Writing a Literature Review
Writingaliteraturereview怎样写文献综述英文 ppt课件

• “Empirical research has demonstrated …” • “The importance … is well documented…” • “Studies in Australia and New Zealand … all show that …” • “Studies of the use of information … also show that …” • “Moreover, in an empirical study …, Abrahamson and Amir (1996)
management” • Note the defining of scope • Note the outline of the paper
Focus on the literature (1)
• Many more sentences contain words that relate to research, studies, scholarly writing:
determine …”
• Authors used as examples: “(e.g., Lee and Tweedie, 1981)”
Focus on the literature (2)
• Note the following strong literature focus (weak author focus):
(NB. Here, the authors begin tho specific focus on author or literature
“Both the inclusion and the content of president’s letters significantly affect the judgments of individuals in equity investment decisions (Kaplan et al. 1990).”
如何写literature review

估计很多刚到外国读书的同学和我有一样的体会:第一次接触literature review,根本无从下笔。
今日看到一篇帖子写的很好,故转给各位看看,希望有所帮助。
首先需要将“文献综述(Literature Review)”与“背景描述(Backupground Description)”区分开来。
我们在选择研究问题的时候,需要了解该问题产生的背景和来龙去脉,如“中国半导体产业的发展历程”、“国外政府发展半导体产业的政策和问题”等等,这些内容属于“背景描述”,关注的是现实层面的问题,严格讲不是“文献综述”,关注的是现实层面问题,严格讲不是“文献综述”。
“文献综述”是对学术观点和理论方法的整理。
其次,文献综述是评论性的(Review就是“评论”的意思),因此要带着作者本人批判的眼光(critical thinking)来归纳和评论文献,而不仅仅是相关领域学术研究的“堆砌”。
评论的主线,要按照问题展开,也就是说,别的学者是如何看待和解决你提出的问题的,他们的方法和理论是否有什么缺陷?要是别的学者已经很完美地解决了你提出的问题,那就没有重复研究的必要了。
清楚了文献综述的意涵,现来说说怎么做文献综述。
虽说,尽可能广泛地收集资料是负责任的研究态度,但如果缺乏标准,就极易将人引入文献的泥沼。
技巧一:瞄准主流。
主流文献,如该领域的核心期刊、经典著作、专职部门的研究报告、重要化合物的观点和论述等,是做文献综述的“必修课”。
而多数大众媒体上的相关报道或言论,虽然多少有点价值,但时间精力所限,可以从简。
怎样摸清该领域的主流呢?建议从以下几条途径入手:一是图书馆的中外学术期刊,找到一两篇“经典”的文章后“顺藤摸瓜”,留意它们的参考文献。
质量较高的学术文章,通常是不会忽略该领域的主流、经典文献的。
二是利用学校图书馆的“期刊数据库检索”,能够查到一些较为早期的经典文献。
三是国家图书馆,有些上世纪七八十年代甚至更早出版的社科图书,学校图书馆往往没有收藏,但是国图却是一本不少。
literature review的写作要求

literature review的写作要求
写作Literature Review(文献综述)的要求是对已有相关研究文献进行全面、批判性和系统性的评估。
以下是撰写Literature Review时的一般要求和提示:
1. 定义研究领域:明确文献综述的范围和主题,指明所关注的具体研究领域或问题。
2. 搜集文献:广泛搜集文献,包括学术期刊文章、学位论文、会议论文和专业书籍等,以确保论文的全面性。
3. 文献筛选:对搜集到的文献进行筛选,只选择与研究领域相关且质量较高的文献进行综述。
4. 组织结构:按照逻辑顺序对选定的文献进行组织,可以根据主题、时间、理论等方面进行分类。
5. 批判性评估:对每一篇文献进行评论和评估,指出其优点、缺点和局限性。
要注意文献之间的联系和差异。
6. 综合分析:通过比较和对比不同文献的观点和结果,寻找共同点、差异和趋势,提出自己的观点和结论。
7. 文献引用:对已经引用的文献进行正确的引用格式,确保完整性和准确性。
8. 编写风格:采用学术写作风格,包括准确语言、客观描述和
严谨逻辑。
要使用适当的学术词汇和术语。
9. 文章结构:一般包括简介、文献综述、讨论和结论等部分,确保文章有明确的逻辑结构和内在联系。
10. 更新关注:文献综述应注意近期的最新研究,确保文献综述的时效性和权威性。
最后,写作Literature Review时要始终保持批判性思维和客观评估的态度,既要总结之前研究的差异和不足之处,也要为未来研究提供发展方向和建议。
如何写好literature review survey

Writing a Literature ReviewA literature review…•Provides an overview and a critical evaluation of a body of literature relating to a research topic ora research problem.•Analyzes a body of literature in order to classify it by themes or categories, rather than simply discussing individual works one after another.•Presents the research and ideas of the field rather than each individual work or author by itself.A literature review often forms part of a larger research project, such as within a thesis (or major research paper), or it may be an independent written work, such as a synthesis paper.Purpose of a literature reviewA literature review situates your topic in relation to previous research and illuminates a spot for your research. It accomplishes several goals:•provides background for your topic using previous research.•shows you are familiar with previous, relevant research.•evaluates the depth and breadth of the research in regards to your topic.•determines remaining questions or aspects of your topic in need of research.Relationship between a literature review and a research projectAcademic research at the graduate level is always part of a dialogue among researchers. As a graduate student, you must therefore indicate that you know where your topic is positioned within your field of study.Therefore, a literature review is a key part of most research projects at the graduate level. There is often a reciprocal relationship between a literature review and the research project for which it is written:• A research project is often undertaken in response to a literature review. Doing the literature review for a topic often reveals areas requiring further research. In this way, writing the literature review helps to formulate the research question.• A literature review helps to establish the validity of a research project by revealing gaps in the existing literature on a topic that offer opportunities for new research.Importance of the research questionOnce identified, the research question will drive the research project. Whatever you read or write should have a clear connection to your question.How to write a strong literature reviewThere are several steps toward writing a strong literature review:1.Synthesize and evaluate information2.Identify the main ideas of the literature3.Identify the main argument of the literature reviewanize the main points of the literature review5.Write literature review1. Synthesize and evaluate informationA literature review requires critical thinking, reading, and writing. You will take the information that you have gathered through your research and synthesize and evaluate it by indicating important ideas and trends in the literature and explaining their significance.Strategies for reading•As soon as you begin reading, take note of the themes or categories that you see emerging. These may be used later to develop a structure for the literature review.