Library: Writing a Literature Review: Home

Initial Tips

A review of the literature:

• Focuses on a specific topic – your argument or problem as stated in your thesis.
• Compiles the research that has been published on the topic by recognized scholars and researchers.
• Provides background for the problem or puts the problem into historical perspective.
• Informs the reader about the current concepts and state of research on the topic and any controversies.
• Describes the pros and cons of particular studies and may suggest areas for further research.
• Organizes the citations thematically into a narrative that can serve as the introduction to your report or that can be an individual essay.

A review of the literature is NOT:

• A literary review describing and evaluating a specific book, poem, play, etc.
• An exhaustive, alphabetical list of every work consulted in your research, nor a list of references cited.
• An annotated bibliography listing references and adding brief notes about the value of each source.

Tutorials

Literature Reviews
Outlines what literature reviews are and offers tips on how to write them. From the Writing Center at UNC.
How to Write a Review of Literature
Discusses what a review of literature is, writing an introduction, body, and conclusion to a literature review. From the UW Writing Center.
Literature Review Tutorial
Answers to questions such as "What is a literature review?" "How do I write one?" and "What is their purpose?" From American University.