Table of Contents
Introduction
A literature review analyzes the published research literature pertinent to the study issue. It aids in familiarizing pupils with thinking about and conducting research on a specific subject or theme. It could also support further investigation into a topic that academics previously disregarded.
"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become."
~ C.S. Lewis, The children's fantasy The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which has since become Lewis' most well-known work, was released in 1950.
Purpose of a Literature Review
Before beginning a new study, undertaking a literature review will show your knowledge and understanding of the most recent studies on the topic. You should be able to determine what research has already been conducted on your topic and what is unknown after conducting a literature study.
General Format of Literature Review
Most literary reviews use the basic introduction-body-conclusion format. Still, if your lit review is part of a longer work, the introduction and conclusion components might only be a few sentences long.
At the same time, the body receives the majority of your attention. If your lit review is a stand-alone essay, the introduction and conclusion will occupy more room. They will allow you to discuss your objectives, research strategy, and findings separately from the literature review.
What to Include in Your Review
A literature review includes an introductory paragraph explaining your topic and thesis, a body paragraph, or a set of body paragraphs summarizing, synthesizing, analyzing, interpreting, and critically evaluating a literary text.
A conclusion paragraph summarizes your key ideas and insights, emphasizes significant factors, and connects to your original thesis statement.
Writing your Literature Review
To begin writing your literature review, you need to conduct research that helps you plan and organize your findings to complete your thesis statement and provide support to strengthen your thesis.
Getting Started
You want to consider questions that will assist you in increasing your understanding and knowledge of the literature you refer to for your review.
Below are some questions that will assist you in your literary analysis review preparation. You will want to consider these questions to help you outline what you know about the piece and some careful considerations to remember when analyzing for additional details to include in your review.
Some key questions you can ask yourself to decipher your literature search and assist you in reviewing your topic are:
What main questions and problems have been addressed so far?
What are the origins of the literary text and definitions associated with the topic?
What are the standpoints and perspectives shared within the text?
What are the key sources related to literary texts?
What are the literary texts' key concepts, ideas, and themes?
What are the significant issues about the articles and critical thoughts about the perspectives of the texts?
What is the historical setting of the text that provides grounds for specific views?
How is knowledge of the themes, symbols, plot, characterizations, settings, and other literary elements structured and organized to share the point of view of the author of these literary texts?
Literature Review Concepts
After considering the above ideas and obtaining a clearer insight into the literary text or texts, you can begin your research and note-taking in preparation for outlining your literature review.
Firstly, you want to note a clarified research question that will act as your direction and guide to simplifying your research findings. This will allow you to make the best use of defining your ideas and the advice of your research, which will make the best use of your time.
To clarify your perspective for your review, you will want to write a one-sentence summary of the research question. Or a one-sentence summary of the hypothesis you are working on to clarify, decipher, and find a conclusion.
Introduction Considerations
You will want to consider the beginning of the introduction to conducting a one-sentence summary of the social motivations behind the literary text. It will be essential to think about how the text will solve social dynamics for specific perspectives of others during the historical setting of the literary text.
Additionally, you will want to write a one-sentence summary of the apparent research gap due to your findings and consider how your article may fill in a lack of knowledge regarding the literature piece you are reviewing.
Next, it will be essential to examine the results of your findings and discuss your research using an organized paper outlined by a one-sentence summary of your main conclusion.
Then, you will want to write a one-sentence summary of each supplementary finding. This will aid you in solidifying your support for your remaining body paragraphs, in which you will discuss each as the main subject and topic.
It will be essential to maintain the organization of your notes so you can later reference the ones you choose to use as you support within your body paragraphs. The supplementary findings are essential to maintaining your overall thesis statement and will assist in the credibility of your literature review paper.
Below are the essential steps you should follow when planning and developing your literature review. These steps will assist you in a systematic approach to developing a well-discussed, thorough, and effectively delivered literature review paper.
Literature Review Steps
1) Decide on Your Area of Research
Before beginning your research for relevant articles or books, you must decide what areas to research. Gathering resources in your chosen field is essential, and they are all relevant to your selected action plan.