•Take note of how other writers classify their data, the literature in their fields, etc. It can be helpful to read literature reviews in your discipline to see how they are structured.Categories for analysis and comparisonA strong literature review examines each work on its own and in relation to other works by identifying and then analyzing them with regards to a number of different research aspects and ideas. Here are some possible categories to use for comparison and analysis.topicargumentresults found and conclusions methodstheoretical approach key wordsOverall, a literature review seeks to answer the following questions:•What does the literature tell you?•What does the literature not tell you?•Why is this important?Questions for analyzing individual works-What is the argument? Is it logically developed? Is it well defended?-What kind of research is presented? What are the methods used? Do they allow the author to address your research question effectively? Is each argument or point based on relevant research?If not, why?-What theoretical approach does the author adopt? Does it allow the researcher to make convincing points and draw convincing conclusions? Are the author’s biases and presuppositions openlypresented, or do you have to identify them indirectly? If so, why?-Overall, how convincing is the argument? Are the conclusions relevant to the field of study? Questions for comparing works-What are the main arguments? Do the authors make similar or different arguments? Are some arguments more convincing than others?-How has research been conducted in the literature? How extensive has it been? What kinds of datahave been presented? How pertinent are they? Are there sufficient amounts of data? Do theyadequately answer the questions?-What are the different types of methodologies used? How well do they work? Is one methodology more effective than others? Why?-What are the different theoretical frameworks or approaches used? What do they allow the authors to do? How well do they work? Is one approach more effective than others? Why?-Overall, is one work more convincing than others? Why? Or are the works you have compared too different to evaluate against each other?The Academic Writing Help Centre offers more information on synthesis and evaluation in the discussion group and accompanying handout on Information Management for a Literature Review.2. Identify the main ideas of the literatureOnce you have begun to synthesize your research, you will begin to identify some main ideas and trends that pervade the topic or that pertain to your research question.Use these main ideas to classify the information and sources that you have read. Later, these ideas can be used as the main topics of discussion in the literature review, and if you have already organized your literature on these topics, it will be easy to summarize the literature, find examples, etc.3. Identify the main argument of the literature reviewJust like any academic paper, the literature review should have a main idea about the literature that you would like the readers to understand. This argument is closely related to your research question in that it presents a situation in the body of literature which motivates your research question.ExampleArgument from a literature review: “Although some historians make a correlation between the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox churches and the retention of Ukrainian culture and language by Ukrainian immigrants in Canada, little has been said of the role of the Roman Catholic Church in the development of Ukrainian communities in Canada.”Research question:“How has the Roman Catholic Church shaped Ukrainian-Canadian identity?”4. Organize the main points of the literature reviewAfter identifying the main ideas that need to be presented in the literature review, you will organize them in such a way as to support the main argument. A well-organized literature review presents the relevant aspects of the topic in a coherent order that leads readers to understand the context and significance of your research question and project.As you organize the ideas for writing, keep track of the supporting ideas, examples, and sources that you will be using for each point.5. Write the literature reviewOnce the main ideas of the literature review are in order, writing can flow much more smoothly. The following tips provide some strategies to make your literature review even stronger.Tips for