How to Write Literature Review?

Writing a literature review for a dissertation requires consistency and interest. It is the most difficult part of the dissertation for many students. Further, the high expectations of the teachers increase the anxiety and fear among the students.

Several other reasons too, make it problematic for students to write a literature review. Mostly, lack of time and guidance contribute to the difficulties students face in writing a literature review.

This blog will tell you the importance and purpose of writing a literature review. Moreover, the method of writing, structuring, and organizing a literature review will also be discussed.

What is Literature Review?

It is sort of a document that includes the study of literature relevant to the topic. The literary work studied for a literature review, comprises both fiction and non-fiction texts.

It is written to find out a strong backing for the research topic and provide a basis to the raised arguments. The selected texts are discussed in conversation with each and other. In this discussion, these texts support and disregard different opinions and perspectives.

Why Literature Review is Important for Dissertation?

A literature review is one of the most essential components of the dissertation. It covers 30% weightage in the overall content. It is important because it carries out the following tasks in the dissertation.

Summarize and Synthesis the Literary Texts

The literature review summarizes the relevant texts that you have found during the research. In this way, it strengthens your writing and tells the reader your research capabilities. It also shows how much you understand the topic and how deep your interest is. Further, it makes your dissertation more compelling.

Add Analysis and Interpretations

You can add an analysis of the literary texts and your interpretations of the research findings. It shows your intellectual approach and command over the subject area. Furthermore, it helps you build a relationship between the topic and the contemporary era. Also, it relates your ideas with the history and background of the problem under discussion.

Critically Evaluate the Sources

The main purpose of the literature review is to evaluate the sources used in secondary research. This evaluation is important because these sources provide you research findings to proceed with the dissertation. It compares and contrasts the information collected from different literary texts.

Provide Concrete Evidence to your Main Argument

Some literary texts discussed in the literature review may encounter your main argument. While the supporting texts work as the concrete evidence to your main idea. In this way, a literature review helps you extract the best answer to the research problem.

Find the Most Suitable Conclusion

A literature review helps you find out the most suitable conclusion for the whole study. With a diversity of perceptions and perspectives, you can write the perfect conclusion for your dissertation. Further, the interpretation and evaluation of different literary texts provoke your thoughts. Consequently, you find more ideas to strengthen your dissertation.

How to Write Literature Review?

Students can write a literature review by taking assistance from the assignment writing services online. Though it’s a good option, still students should learn the method of writing a literature review. Here are some easy guidelines to help the students in this regard.

Find the Relevant Literature

A search for the relevant literature is the first step to proceed with your dissertation. It involves the literary work that has already been done by others on a similar topic. During your research for the literature review, you should consider the following points.

–       Authenticity

The texts you select for the literature review must be written by well-known authors. Similarly, the sources from where you have found the text must be authentic. You should not compromise on the credibility of the content of your literature review.

–       Relevancy

The selected texts must be directly relevant to the topic of your dissertation. An indirect connection complexes the content and weakens the understanding of the main idea. Relevancy should always be the priority at every stage of research and writing.

–       Both Supporting and Contradicting Points

Both supporting and contradicting literary texts should be chosen for the literature review. It helps you find the research gap by the comparison of different eras. Also, it allows you unanswered questions related to the topic. In this way, it increases the worth of your research and literature review.

Evaluate the Selected Texts

Once the literary texts are selected for the review, you should evaluate them all. It will help you proceed systematically and enhance the originality of your ideas and content.

• Find out the similarities, and dissimilarities between the texts
• Look for the weaknesses and the strengths of these texts
• Compare their contexts and scope

Extract the themes, Conflicts and Research Gap

While evaluating the literature, you will find different themes, conflicts, and research gaps. You must address them in your literature review.

• Discuss the themes under the light of your dissertation topic
• Resolve the conflicts by forming a potential conclusion
• Explain why and how the research gap occurred.

Frame the Structure of the Literature Review

After preparing the mind map and the rough draft of the literature review, outline the structure. The structure of the literature review should be perfect. It gives a professional look to your content. Also, it enhances the flow and readability. A good structure makes your literature review clear and comprehensive.

Structure of the Literature Review

Most of the students don’t have any idea about how to write literature review with the correct structure. Following are some useful tips to write a well-structured literature review.

Introduction of the Literature Review

First of all, write a proper introduction. Introduction in any genre of writing represents the quality of the whole content. It builds the first impression of the literature review. It should be perfect enough to develop the reader’s interest in the content. The introduction of the literature review must hold the following aspects.

1. Topic and the Context

You must explain the topic of your dissertation in the introduction of your literature review. It should include the context of the problem or the background of the topic. It makes it easier for the reader to comprehend the purpose of your research.

2. Reasons and Arguments

Discuss the reason for your whole study and research and present the main argument. It is important because the literature will be evaluated in the light of your main argument. Further, it will work as a hypothesis and show the possible result of the study.

3. Short Overview of the Selected Texts

Give the short overview of the texts in the introduction that will be discussed later. This overview must comprise the names of the authors. Also, you must tell the reader which area of the texts you are going to address.

4. Discussion of the Organizing Pattern

The organization of the literature review matters a lot. You should follow a similar organizing pattern throughout the literature review. Assignment writing services when hired, also ask you about how you want to organize your content. You can choose one of the following options:

·        Chronological Organization

This type of organization follows the chronological pattern. The texts are discussed chronologically. It is marked what the first contribution to the topic was. Then It is addressed what changes occurs in the concepts over time.

·        Thematic Organization

In this organization, the literature review is based on the themes used in the selected texts. It is discussed which theme plays what role in the propagation of the topic. Also, it is explained how many themes are there in the texts under discussion. Further, how these themes are important to resolve the research problem is also discussed.

·        Methodological Organization

It is also a useful pattern of the organization of literature review. It describes:

• What methods of data collection are different the authors have used.
• Are their methodologies similar to yours?
• What differences you have observed in the ideas and perspectives according to their research method?

·        Theoretical Organization

It is observed under which theory or scientific or literary approach you are going to assess the selected texts. To use this method of organization in the literature review, a particular approach must be determined.

5.    Scope of the Review

In the introduction of your literature review, you must also mention its scope. You have to tell the reader how your literature review will contribute to the subject.

Main Body of the Literature Review

You don’t need to stress much about how to write a literature review in terms of its body paragraphs. You just need to present strong arguments following the PEEL method of writing.

Point – Make your claim or the argument

Evidence – Give evidence from the literature under discussion

Explanation – It will comprise the comparison and contrast between the opinions presented in the texts

Linkage – Interlink each and every body paragraph

Conclusion of the Whole Research

At the end of the literature review, express how the literature you have discussed influenced your idea. Also, tell the reader, if it has brought any change to your perspective about the topic. You should conclude the literature review in a proper way.

Final Statement

The above-mentioned is the complete guide to the literature review. By following the methods discussed in this blog you can ace your literature review for the dissertation. However, if you find any difficulty to write your dissertation literature, then contact us. Our experienced writers are available 24/7 for your support.