2) Search for Literature
Research bibliographic texts that are relevant books and articles for the area of research you've selected. To make the best use of your time, review the abstracts of the articles, books, and texts before selecting, printing, or gathering them for your research. Ensure that your readers are relevant and that you have allotted a select planned time to gather your researched material to ensure the best use of your time available before completing your assignment.
3) Organize the Relevant Literature
Look through your excerpts for the different topics from your gathered researched literary resources, and find similar themes.
4) Decipher the Best Way to Organize Themes
Consider the themes of the literary texts you've found and define the best way to organize them according to the themes. Decide whether the dialogue and messages are similar or contradict each other.
5) Write your Literature Review
Look for literary texts with similar themes that have a similar perspective. Use this similar perspective to write your literature review. Be sure to include citations as you write to ensure an accurate work cited page and proper citations after completing your literature review.
Then, begin your revision and editing process to ensure you submit your best quality of work and maintain the quality of your delivery for your submission.
Below is a carefully selected literature review outline sample you may want to consider if your teacher hasn’t already provided you with one. This literature review outline will assist you with a well-formulated and structured literature review in instances where your teacher hasn’t notified you of a preferred outline.
Literature Review Outline
Introduction
A concise definition of a topic under consideration (themes regarding perspectives of authors)
Note intentional exclusions for the literature review
State the review's general findings and sources' availability for the subject area studied.
Main Body
Organize the sources that you've evaluated either chronologically or thematically.
Critically summarize each work selected and evaluate it for its premise, structure, and conclusion.
Include connections and transitions to connect sources suitably.
Conclusion
Summarize the main ideas from the key findings relevant to the review in general terms.
Justify a research proposal by clearly re-stating and supporting the review's findings.
References
Contain complete and correct citations for each source gathered and utilized for the literary review.
Revision & Editing Procedure
You will want to carefully revise and edit your final literature review paper to deliver your overall perspective and message throughout each sentence in the most well-organized manner.
Below are guidelines to assist you in your revision and proofreading process. This will ensure that your message is coherent and well delivered before you submit your final work to your teacher.
Literature Review Checklist
You worked to convince the audience about the adequacy of the research and strategy of the literature covered.
The paper presents a constructive argument. The research question has been carefully outlined, and the support articulates it based on current knowledge. Different perspectives are considered within the article.
The selected literature covers the research topic and provides a broader perspective.
The literature evaluates the historical context and critical timeline in the field presented.
Definitions, ambiguities, and descriptions to ensure clarity in the meaning of the literary review.
The variables are relevant to the topic, and the literature articulates and synthesizes the literature selected.
The literature review identifies the academic voice and new perspective on the literature reviewed.
The methodologies and techniques for research have been utilized, and the advantages and disadvantages of the literary text's topic have been identified.
The academic paradigms are rationalized and based on current research gaps.
Conclusion
Remember that your final submission reflects your overall effort and ability to deliver your message with details, coherence, and the most eloquent manner at each stage of your educational development. As students, you want to continue showing progression, careful development, and improvements within each written submission you provide to your teachers.
Ensure that you keep up your efforts and progress according to your teacher’s initial criteria and expectations of consideration upon each submitted paper you share with them.
Next Steps:
Start by selecting a piece of literature your child or student has recently read and understands well. Encourage them to revisit the text and take notes on key themes, characters, plot developments, and literary devices employed by the author.
Next, guide them in organizing their notes into categories or themes to serve as the basis for their literature review. Encourage them to critically analyze each aspect of the text, considering its significance within the broader context of the literary work and its potential connections to other works or real-world issues.
Then, help them draft an outline for their literature review, including an introduction, body paragraphs focusing on different aspects of the text, and a conclusion synthesizing their analysis and offering insights or reflections.
Finally, encourage them to revise and refine their literature review, paying attention to clarity, coherence, and depth of analysis. By following this process, your child or student will develop the skills necessary to write a thoughtful and engaging literature review.
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