This document provides guidance on writing a literature review. It discusses summarizing published sources on a topic and organizing them into an introduction, body, and conclusions section. The body can be organized chronologically, thematically, or methodologically. It is important to be selective in including only relevant sources, use evidence to support interpretations, and synthesize the key ideas while maintaining your own voice. The literature review identifies themes, helps narrow the research topic, and establishes the current state of knowledge to build upon.

1. It discusses published information in a particular subject area.
It can be a simple summary of the sources. It preferably has an
organizational pattern.
It combines summary of sources and synthesis. Summary is a
recap of important information of the source, synthesis is
reshuffling of the information.
It may give new interpretation of old material or combine new
with old interpretation - critique.
It might also trace the intellectual progression of the field,
including major debates.

2. It provides a ‘Stepping Stone’ to
research work.
It serves to identify ‘themes’ and
‘models’ for your research.
It helps to narrow down your
topic.
It compels researcher to
distinguish current sources from
old sources.

3. Find a Focus- organize around ideas not sources
Consider organization – in three parts, i.e.
Introduction, Body, Conclusions &
Recommendations.
Introduction is about topic of review, body can be
chronological, thematic or methodological.
Questions for further research.

4. Use evidence – interpretation of source should have evidence.
Be selective – use material related to your topic of research.
Use quotes sparingly –short quotes o.k.
Summarize and synthesize – recapitulate important features of the study
and rephrase its significance to your own work.
Keep up your own voice – use your own words.
Use caution when paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism.
Revise, Revise and Revise.
Consult some works

5. 1. James, E. Alana and Tracesea H. Slater (2014). Writing
Your Doctoral Dissertation or Thesis Faster. SAGE
Publications Inc. USA
2. Zanub Sandra E: How to Write It : A complete guide to
Everything you’ll Ever write. Berkeley California : Ten
Speed Press, 1998.