First, let’s make the distinction between a literature review and a research
project. The main focus of an academic research paper is to develop a new argument,
and the research paper will contain a literature review as one of its parts. Hence, a
research paper uses a literature review as foundational support for a new insight that
you plan on contributing. The focus of a literature review, however, is to summarize
and synthesize the arguments and ideas of others without adding new contributions.
Length Requirement: Your final literature review MUST be a minimum of 2000 words
(about eight pages double-spaced). You must also include a references/works cited page
which does not count towards the minimum word requirement. Both the title page and
abstract are optional, but, again, do not contribute to your word count.
Formatting: You may use whichever formatting style is most representative of writing
within your field. If you plan to use a format other than MLA or APA, please let me know in
advance. If you What to do prior to writing a literature review:
1. Seek clarification on expectations – Roughly how many sources will you need to include?
You will need a minimum of five sources for your final literature review. – What types of sources are acceptable (books, journal articles, websites, etc.)?
You may use ANY sources for your review, but at LEAST three must be scholarly
in nature. 2. Consider whether your sources are current
– Sort through current bibliographies or literature reviews in your field to get a
sense of what your discipline expects. You can also use this method to consider
what is currently of interest to scholars, as well as what is not. Strategies for writing a literature review: Find a focus
A literature review is usually organized around ideas and not the sources
themselves (as an annotated bibliography would be organized). As you read widely but
selectively in your topic area, consider what themes or issues connect your sources
together. Do they present one, many, or different solutions? Is there an aspect of the
field that is missing? How well do they present the material and do they portray it
according to an appropriate theory with in the field? Do they reveal a trend in the
field? A raging debate? Pick one of these themes to focus the organization of your
review. You may want to review critically reviewing sources on the department writing
page. Construct a working thesis statement
Then use the focus you found to construct a thesis statement. Your thesis
statement will not necessarily argue for a position or an opinion, rather it will argue
for a particular perspective on the material. For example: The current trend in
treatment for congestive heart failure combines surgery and medicine. Or: More and
more cultural studies scholars are accepting popular media as a subject worthy of
academic consideration. Consider the review’s organization
You’ve got a focus, and you’ve narrowed it down to a thesis statement, so what is
the most effective way of presenting the information? What are the most important
topics, subtopics, etc., that your review needs to include? And in what order should
you present them? Just like most of your academic papers, literature reviews also must contain the
following three basic elements: 1. Introduction-gives a quick idea of the topic of the literature review, such as the
central theme or organizational pattern. 2. Body-contains your discussion of sources and is organized either
chronologically or thematically. 3. Conclusions/Recommendations-discuss and summarize what you have drawn
from reviewing this literature. Where might the discussion proceed, or what
questions have arise for future research in this topic area?
Revise your work
Remember, because your main objective is to present the material and not an
argument, spending time making revisions is a wise thing to do prior to turning it in.
In an effort to present your information in the most concise way, rewrite or rework
the language of your review to make sure it follows the assignment (and/or your
outline of the assignment).
I have added the topic in the files section the proposal and annotated bibliography of what I need this Literature review to be about, and also some sources to add to the literature review in the annotated bibliography.