Ask yourself as you write: Are you reading research that address issues and variables pertaining

to your research interest? Are you conveying what, why and how other research address issues
and variables pertaining to your research interest?

Checklist for literature reviewi

Research question stated at the top of the paper. __
The literature review has an introductory paragraph that introduces the reader to the topic and the
purpose of the literature review. __
If there are sections within the review, they are logically ordered and explained to the reader.___
There are clearly articulated transitions between sections. (The storyline is easy to follow.) ___
The literature review is written in present tense. __
Quotes are used appropriately. (If included, they should only be used when the author cannot
easily paraphrase the message or idea.)__
Reference list with all completed in accordance with APA, MLA, or Turabian./Chicago style. __
There are eight sources, of which at least seven are peer reviewed sources. __
The literature review is not written solely in “X said, Y said” format. __
There are subheadings in your literature review used to group the literature according to themes
or issues. _____
You go beyond summarizing the studies to include evidence of analysis and critique of
individual studies. ___
The messages that emerge from the literature are made evident. (This may involve comparing
results, identifying differences among a number of studies on the same topic).______
The literature review tells the reader what has been found in the literature and what is lacking,
uncertain, contradictory, or otherwise in need of further research. __
The literature review systematically and logically leads the reader to the issue or question in need
of further research. __
The literature review leads up to the research question, but the latter is not stated as a question,
but rather a statement. __
The literature review is spell-checked. __
The literature review has been proofed. __
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Partly inspired by the checklist used by the Undergraduate Writing Center at UCLA, available at
https://wp.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Literature-Review-Checklist.pdf