Writing and PresentationGive structure to the literature review.Like any academic paper, a literature review should contain an introduction, a body and a conclusion, and should be centered on a main idea or argument about the literature you are reviewing.If the literature review is a longer document or section, section headers can be useful to highlight the main points for the reader. However, the different sections should still flow together.Explain the relevance of material you use and cite.It is important to show that you know what other authors have written on your topic. However, you should not simply restate what others have said; rather, explain what the information or quoted material means in relation to your literature review.•Is there a relevant connection between a specific quote or information and the corresponding argument or point you are making about the literature? What is it?•Why is it necessary to include this piece of information or quote?Use verb tenses strategically.•Present tense is used for relating what other authors say and for discussing the literature, theoretical concepts, methods, etc.“In her article on biodiversity, Jones stipulates that ….”In addition, use the present tense when you present your observations on the literature.“However, on the important question of extinction, Jones remains silent.”•Past tense is used for recounting events, results found, etc.“Jones and Green conducted experiments over a ten-year period. They determined that it was not possible to recreate the specimen.”BibliographyBell, Judith. Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers in Education, Health and Social Science.Maidenhead, Berkshire: Open University Press, 2005.Boote, David N. and Penny Beile. “Scholars before researchers: On the centrality of the dissertation literature review in research preparation.” Educational researcher, 34.6 (2005): 3-15.Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.Verma, Gajendra K. and Kanka Mallick. Researching Education: Perspectives and Techniques. London: Falmer Press, 1999.The Writing Center, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Literature Reviews. Chapel Hill, NC. 2005. Available /depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html.© 2007 Academic Writing Help Centre, University of Ottawawww.sass.uottawa.ca/writing 613-562-5601 cartu@uOttawa.ca。
literature review的写作步骤

literature review的写作步骤撰写文献综述(literature review)时,可以按照以下步骤进行:1. 确定研究主题和目标:明确自己所要研究的主题和目标,这将有助于限定文献综述的范围和方向。
2. 收集文献:进行广泛的文献搜索,包括学术期刊、会议论文、书籍、学位论文等来源。
使用学术数据库、图书馆资源和互联网搜索引擎等工具来获取相关文献。
3. 筛选文献:根据研究主题和目标,对收集到的文献进行筛选。
首先,阅读文献的标题和摘要,排除与研究主题不相关的文献。
然后,仔细阅读剩下的文献,确定其质量和可靠性,选择与研究主题密切相关的文献。
4. 阅读和分析文献:仔细阅读选定的文献,并进行分析和批判性思考。
注意文献中的问题、研究方法、实验设计、研究结果等。
可以根据研究目标和主题,将文献进行分类或主题归纳,以便于后续写作。
5. 组织文献综述的结构:根据筛选和分析的文献,组织文献综述的结构。
通常,文献综述应包括引言、主体和结论部分。
引言部分介绍研究主题和目标,主体部分按照一定的逻辑顺序组织相关文献,结论部分总结和评价所述文献。
6. 写作文献综述:根据组织好的结构,开始撰写文献综述。
在写作过程中,要注意文献的引用和引用格式,确保准确引用每个文献的作者、出版日期和出版物信息。
同时,要注意文献综述的逻辑和连贯性,确保各个部分之间的衔接和流畅性。
7. 修订和润色:完成初稿后,对文献综述进行修订和润色。
检查文献引用的准确性和格式,确保信息的一致性和完整性。
同时,注意语言表达的清晰和流畅性,确保文献综述的可读性和易理解性。
8. 反复修改和完善:进行多次的修改和完善,确保文献综述的内容准确、全面,并符合学术要求。
最后,记得在文献综述中引用和参考所使用的文献,遵循适当的引用格式,如APA、MLA等。
这将保证文献综述的学术可信度和完整性。
文学报告撰写【英文】Writing a Literature Review

Points out current issues and questions concerning a topic Demonstrates how your proposed research will contribute to the field Convinces your thesis committee to allow you to pursue the topic of your interest or a grant funding agency to pay for your research efforts
Structure
Abstract - Brief summary of the contents Introduction - An explanation of the purpose of the study; a statement of the research question(s) you intend to address Literature Review - A critical assessment of the work done so far on this topic—to show how the current study relates to what has already been done Methods - How the study was carried out (e.g. instruments or equipment, procedures, methods to gather and analyze data) Results - What was found in the course of the study Discussion - What do the results mean Conclusion - State the conclusions and implications of the results; discuss how it relates to the work reviewed in the literature review; also point to directions for further work in the area
英文文献综述万能模板范文
