What is a literature review?

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

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

Wikipedia

Books from our library collection

Journal articles

Newspaper articles

Blogs and discussion groups online

Saying that I personally disagree with the literature. There is no need to explain why or to provide 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 (for example, 'most young people use smartphones' could be challenged with data to show that some young people do not)

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

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

Read academic literature, group ideas into three or four themes and then write these into paragraphs.

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 just like an annotated bibliography

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

A review of recent academic literature on one specific topic, summarising, referencing and discussing it.