Trying to figure out how to write a literary review can get on your nerves. What should you include? How should you organize it? What’s the purpose of doing it?
Before you start pulling your hair out and resort to rewriting whatever you find online, go through this step-by-step guide first. We promise that you will have a literature review in no time!
What Is A Literature Review?
Already know what a literature review is? You can skip this section, but if you need a quick refresher, a literature review is a thorough analysis of the most recent studies on your topic.
Some think that it is just a simple presentation, but that’s just one aspect of a literature review. You also have to organize it, compare and contrast different points of view, and find any gaps. All while establishing the foundation for your own argument.
Since it shows that you understand your topic, it’s the first thing you write in a paper or thesis.
How to Write a Literature Review
Now that we’ve tackled what a literature review is, let’s go over the steps:
Step 1. Identify and Define the Topic
General topics won’t work. You’ll just get confused and overwhelmed with all the available research. So, formulate a specific, manageable research question from your general area of interest.
For instance, rather than “climate change,” ask “How has climate change impacted crops in Sub-Saharan Africa over the last ten years?”. This level of detail will help you stay on track, concentrate your research, and later organize your ideas.
I'll be writing a literature review about [insert general topic]. I want you to help me formulate a more specific, manageable research question.Don’t know what topic you should have for your literature review? Try the ABC brainstorming technique.
Step 2. Research Relevant and Credible Literature
Instead of just Googling and selecting the first results, use smarter, bulletproof strategies like using trusted academic databases such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. If your institution offers resources like EBSCOhost or ProQuest, use them.
To search efficiently, use:
- Quoted terms for specific expressions (“gender bias in hiring”).
- Boolean operators such as AND, OR, and NOT.
- Related terms to locate more or less specific sources.
After you have a solid list of results, review the abstracts to determine which ones are worth reading in full. Remember always to select sources that are current, trustworthy, and relevant.
Tip: Always fact-check, especially when you are relying on AI for sources.
Step 3. Evaluate the Resources
It is not necessary to include every source in your review. Careful filtering is essential.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Was it released by a respectable organization, or has it undergone peer review?
- Is the author an expert in the field?
- Is the study up to date and applicable now?
- Does it directly relate to your research question or topic?
If you can’t say “yes” to most of these, it’s best to pass. A concise and targeted review is far better than one that is overly long and contains numerous weak points.
Step 4. Take Down Notes
After choosing your sources, engage with them thoroughly. Avoid random highlighting and make organized notes.
Keep track of important discoveries, recurring themes, differing opinions, gaps, and even direct quotes along with their page numbers. The aim is not only to understand each source but also to recognize how they relate to or contrast with one another.
Tip: Don’t skip this step! Having solid notes now will make outlining and writing much easier later.
Got lots of research papers to go through? You can use ChatGPT to summarize and highlight important key findings:
I'll be writing a literature review about [insert specific research topic].
I want you to go through the [attached document/research text below], summarize the paper, and, in a bullet list, highlight the important key findings along with their page numbers. Step 5. Outline the Structure
Although there isn’t a single “right” way to structure a literature review, you should still know what your options are so you can present your ideas and findings in an organized, logical manner.
Chronological
As its name suggests, this literature review structure means you present your sources based on when they were published. It works well for showing how concepts or approaches have changed over time.
Thematic
Instead of arranging sources chronologically, a thematic structure arranges them according to a topic or idea. Even if they are from different disciplines or years, it’s useful when different authors address related topics or problems. You can highlight distinctions, commonalities, and general trends with this format.
Methodological
This structure examines the various research methodologies used, such as experimental versus theoretical, quantitative versus qualitative, and so on.
Choose this if you want to focus on how studies were conducted and what that tells you about their outcomes.
Theoretical
This one involves organizing sources based on the theoretical frameworks they use. It works if you want to analyze how each source makes its case, and your topic involves abstract concepts.
Not sure which one you should use, ask ChatGPT this:
I'll be writing a literature review about [insert specific research topic].
I want you to give me the pros and cons of the following literature review structures:
- Theoretical
- Methodological
- Thematic
- Chronological Step 6. Write the Review
The introduction, the body, and the conclusion should be the three main parts of your review. Every section has a clear role.
Introduction
Start by stating your research topic in detail. Clearly state the purpose of the review: what are you trying to show, validate, or understand?
Give a brief explanation of the structure you chose and its suitability for this review.
I'm writing a literature review about [insert specific research topic]. The purpose of my literature review is [insert purpose] using [literature review structure].
Knowing these information, I want you to create an introduction for my literature review. Body
This is the point where your research comes together. Avoid simply summarizing each source. Write in a way that connects them and arranges them logically. Don’t forget to follow the structure you picked from step 5.
To make it easier for the reader to navigate through your sections, use subheadings. Under each, compare authors, draw attention to ongoing discussions, and point out any gaps or inconsistencies in the research.
Conclusion
The conclusion is essentially a summary of the most important findings, your analysis (like research gaps), and a reinstatement of your research objective. These three things should be tied together, of course.
I'm writing a literature review about [insert specific research topic].
The purpose of my literature review is [insert purpose] using [literature review structure].
The research findings are [insert all critical findings]. My analysis is [insert your analysis]
Knowing these information, I want you to create the conclusion for my literature review. Step 7. Edit and Revise
Your initial draft should not be treated as the final version. So, be mindful of:
- Clear dynamic from start to finish
- Logical links between sections
- Repeated points that should be eliminated
- Confusing concepts or awkward wording
- Citations with inconsistent formatting or incorrect tone
Tip: Your literature review should truly answer your research question. If it doesn’t, keep editing until it does.
Read, Write, Repeat—But Smarter
There is more to writing a literature review than simply packing it full of references. It really comes down to proving that you understand the prior research and are capable of properly interpreting it.