英文文献综述万能模板范文英文回答:Introduction.A literature review is a comprehensive survey of the existing research on a particular topic. It provides a critical analysis of the literature, identifying the key themes, gaps, and areas for future research. A well-written literature review can help readers quickly and easily understand the current state of knowledge on a topic.Steps to Writing a Literature Review.1. Define your topic. The first step is to define the scope of your literature review. This includes identifying the key concepts, variables, and research questions that you will be addressing.2. Search for relevant literature. Once you havedefined your topic, you need to search for relevant literature. This can be done through a variety of sources, including academic databases, Google Scholar, and library catalogs.3. Evaluate the literature. Once you have found a bodyof literature, you need to evaluate it to determine its relevance, quality, and credibility. This involves reading the abstracts and full text of the articles and assessing their strengths and weaknesses.4. Organize your review. Once you have evaluated the literature, you need to organize it into a logical structure. This may involve grouping the articles by theme, methodology, or research question.5. Write your review. The final step is to write your literature review. This should include a clear introduction, a body that discusses the key findings of the literature, and a conclusion that summarizes your findings andidentifies areas for future research.Tips for Writing a Literature Review.Be comprehensive. Include all of the relevant literature on your topic, even if it is not supportive of your hypothesis.Be critical. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the literature, and identify any gaps in the research.Be clear and concise. Write in a clear and concise style, and avoid using jargon or technical language.Proofread carefully. Make sure to proofread your literature review carefully before submitting it.中文回答:文献综述的撰写步骤。
研究生学术英语翻译4
Writing a literature review撰写文献综述A literature review is a very important part of the research project.It may be a self-contained review or a part of the introduction to an academic essay.In either case,its purpose is to demonstrate a clear understanding of the topic being ly,your literature review must tell what has been done on the topic,what different scholars have said about their own research,what major findings have been published,and what controversial area exist.A good literature review can enhance the credibility of your research by indicating that your present study is based on a thorough and critical knowledge of what has been done in the field.Before writing,to be critical,you must ask questions like these about each book or article you read:文献综述是研究项目的一个重要组成部分。
它可以是一个独立的综述或是一个学术论文引言的一部分。
在每一种情况下,它的目的都是表明对所研究的课题有一个清晰的认识。
英文文献综述写作要求和方法
DefinitionA literature review(文献综述)is both a summary and explanation of the complete and current state of knowledge on a limited topic as found in academic books (学术著作)and journal articles(期刊论文). There are two kinds of literature reviews you might write at university: one that students are asked to write as a stand-alone assignment in a course, often as part of their training in the research processes in their field, and the other that is written as part of an introduction to, or preparation for, a longer work, usually a thesis or research report. The focus and perspective of your review and the kind of hypothesis(假设)or thesis argument you make will be determined by what kind of review you are writing. One way to understand the differences between these two types is to read published literature reviews or the first chapters of theses and dissertations(学位论文)in your own subject area. Analyze the structure of their arguments and note the way they address the issues.Purpose of the Literature Review∙It gives readers easy access to research on a particular topic by selecting high quality articles or studies that are relevant, meaningful, important and valid(有效的)and summarizing them into one complete report.∙It provides an excellent starting point for researchers beginning to do research ina new area by forcing them to summarize, evaluate, and compare originalresearch in that specific area.∙It ensures that researchers do not duplicate work that has already been done. 你所整理的文章中作者主要观察的重点是什么∙It can provide clues(线索)as to where future research is heading or recommend areas on which to focus. 现在的研究都到了什么程度∙It highlights key findings.∙It identifies inconsistencies(矛盾), gaps and contradictions in the literature.∙It provides a constructive analysis of the methodologies and approaches of other researchers. 前面研究者的建设性的方法和途径Content of the ReviewIntroductionThe introduction explains the focus and establishes the importance of the subject(主题). It discusses what kind of work has been done on the topic and identifies a ny controversies(争议)within the field or any recent research which has raised questions about earlier assumptions(假设). It may provide background or history. It concludes with a purpose or thesis statement(中心思想). In a stand-alone literature review, this statement will sum up and evaluate the state of the art (目前的工艺水平)in this field of research; in a review that is an introduction or preparatory to(为~~做准备)a thesis or research report, it will suggest how the review findings will lead to the research the writer proposes to undertake.Body(论文的内容)Often divided by headings/subheadings(标题/副标题), the body summarizes and evaluates the current state of knowledge in the field. It notes major themes or topics, the most important trends, and any findings