How Is a Literature Review Different From an Essay?

What this handout is near

This handout volition explain what literature reviews are and offer insights into the form and construction of literature reviews in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

Introduction

OK. You've got to write a literature review. You dust off a novel and a book of verse, settle down in your chair, and get ready to outcome a "thumbs upwards" or "thumbs downwardly" as you leaf through the pages. "Literature review" done. Correct?

Incorrect! The "literature" of a literature review refers to any collection of materials on a topic, not necessarily the great literary texts of the world. "Literature" could be anything from a set of regime pamphlets on British colonial methods in Africa to scholarly articles on the treatment of a torn ACL. And a review does not necessarily hateful that your reader wants you to requite your personal opinion on whether or not you lot liked these sources.

What is a literature review, then?

A literature review discusses published information in a detail bailiwick area, and sometimes information in a item subject surface area inside a certain time period.

A literature review can be but a simple summary of the sources, but it normally has an organizational pattern and combines both summary and synthesis. A summary is a recap of the of import information of the source, but a synthesis is a re-system, or a reshuffling, of that information. It might give a new estimation of old material or combine new with old interpretations. Or information technology might trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates. And depending on the state of affairs, the literature review may evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant.

But how is a literature review different from an academic enquiry paper?

The main focus of an academic research newspaper is to develop a new argument, and a enquiry newspaper is probable to contain a literature review every bit one of its parts. In a research paper, you apply the literature as a foundation and as support for a new insight that y'all contribute. The focus of a literature review, however, is to summarize and synthesize the arguments and ideas of others without adding new contributions.

Why do we write literature reviews?

Literature reviews provide you with a handy guide to a particular topic. If yous accept limited time to comport research, literature reviews can give you an overview or act every bit a stepping stone. For professionals, they are useful reports that go on them up to date with what is current in the field. For scholars, the depth and latitude of the literature review emphasizes the brownie of the author in his or her field. Literature reviews as well provide a solid background for a research paper's investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the field is essential to most research papers.

Who writes these things, anyway?

Literature reviews are written occasionally in the humanities, but generally in the sciences and social sciences; in experiment and lab reports, they constitute a section of the newspaper. Sometimes a literature review is written equally a paper in itself.

Let'due south get to it! What should I practice earlier writing the literature review?

Clarify

If your consignment is non very specific, seek clarification from your teacher:

• Roughly how many sources should yous include?
• What types of sources (books, journal articles, websites)?
• Should you summarize, synthesize, or critique your sources by discussing a common theme or issue?
• Should yous evaluate your sources?
• Should y'all provide subheadings and other background information, such as definitions and/or a history?

Find models

Await for other literature reviews in your area of interest or in the subject field and read them to get a sense of the types of themes yous might desire to expect for in your own research or ways to organize your final review. You can simply put the word "review" in your search engine along with your other topic terms to observe articles of this type on the Internet or in an electronic database. The bibliography or reference department of sources you lot've already read are also first-class entry points into your own inquiry.

Narrow your topic

At that place are hundreds or even thousands of articles and books on almost areas of study. The narrower your topic, the easier information technology will be to limit the number of sources you need to read in order to get a good survey of the material. Your teacher will probably not look yous to read everything that's out there on the topic, but you'll brand your chore easier if yous first limit your scope.

Keep in mind that UNC Libraries accept enquiry guides and to databases relevant to many fields of study. Y'all can reach out to the subject area librarian for a consultation: https://library.unc.edu/support/consultations/.

And don't forget to tap into your professor's (or other professors') cognition in the field. Enquire your professor questions such equally: "If y'all had to read only 1 book from the 90's on topic X, what would it be?" Questions such as this aid you to find and determine quickly the most seminal pieces in the field.

Consider whether your sources are current

Some disciplines require that yous use information that is as current as possible. In the sciences, for instance, treatments for medical problems are constantly changing according to the latest studies. Information fifty-fifty ii years old could be obsolete. Withal, if yous are writing a review in the humanities, history, or social sciences, a survey of the history of the literature may be what is needed, because what is important is how perspectives accept changed through the years or inside a certain time period. Try sorting through some other current bibliographies or literature reviews in the field to get a sense of what your discipline expects. You tin also apply this method to consider what is currently of interest to scholars in this field and what is not.

Strategies for writing the literature review

Notice a focus

A literature review, like a term paper, is commonly organized around ideas, not the sources themselves as an annotated bibliography would exist organized. This means that you will not just just listing your sources and become into detail about each one of them, one at a fourth dimension. No. Equally you read widely simply selectively in your topic area, consider instead what themes or problems connect your sources together. Practise they nowadays one or unlike solutions? Is there an aspect of the field that is missing? How well do they nowadays the material and do they portray it co-ordinate to an advisable theory? Practise they reveal a trend in the field? A raging debate? Selection one of these themes to focus the organisation of your review.

