HOW TO WRITE LITERATURE REVIEW

Writing a literature review involves critically analyzing and summarizing existing research and
scholarly articles related to a specific topic. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to write a literature
review:

1. Define your research question or topic: Clearly articulate the specific research question or
topic you want to explore in your literature review. This will help guide your search and
ensure you focus on relevant studies.

2. Conduct a comprehensive literature search: Use academic databases, library catalogs, and
search engines to find relevant scholarly articles, books, and other sources related to your
topic. Ensure you use appropriate keywords and search terms to refine your search and
obtain the most relevant results.

3. Evaluate the sources: Critically evaluate the credibility, relevance, and quality of the sources
you find. Consider factors such as the author's credentials, the reputation of the journal or
publisher, the methodology used, and the date of publication. Select sources that are
authoritative, current, and directly related to your research question.

4. Read and take notes: Carefully read and analyze each source. Take detailed notes,
summarizing the main findings, key arguments, methodologies used, and any relevant
quotes or statistics. Organize your notes based on themes or subtopics to facilitate the
writing process.

5. Identify key themes and patterns: Analyze the information gathered from the sources and
identify common themes, patterns, or gaps in the existing literature. Look for connections,
controversies, and areas of consensus among the studies.

6. Develop an outline: Create an outline for your literature review to establish the structure and
organization of your paper. Include headings and subheadings based on the themes or
subtopics you identified. This will help you present a coherent and logical flow of ideas.