about which researchers agree or disagree. Ifthe review is preliminary to (在~~之前)your own thesis or research project, its purpose is to make an argument that will justify your proposed research. Therefore, it will discuss only that research which leads directly to your own project.ConclusionThe conclusion summarizes all the evidence presented and shows its significance. If the review is an introduction to your own research, it highlights gaps and indicates how previous research leads to your own research project and chosen methodology. If the review is a stand-alone assignment for a course, it should suggest any practical applications of the research as well as the implications and possibilities for future research.Nine Steps to Writing a Literature Review(九步法写综述)1. Find a working topic.Look at your specific area of study. Think about what interests you, and what fertile ground for study is. Talk to your professor, brainstorm, and read lecture notes and recentissues of periodicals(期刊)in the field.2. Review the literature.∙Using keywords search a computer database. It is best to use at least two databases relevant to your discipline.∙Remember that the reference lists of recent articles and reviews can lead to valuable papers.∙Make certain that you also include any studies contrary to your point of view.3. Focus your topic narrowly and select papers accordingly.Consider the following:∙What interests you?∙What interests others?∙What time span(时间跨度)of research will you consider?Choose an area of research that is due for a review.4. Read the selected articles thoroughly and evaluate them.∙What assumptions do most/some researchers seem to be making?∙What methodologies do they use? - What testing procedures, subjects, material tested?∙Evaluate and synthesize(综合)the research findings and conclusions drawn.∙Note experts(专家)in the field: names/labs that are frequently referenced.∙Note conflicting theories, results, and methodologies.∙Watch for popularity of theories and how this has/has not changed over time.5. Organize the selected papers by looking for patterns and by developing sub-topics. Note things such as:∙Findings that are common/contested(争论)∙Two or three important trends in the research∙The most influential theories6. Develop a working thesis.Write a one- or two-sentence statement summarizing the conclusion you have reached about the major trends and developments you see in the research that has been done on your subject.7. Organize your own paper based on the findings from steps 4 & 5.Develop headings/subheadings. If your literature review is extensive, find a large table surface, and on it place post-it notes(便签纸)or filing cards(档案卡)to organize all your findings into categories. Move them around if you decide that (a) they fit better under different headings, or (b) you need to establish new topic headings.8. Write the body of the paperFollow the plan you have developed above, making certain that each section links logically to the one before and after and that you have divided your sections by themes or subtopics, not by reporting the work of individual theorists or researchers.9. Look at what you have written; focus on analysis, not description.Look at the topic sentences of each paragraph. If you were to read only these sentences, would you find that your paper presented a clear position, logically developed, from beginning to end? If, for example, you find that each paragraph begins with a researcher's name, it might indicate that, instead of evaluating and comparing the research literature from an analytical point of view, you have simply described what research has been done. This is one of the most common problems with student literature reviews. So if your paper still does not appear to be defined by a central,Finishing Touches: Revising and Editing Your Work∙Read your work out loud. That way you will be better able to identify where you need punctuation marks(标点符号)to signal pauses or divisions withinsentences, where you have made grammatical errors, or where your sentences are unclear.∙Since the purpose of a literature review is to demonstrate that the writer is familiar with the important professional literature on the chosen subject, check to make certain that you have covered all of the important, up-to-date, andpertinent texts. In the sciences and some of the social sciences it is importantthat your literature be quite recent; this is not so important in the humanities.∙Make certain that all of the citations and references are correct and that you are referencing in the appropriate style for your discipline. If you are uncertain which style to use, ask your professor.∙Check to make sure that you have not plagiarized either by failing to cite a source of information, or by using words quoted directly from a source. (Usually if you take three or more words directly from another source, you should putthose words within quotation marks, and cite the page.)∙Text should be written in a clear and concise academic style; it should not be descriptive in nature or use the language of everyday speech.∙There should be no grammatical or spelling errors.∙Sentences should flow smoothly and logically.∙In a paper in the sciences, or in some of the social sciences, the use of subheadings to organize the review is recommended.。