Convey it to your reader

A literature review may not take a traditional thesis statement (one that makes an argument), but you practice need to tell readers what to wait. Try writing a unproblematic argument that lets the reader know what is your master organizing principle. Here are a couple of examples:

The current trend in treatment for congestive heart failure combines surgery and medicine.
More and more cultural studies scholars are accepting pop media as a field of study worthy of academic consideration.

Consider organization

Yous've got a focus, and you've stated information technology clearly and straight. Now what is the nearly constructive manner of presenting the information? What are the most important topics, subtopics, etc., that your review needs to include? And in what lodge should you present them? Develop an organization for your review at both a global and local level:

First, cover the basic categories

Just similar nigh bookish papers, literature reviews likewise must incorporate at least three basic elements: an introduction or groundwork information section; the body of the review containing the give-and-take of sources; and, finally, a decision and/or recommendations section to end the paper. The following provides a brief description of the content of each:

• Introduction: Gives a quick idea of the topic of the literature review, such every bit the cardinal theme or organizational pattern.
• Body: Contains your word of sources and is organized either chronologically, thematically, or methodologically (see beneath for more information on each).
• Conclusions/Recommendations: Discuss what you accept drawn from reviewing literature so far. Where might the word proceed?

Organizing the body

In one case you take the basic categories in place, then you must consider how you will nowadays the sources themselves within the body of your newspaper. Create an organizational method to focus this section even farther.

To help you come up with an overall organizational framework for your review, consider the following scenario:

Yous've decided to focus your literature review on materials dealing with sperm whales. This is considering you've just finished reading Moby Dick, and you lot wonder if that whale's portrayal is really existent. You start with some articles nearly the physiology of sperm whales in biological science journals written in the 1980'due south. But these articles refer to some British biological studies performed on whales in the early 18th century. And then you check those out. Then y'all look up a book written in 1968 with information on how sperm whales have been portrayed in other forms of art, such equally in Alaskan poesy, in French painting, or on whale bone, as the whale hunters in the late 19th century used to exercise. This makes you lot wonder about American whaling methods during the time portrayed in Moby Dick, so you find some academic articles published in the last five years on how accurately Herman Melville portrayed the whaling scene in his novel.

At present consider some typical ways of organizing the sources into a review:

• Chronological: If your review follows the chronological method, you could write virtually the materials above according to when they were published. For instance, first you lot would talk almost the British biological studies of the 18th century, so about Moby Dick, published in 1851, and then the volume on sperm whales in other fine art (1968), and finally the biology articles (1980s) and the recent articles on American whaling of the 19th century. Just there is relatively no continuity amongst subjects here. And discover that fifty-fifty though the sources on sperm whales in other art and on American whaling are written recently, they are about other subjects/objects that were created much earlier. Thus, the review loses its chronological focus.

• By publication: Order your sources by publication chronology, then, only if the order demonstrates a more than of import tendency. For case, you could club a review of literature on biological studies of sperm whales if the progression revealed a change in dissection practices of the researchers who wrote and/or conducted the studies.

• By trend: A improve way to organize the higher up sources chronologically is to examine the sources under another trend, such as the history of whaling. And then your review would have subsections according to eras within this catamenia. For instance, the review might examine whaling from pre-1600-1699, 1700-1799, and 1800-1899. Under this method, y'all would combine the recent studies on American whaling in the 19th century with Moby Dick itself in the 1800-1899 category, even though the authors wrote a century apart.

• Thematic: Thematic reviews of literature are organized around a topic or result, rather than the progression of fourth dimension. Notwithstanding, progression of time may withal exist an important factor in a thematic review. For case, the sperm whale review could focus on the development of the harpoon for whale hunting. While the study focuses on one topic, harpoon technology, it will still exist organized chronologically. The only divergence here between a "chronological" and a "thematic" approach is what is emphasized the most: the evolution of the harpoon or the harpoon engineering science.But more than authentic thematic reviews tend to break away from chronological order. For case, a thematic review of textile on sperm whales might examine how they are portrayed every bit "evil" in cultural documents. The subsections might include how they are personified, how their proportions are exaggerated, and their behaviors misunderstood. A review organized in this way would shift betwixt fourth dimension periods within each department co-ordinate to the point made.

• Methodological: A methodological approach differs from the ii higher up in that the focusing factor usually does not take to do with the content of the fabric. Instead, it focuses on the "methods" of the researcher or writer. For the sperm whale projection, one methodological approach would be to look at cultural differences between the portrayal of whales in American, British, and French art work. Or the review might focus on the economic bear on of whaling on a customs. A methodological scope will influence either the types of documents in the review or the manner in which these documents are discussed.
  In one case you've decided on the organizational method for the body of the review, the sections you demand to include in the newspaper should be easy to effigy out. They should arise out of your organizational strategy. In other words, a chronological review would have subsections for each vital fourth dimension period. A thematic review would accept subtopics based upon factors that relate to the theme or issue.

