A literature review is a critical summary of all the published works on a particular topic. Most research papers include a section on literature review as part of the introduction. However, a literature review can also be published as a standalone article. These slides will help you grasp the basics of writing a literature review.

1. How to write a
literature review

2. What is a review article?
A review article is a type of secondary literature
that talks about previously published work.
“Review articles give an overview of existing
literature in a field, often identifying specific
problems or issues and analysing information
from available published work on the topic
with a balanced perspective.”
6 Article types that journals publish: A guide for early career researchers
- Kakoli Majumder -
http://www.editage.com/insights/6-article-types-that-journals-publish-a-guide-for-early-career-researchersAvailable at:

3. Types of review articles
Today, we’ll understand how to write a literature review.
Systematic reviewsLiterature reviews
Meta-analyses

4. What is a literature review?
It analyzes specific issues.
A literature review is a critical summary of all
the published works on a particular topic.
It identifies trends in research.
It points out research gaps in existing literature.
How a literature review helps scientists and readers
Readers are able to:
• Form an idea about the current state
of understanding on a topic
• Decide whether to read each article
individually
Scientists are able to:
• Learn about developments in the
field
• Find gaps in research
• Identify new topics of research

5. How to write a literature review
You can write your literature review using one of the following approaches:
Chronological Thematic

6. The chronological approach
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Describe each work in succession, starting with the earliest available information.
 Use this structure when you want to focus on
how ideas or methodology have progressed over
time.
 Group and discuss your sources in order of their
publication date.
 Record the research and developments in each
group.
 Check how the field has developed over the
years. Do all studies discuss a common topic?
 Example: how models for treatment methods for
skin cancer in children have developed over a
specific period
TIPS for using the chronological approach

7. The thematic approach
Organize and discuss existing literature based on themes or theoretical concepts
you feel are important to understanding the topic.
 Remember that you need to do much more
than summarizing each study.
 Analyze existing knowledge on the topic with
regard to certain important issues.
 Draw the readers’ attention to new angles or
perspectives.
 Start listing citations you may include in your
paper.
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TIPS for using the thematic approach

8. Structure of a literature review
A literature review typically has five sections:
Introduction
Methods
Body
Discussion & Conclusion
Reference list

9. What you should include in each section (1/5)
IntroductionIntroduction
Set some context; provide information about the field of study, the
relevance of the chosen topic within the field, and the focus of the
literature review.

10. What you should include in each section (2/5)
Introduction
Methods
Set some context; provide information about the field of study, the
relevance of the chosen topic within the field, and the focus of the
literature review.
Help readers understand your approach, describe the criteria used to
select the sources or the way in which you have presented
information.

11. What you should include in each section (3/5)
Introduction
Methods
Body
Set some context; provide information about the field of study, the
relevance of the chosen topic within the field, and the focus of the
literature review.
Help readers understand your approach, describe the criteria used to
select the sources or the way in which you have presented
information.
A chronological model has different paragraphs for different time
periods; a thematic model has subtopics based on the different
themes.

12. What you should include in each section (4/5)
Introduction
Methods
Body
Discussion & Conclusion
Set some context; provide information about the field of study, the
relevance of the chosen topic within the field, and the focus of the
literature review.
A chronological model has different paragraphs for different time
periods; a thematic model has subtopics based on the different
themes.
Summarize the main contributions of significant studies, raise and
discuss questions about the topic and field, clearly mention gaps in
research, if any, and possible suggestions for further study.
Help readers understand your approach, describe the criteria used to
select the sources or the way in which you have presented
information.

13. What you should include in each section (5/5)
Introduction
Methods
Body
Discussion & Conclusion
Reference list
Set some context; provide information about the field of study, the
relevance of the chosen topic within the field, and the focus of the
literature review.
Help readers understand your approach, describe the criteria used to
select the sources or the way in which you have presented
information.
A chronological model has different paragraphs for different time
periods; a thematic model has subtopics based on the different
themes.
Prepare a complete reference list that includes every important
detail of all the sources you have referred to.
Source: A young researcher's guide to writing a literature review, Available from
http://www.editage.com/insights/a-young-researchers-guide-to-writing-a-literature-review
Summarize the main contributions of significant studies, raise and
discuss questions about the topic and field, clearly mention gaps in
research, if any, and possible suggestions for further study.

14. Final checklist (1/2)
Choose the right topic
Check the literature
you have chosen
The topic must be interesting to you; it should also be
well-defined and important to the field.
Monitor the papers you have chosen to review, make
changes to your bibliography, if required; prepare a
complete reference list.
Take notes while
reading
Write interesting bits of information or ideas as you read
so that you don’t miss important points when writing the
review.
Decide the format of
your review
Decide whether you should use a thematic or chronological
approach, based on the amount and type of material you
have.
Keep the focus specific
and interest general
While you focus on a specific topic, make sure your review
is also relevant to a broader audience who may want to
know more about the field.

15. Final checklist (2/2)
Analyze critically,
don’t summarize
Get the structure right
Source: Ten Simple Rules for Writing a Literature Review, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003149
Cover the main findings in the reviewed field, include
topics that are most debated, add your own thoughts
instead of reporting what has been said.
Use a flowchart to map the flow of ideas in your literature
review, and ensure that readers get a critical overview of
research in the field.
Rely on feedback Seek feedback from colleagues and peers, and get more
perspectives from senior colleagues before submitting
your literature review for publication.
Be objective
Avoid sounding as though you are overly critical or in favor
of previous research; objectively present the strengths and
weaknesses of previous studies.
Include older studies It is not necessary to only include the latest studies in your
review; include older papers that made a high impact or
that discussed the topic you are interested in.

16. We hope you found this useful.
Good luck with your literature review!

17. www.editage.com/insights
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