Writing a Literature Review
Literature reviewWhat is a literature review?A literature review is a description of the literature relevant to a particular field or topic. This is often written as part of a postgraduate thesis proposal, or at the commencement of a thesis. A critical literature review is a critical assessment of the relevant literature. It is unlikely that you will be able to write a truly critical assessment of the literature until you have a good grasp of the subject, usually at some point near the end of your thesis.The review, like other forms of expository writing, has an introduction, body and conclusion, well-formed paragraphs, and a logical structure. However, in other kinds of expository writing, you use relevant literature to support the discussion of your thesis; in a literature review, the literature itself is the subject of discussion.What counts as 'literature'?‘Literature’ covers everything relevant that is written on a topic: books, journal articles, newspaper articles, historical records, government reports, theses and dissertations, etc. The important word is 'relevant'. Check with your supervisor or tutor when in doubt.Why do a literature review?A literature review is written to highlight specific arguments and ideas in a field of study. By highlighting these arguments, the writer attempts to show what has been studied in the field, and also where the weaknesses, gaps, or areas needing further study are. The review should therefore also demonstrate to the reader why the writer’s research is useful, necessary, important, and valid.A review of the literature has the following functions:•To justify your choice of research question, theoretical or conceptual framework, and method •To establish the importance of the topic•To provide background information needed to understand the study•To show readers you are familiar with significant and/or up-to-date research relevant to the topic•To establish your study as one link in a chain of research that is developing knowledge in your fieldHow many references to look for?This depends on what the literature review is for, and what stage you are at in your studies. Your supervisor or tutor should specify a minimum number of references.Generally speaking, a reasonable number of references in a literature review would be:undergraduate review: 5-20 titles depending on level.Honours dissertation: 20+ titles.Masters thesis: 40+ titlesDoctoral thesis: 50+ titles.How to write a literature review1.The literature search2.Noting the bibliographical details3.Finding the literature4.Reading the literatureTake notes as you read the literature. You are reading to find out how each piece of writing approaches the subject of your research, what it has to say about it, and (especially for research students) how it relates to your own thesis:Is it a general textbook or does it deal with a specific issue(s)?Is it an empirical report, a theoretical study, a sociological or political account, a historical overview, etc? All or some of these?Does it follow a particular school of thought?What is its theoretical basis?What definitions does it use?What is its general methodological approach? What methods are used?What kinds of data does it use to back up its argument?What conclusions does it come to?5. Writing the reviewHaving gathered the relevant details about the literature, you now need to write the review. The kind of review you write, and the amount of detail, will depend on the level of your studies.Note 1: do not confuse a literature review with an annotated bibliography.An annotated bibliography deals with each text in turn, describing and evaluating the text, using one paragraph for each text.In contrast, a literature review groups related works together and discusses trends and developments rather than focusing on one item at a time. It is not a summary; rather, it evaluates previous and current research in regard to how relevant and/or useful it is and how it relates to your own research.A Literature Review is more than an Annotated Bibliography or a summary, because you are organizing and presenting your sources in terms of their overall relationship to your own project.Note 2: think of the review as a funnelThe review must be shaped by a focus on key areas of interest, including research which provides a background to the topic (depending on whether it is for an Honours thesis or for a PhD). It should also be selective. A common mistake in writing the review is to comment on everything you have read regardless of its relevance. In your writing it is useful to think of the review as a funnel - start wide with the overview and then quickly narrow into discussing the research that relates to your specific topic.