Literature Reviews

use academic literature to summarise the key issues (themes) in the topic you are investiagting

use academic literature to answer the question(s) you have about your topic

use academic literature to assess the research that has already been done on your topic

all of the above

e-mailing the authors of the studies you read to see what they think about your topic

describing their views and arguments, comparing it with others and highlighting any weaknesses in what they are saying

Saying that I personally disagree with the literature. There is no need to explain why or providing evidence.

Contrasting one view point in the literature with another view point to show where there is disagreement

Challenging key points with evidence in the form of data or other literature that suggest that the point might be wrong (eg. 'most young people use smartphones' could be challenged with data to show which young people do not)

Challenging assumptions that literature makes (eg. 'technology improves learning' could be challenged for being a deterministic viewpoint, as it suggests technology has a positive and direct impact on learning in all situations.)

Choose a new topic

Broaden your topic

Discuss it with a tutor

Think carefully about your search terms and the words you are putting into Discover. Are they the right ones?

List each author in turn and explain what they said before moving onto the next

Read your literature, group the ideas into three or four subthemes and then write these into paragraphs

10 to 15 academic references

50-60 academic references

No, academic journal articles do not need these.

Yes, they are usually near the start after the abstract and introduction and before the methodology section.

A description of a random selection of work in the subject area.

A list of books with a short commentary on each; this is an annotated bibliography.

A place for your opinions. I think ... I believe ...

A review of the current state of knowledge in the specific subject.