Writing the Literature Review
A literature review is intended to summarize and synthesize the pertinent research on a topic by professionals in the field. A literature review can stand alone or appear as part of a longer work, such as a research proposal. The quality of the literature review is dependent upon (a) the thoroughness of the writer's search, (b) the quality and reliability of the writer's sources, (c) the ability of the writer to relate research studies to one another and to the writer's own thesis or purpose, (d) the objectivity of the writer in selecting, interpreting, organizing, and summarizing the research he or she has reviewed.
The links below provide information about, and examples of, literature reviews undertaken for a variety of purposes.
A List of Online Resources
University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center
Writing A Psychology Literature Review
University of Washington Psychology Writing Center
How to Write a Literature Review
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Writing a Literature Review [emphasis on how to organize]
Dr. Judity Rouchecouste, Graduate School, Edith Cowan University
Salmon Library, University of Alabama, Huntsville
Writing a Literature Review [a three-part site]
Wesleyan University Library
Literature Reviews: A How-To Guide
Sister Helen Sheehan Library, Trinity College, Washington, DC
Assessing Sources/Writing a Literature Review
University of Washinton (Bothell ) Writing Center
A 3-part site: explains how to evaluate sources, make a research matrix, and write the review
University of Houston (Victoria) Writing Center
Self-editing Checklist for Literature Review
Kent Brorson, PhD, University of Minnesota-Duluth
T. Budd, Saint Lawrence University
University of Canberra, Australia
Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
A 6-part site, include helpful guide to verbs for research reports
Writing Up Research: Using the Literature
Asian Institute of Technology
University of Otago (New Zealand) Student Learning Center
Temple University Writing Center
University of South Australia Online Learning Environment
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© 2004 The Writing Center, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus
Updated August 2004