•Another way of looking at the process, particularly if you are examining several topics (or variables), is to think of yourself as a film director (Rudestam and Newton, 1992). You can think of providing your audience with:•long shots to provide a solid sense of the background•middle distance shots where the key figures and elements to be examined are brought clearly into view•close-up shots where the precise focus of your work is pinpointedSections of literature reviewLike all academic writing, A literature review is written in essay format. It must have an introduction, body, and conclusion.The introduction should include:1)the nature of the topic under discussion (the topic of your thesis)2)the parameters of the topic (what does it include and exclude)?3)the basis for your selection of the literatureThe conclusion should include:1)A summary of major agreements and disagreements in the literature2)A summary of general conclusions that are being drawn.3)A summary of where your thesis sits in the literatureThe body paragraphs could include relevant paragraphs on:1)historical background, including classic texts;2)current mainstream versus alternative theoretical or ideological viewpoints, including differing theoretical assumptions, differing political outlooks, and other conflicts;3)possible approaches to the subject (empirical, philosophical, historical, postmodernist, etc);4)definitions in use;5)current research studies;6)current discoveries about the topic;7)principal questions that are being asked;8)general conclusions that are being drawn;9)methodologies and methods in use;Structure of literature reviewThere are several ways to organize and structure a literature review. Two common ways are chronologically and thematically.1)Chronological: group and discuss your sources in order of their appearance (usuallypublication), highlighting the changes in research in the field and your specific topic over time.e.g. metaphor—how the definition of it changes through time by giving some examplesof key concepts made by scholars, and ending with current thoeries and the definition you will use in your thesis2)Thematic: group and discuss your sources in terms of the themes or topics they cover.This method is often a stronger one organizationally, and it can help you resist the urge to summarize your sources. By grouping themes or topics of research together, you will be able to demonstrate the types of topics that are important to your research.e.g. study of Feminism in Jane Eyre—commnets on Charlotte Brontecomments on Jane Eyrecomments on Feminism※No matter which method you choose, remember:Within each section of a literature review, it is important to discuss how the research relates to other studies (how is it similar or different, what other studies have been done, etc.) as well as to demonstrate how it relates to your own work. This is what the review is for: don’t leave this connection out!Criteria of good literature reviewA review of the literature should:•Set up a theoretical framework for your research•Show your reader that you have a clear understanding of the key concepts/ideas/studies/ models related to your topic•know about the history of your research area and any related controversies•can discuss these ideas in a context appropriate for your own investigation•can evaluate the work of others•Clarify important definitions/terminology•Develop the research space you will also indicate in the Introduction and Abstract•Narrow the problem; make the study feasibleQuestions you need to ask yourself when you are planning and drafting your Literature Review: •What has been done in your field of research? What principles of selection are you going to use?•How are you going to order your discussion? Chronological, thematic, conceptual, methodological, or a combination? What section headings will you use?•How do the various studies relate to each other? What precise contribution do they make to the field? What are their limitations or are there any gaps? Are there new ways of looking at the topic?•What future directions should research in this subject take?•How does your own research fit into what has already been done? What contribution will your research make to the field?Sample Analysis。
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Paraphrase
Putting others’ ideas and direct quotations into your own words—is often preferable to quoting directly. When you can paraphrase, you show that you are able to understand and synthesize what others have said without merely parroting it. Paraphrase also helps your writing read more smoothly, as you can combine ideas from several different sentences (rather than interrupt your work with a lengthy quotation) and can choose shorter words or more streamlined phrases.
