but each section structured a little differently.

Introduction (approximately 10% of overall word count):

Similar to most essays, the introduction of a literature review should state the assignment’s purpose, establish the key concepts and set expectations for the reader.

• Statement of purpose: what is the question you are setting out to answer? How does it fit into your field?
• Justify your question: why is it important and how will it contribute to knowledge in your field?
• Scope of review : provide a little information about the literature you will review and why you chose it.
• Signposting: map out the structure of the main body, with the theme or concept behind each section.
• Limitations of the review: does the amount of literature make it difficult to review the topic? Are there any issues you have not had a chance to discuss?

Main body paragraphs:

When researching and planning, you will hopefully find some themes that the literature can be grouped into. Each main body section should review one specific theme and, even though you can compare to literature from other sections, you should keep the discussion of each study to its assigned section. Each paragraph or section should have:

• Topic sentence(s): introduce the theme of the section and the studies that will be discussed in it.
• Description: highlight the studies’ claims that are most relevant to the essay or research question(s).
• Analysis: compare and contrast the texts’ trends, tendencies, major findings, debates and methods.
• Evaluation: consider the texts’ strengths and limitations, maybe make suggestions that would improve them, and identify gaps in the field.
• Transition: introduce the next section and show how it is linked to this one.

Conclusion (approximately 10% of overall wordcount):

Like most essays, a literature review’s conclusion summarises and emphasises your main points, so should not contain any new information or insight.

• Topic sentence(s): indicate this is the end of the assignment and refer back to the essay or research question(s).
• Recap: summarise the key judgements that you have made and the gaps you have found in the field.
• Closing statement: give a final statement that proves you have completed the assignment’s objective(s), look to the future of the field and, if relevant, show how this connects to your thesis.

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Home → Academic Writing → How to Start a Literature Review (Like a Pro)

How to Start a Literature Review (Like a Pro)

Jordan Kruszynski

• June 26, 2023

Ah, how to start a literature review – those words will be all too familiar to battle-hardened researchers, but to the rest of us, they may be a bit of a mystery.

Are you a student trying to get ahead of the game with your first literature review? Or are you a professional looking to learn more about literature reviews? If so, then this post is for you.

In this article, we’ll discuss how to start a literature review, the types of sources used in literature reviews, and the benefits of writing them. We’ll also outline the steps for preparing and writing your own literature review.

Read on and let the magic begin!

Literature Reviews – The Researcher’s Friend

A literature review is an essential part of any research project. It is a compilation of all the literature and research related to a particular topic. It is used to provide context and background for a research project. Literature reviews are important for two primary reasons. First, they provide a comprehensive and objective review of the existing literature on a topic. Second, they provide support for any conclusions or hypotheses that may be drawn from the research.

Literature reviews are used in many different fields, including business, education, and the sciences. They are used to provide an overview of a topic and to support the conclusions and hypotheses of a research project.

What is a Literature Review?

A literature review is a critical appraisal of existing research on a particular topic . It is a systematic and comprehensive review of all the published work in a particular field. The purpose of a literature review is to provide an overview of the existing research on a topic, to identify gaps in the literature, and to propose new directions for future research.

The literature review is an important part of the research process and should be conducted thoroughly and objectively. It should include a critical analysis of the existing literature, an evaluation of the research methods used, and an assessment of the quality of the evidence.

Types of Literature Review

There are several different types of literature reviews. They include narrative reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and scoping reviews.

• Narrative reviews are the most common type of literature review. They provide an overview of the existing literature on a topic. Narrative reviews typically include an introduction, a review of the literature, and a conclusion.
• Systematic reviews are more rigorous and comprehensive than narrative reviews. They involve rigorous and systematic searches of the literature and include a critical appraisal of the evidence. Systematic reviews are typically used in clinical research.
• Meta-analyses are reviews that combine the results of multiple studies to evaluate the overall effect of a particular treatment or intervention. Meta-analyses are more rigorous and comprehensive than narrative reviews and systematic reviews.
• Scoping reviews are used to identify the range of research on a particular topic. They are typically used to identify gaps in the literature and to propose new directions for future research.

Sourcing Pieces for Your Review

When conducting a literature review, it is important to use a variety of sources. These sources include journal articles, books, conference proceedings, dissertations, and other academic sources. It is also important to use a variety of search strategies to identify the most relevant and up-to-date sources.

Research papers will probably form the bulk of your literature review, and this is where Audemic can help – simply load any papers you want to use into the app, and you can organise them intuitively to make sourcing a breeze.

It is important to note that not all sources are created equal. Some sources may be more reliable than others. When evaluating sources for your literature review, it is important to consider their credibility, relevance, accuracy, and objectivity.

Benefits of Literature Reviews

Literature reviews are an essential part of any research project. They provide an overview of the existing literature on a topic and can be used to identify gaps in the literature, as well as propose new directions for future research. They also provide support for any conclusions or hypotheses that may be drawn from the research.

Literature reviews can also help researchers save time and money. By conducting a thorough and comprehensive review of the existing literature, researchers can avoid redundant research and save time and money.

How to Start a Literature Review

Now that you understand the purpose and benefits of a literature review, it’s time to learn how to start one. The first step in starting a literature review is to identify a topic. Once you have identified a topic, you can start searching for sources.

When searching for sources, it is important to use a variety of search strategies, such as keyword searches, author searches, and database searches. It is also important to use a variety of sources, such as journal articles, books, conference proceedings, and dissertations.

Preparing for Your Literature Review

Once you have identified and located the sources for your literature review, it is time to start preparing. Before you begin writing, it is important to read and analyse each source. This will help you identify the key points of each source and understand how it contributes to the literature on your topic.

It is also important to organise your sources. This can be done by creating a spreadsheet or using a reference management software, such as Mendeley or Zotero. This will help you keep track of your sources and make it easier to cite them in your literature review.

Did somebody say Zotero? Audemic features Zotero integration, so you can not only organise your sources, but also listen to them when you need a change of pace. Nice, eh?

Searching for Sources for Your Review

Now that you have identified a topic and prepared your sources, it’s time to start searching for additional sources. When searching for sources, it is important to use a variety of search strategies. These search strategies include keyword searches, author searches, database searches, and library catalogue searches.

It is also important to use a variety of sources. These sources include journal articles, books, conference proceedings, dissertations, and other academic sources. It is also important to consider the credibility, relevance, accuracy, and objectivity of each source.

Writing and Structuring Your Literature Review

Once you have identified and located the sources for your literature review, it is time to start writing. When writing your literature review, it is important to keep the structure and organisation in mind. Your literature review should include an introduction, a review of the literature, and a conclusion.

• When writing your introduction , it is important to provide context for your topic. This should include an explanation of the purpose of the literature review and a description of the research question.
• The review of the literature should provide an overview of the existing literature on the topic. It should include a summary of each source and an analysis of the evidence. It should also include an evaluation of the research methods used and an assessment of the quality of the evidence.
• Finally, the conclusion should summarise the key points of the literature review and provide recommendations for future research.

Final Thoughts

A literature review is an essential part of any research project, so it pays to master this critical academic skill. And with the guidance in this post, you should be well on your way to knowing how to start a literature review for yourself. By putting it into practice, you can unlock your writing potential and produce a thorough, engaging and comprehensive literature review.

So what are you waiting for? Search for those sources and get started! And why not use Audemic to speed up the review process and boost it into the cosmos!

Keep striving, researchers! ✨

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