Sometimes, though, y'all might need to add additional sections that are necessary for your written report, but do non fit in the organizational strategy of the torso. What other sections you include in the body is up to you. Put in merely what is necessary. Here are a few other sections you might want to consider:

• Current Situation: Information necessary to understand the topic or focus of the literature review.
• History: The chronological progression of the field, the literature, or an idea that is necessary to understand the literature review, if the body of the literature review is not already a chronology.
• Methods and/or Standards: The criteria you used to select the sources in your literature review or the way in which you present your data. For instance, you lot might explain that your review includes merely peer-reviewed articles and journals.

Questions for Farther Enquiry: What questions almost the field has the review sparked? How will you lot further your research as a result of the review?

Begin composing

Once y'all've settled on a general pattern of organization, you're gear up to write each department. There are a few guidelines you should follow during the writing stage as well. Here is a sample paragraph from a literature review about sexism and language to illuminate the following discussion:

Still, other studies have shown that even gender-neutral antecedents are more likely to produce masculine images than feminine ones (Gastil, 1990). Hamilton (1988) asked students to consummate sentences that required them to fill in pronouns that agreed with gender-neutral antecedents such as "author," "pedestrian," and "persons." The students were asked to describe any image they had when writing the sentence. Hamilton establish that people imagined iii.3 men to each woman in the masculine "generic" status and ane.5 men per woman in the unbiased condition. Thus, while ambient sexism accounted for some of the masculine bias, sexist language amplified the outcome. (Source: Erika Falk and Hashemite kingdom of jordan Mills, "Why Sexist Language Affects Persuasion: The Role of Homophily, Intended Audience, and Offense," Women and Language19:two).

Apply evidence

In the example above, the writers refer to several other sources when making their betoken. A literature review in this sense is merely like any other academic research paper. Your interpretation of the bachelor sources must be backed up with testify to show that what yous are maxim is valid.

Be selective

Select just the most important points in each source to highlight in the review. The type of information you choose to mention should relate directly to the review'south focus, whether information technology is thematic, methodological, or chronological.

Apply quotes sparingly

Falk and Mills practice not use any directly quotes. That is because the survey nature of the literature review does not allow for in-depth discussion or detailed quotes from the text. Some short quotes here and there are okay, though, if you want to emphasize a point, or if what the author said just cannot be rewritten in your own words. Find that Falk and Mills do quote sure terms that were coined by the author, non common noesis, or taken straight from the written report. But if you find yourself wanting to put in more than quotes, bank check with your teacher.

Summarize and synthesize

Remember to summarize and synthesize your sources within each paragraph besides equally throughout the review. The authors here restate of import features of Hamilton's report, but then synthesize it by rephrasing the report'south significance and relating it to their own work.

Keep your own vocalisation

While the literature review presents others' ideas, your voice (the author'due south) should remain front and centre. Notice that Falk and Mills weave references to other sources into their ain text, only they notwithstanding maintain their own voice past starting and ending the paragraph with their own ideas and their own words. The sources support what Falk and Mills are saying.

Apply caution when paraphrasing

When paraphrasing a source that is not your own, exist sure to represent the writer's data or opinions accurately and in your ain words. In the preceding example, Falk and Mills either straight refer in the text to the author of their source, such equally Hamilton, or they provide ample annotation in the text when the ideas they are mentioning are not their own, for example, Gastil's. For more information, delight see our handout on plagiarism.

Revise, revise, revise

Typhoon in hand? At present you're set up to revise. Spending a lot of time revising is a wise idea, considering your main objective is to present the material, non the argument. So check over your review again to brand sure it follows the assignment and/or your outline. Then, just as you would for about other academic forms of writing, rewrite or rework the language of your review and then that you've presented your information in the nearly concise manner possible. Be sure to use terminology familiar to your audition; get rid of unnecessary jargon or slang. Finally, double check that you lot've documented your sources and formatted the review appropriately for your discipline. For tips on the revising and editing procedure, see our handout on revising drafts.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout's topic, and we encourage y'all to do your own research to notice additional publications. Delight do non utilize this list every bit a model for the format of your ain reference list, every bit it may not match the commendation fashion you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial. We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris Chiliad., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers, 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Jones, Robert, Patrick Bizzaro, and Cynthia Selfe. 1997. The Harcourt Brace Guide to Writing in the Disciplines. New York: Harcourt Brace.

Lamb, Sandra E. 1998. How to Write It: A Complete Guide to Everything You'll Ever Write. Berkeley: X Speed Printing.

Rosen, Leonard J., and Laurence Behrens. 2003. The Allyn & Bacon Handbook, 5th ed. New York: Longman.

Troyka, Lynn Quittman, and Doug Hesse. 2016. Simon and Schuster Handbook for Writers, 11th ed. London: Pearson.

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Source: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/literature-reviews/

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