Audience
Literature reviews can have different types of audiences, so consider why and for whom you are writing your review. Highlighting the gap in knowledge which your research aims to fill is particularly important in this instance because you need to convince the reader that there is an opening in the area of study.
Citing
You must cite all information that came from another source, even paraphrases or facts and figures. Although different disciplines follow different conventions (MLA, APA, etc.), most of them currently recommend in-text citations.
Writing a Literature Review?/
Theoretic Basis/conceptual Basis What is a Literature Review?
A literature review is a survey and discussion of the literature in a given area of study. It is a concise overview of what has been studied, argued, and established about a topic, and it is usually organized chronologically or thematically. A literature review is written in essay format. It is not an annotated bibliography, because it groups related works together and discusses trends and developments rather than focusing on one item at a time. It is not a summary; rather, it evaluates previous and current research in regard to how relevant and/or useful it is and how it relates to your own research.
Purpose
A literature review is written to highlight specific arguments and ideas in a field of study. By highlighting these arguments, the writer attempts to show what has been studied in the field, and also where the weaknesses, gaps, or areas needing further study are. The review should therefore also demonstrate to the reader why the writer’s research is useful, necessary, important, and valid.
INTEGRATING SOURCE MATERIAL INTO YOUR WRITING
Direct Quotations First, use direct quotations sparingly. Adding long (or even short) word-for-word passages from other people’s writing dilutes the impact of your own ideas, and the interruption of these quotations almost always makes writing seem choppy. Use direct quotations only when -The original language is particularly creative or vivid -The terminology used must be exact and accurate -The person quoted must explain his or her position in his or her own words -The person quoted is an authority on the subject and is using vivid or technical language
Questions a Literature Review Should Answer:
Asking questions such as the following will help you sift through your sources and organize your literature review. Remember, the literature review organizes the previous research in the light of what you are planning to do in your own project.
USING AND CITING SOURCES
In academic writing, show that you are able to take part in a “conversation” with others who have researched and written about the same issues. When you draw on the words and ideas of other people in this academic conversation, you cite them in order to give them credit for what they contributed to your argument, as well as to help others reading your work locate your source material if they would like to learn more. Try to integrate this information from others into your own writing. Remember that, ultimately, you want your reader to focus on your ideas and arguments rather than feel as if they’re reading a summary of things other people have said.
Audience
A literature review in a proposal will similarly try to convince the audience of the significance and worthiness of the proposed project. In contrast, when you are writing a literature review for a course, just show your professor that you understand what research has been done, giving you a base of knowledge. In this case, you may not need to focus as much on proving where the gaps in knowledge lie, but rather, that you know what the major areas of study and key ideas are.
Questions a Literature Review Should Answerat's been done in this topic area to date? What are the significant discoveries, key concepts, arguments, and/or theories that scholars have put forward? Which are the important works? On which particular areas of the topic has previous research concentrated? Have there been developments over time? What methodologies have been used? Are there any gaps in the research? Are there areas that haven't been looked at closely yet, but which should be? Are there new ways of looking at the topic? Are there improved methodologies for researching this subject? What future directions should research in this subject take? How will your research build on or depart from current and previous research on the topic? What contribution will your research make to the field?