2. Should provide a critical assessment of the literature in a particular field,
stating where the weaknesses and gaps are, contrasting the views of
particular authors, or raising questions.
It will not just be a summary but will also evaluate and show relationships
between different material, so that key themes emerge.
Literature reviews provide a solid background for a research paper’s
investigation. Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the field is
essential to most research papers.
The Literature Review
3. Analysing
information
• Deconstructing, unpicking, to take apart;
• Separate into main parts/important features;
• Consider their relationship to each other;
• Give your opinion about merits and shortcomings;
• You should support your opinions with reasoned arguments and evidence.
Critical
evaluation of
information
• Make a judgement;
• Examine and emphasis similarities;
• Demonstrate awareness of points of difference.
Synthesising
information
• NOT just a summary of the information;
• The process of combining /blending different ideas/influences/objects;
• Identifying the absolute essentials; and the key ideas that underpin them;
• Potential to develop a new whole or view.
4. Evaluating them
would involve
judging them in
some way (e.g.
by taste; texture;
visual appeal).
Synthesising them would
involve taking the
ingredients from two or
more cakes and combining
them to make a new and
different cake.
Analysing
cakes would
involve
identifying all
the ingredients
used in them.
5. Top Tips
Use caution when
paraphrasing
Be selective
Use quotes sparingly Keep your own voice
Analyse, evaluate
and synthesise
Use subheadings
Draft, and redraft
and redraft again
Write in the past
tense
Write in the third
person
