How can you craft a strong intro and conclusion for your literature review?

1 Define your topic and research question

The first step to writing a strong intro for your literature review is to define your topic and research question. Your topic should be specific, relevant, and manageable, and your research question should be clear, focused, and answerable. You should also explain why your topic and question are important and how they relate to the existing literature. This will help you establish the context and significance of your review.

2 Identify and organize the main themes

The next step to writing a strong intro for your literature review is to identify and organize the main themes that emerge from the literature. These themes are the key aspects or categories that you will use to structure and analyze the literature. You should briefly introduce the main themes and explain how they relate to your research question and each other. This will help you provide a roadmap and a preview of your review.

3 State your thesis or argument

The final step to writing a strong intro for your literature review is to state your thesis or argument. Your thesis or argument is the main claim or position that you will support or defend in your review. It should be concise, specific, and debatable, and it should reflect your critical evaluation of the literature. You should also indicate how your thesis or argument contributes to the existing knowledge or fills a gap in the literature. This will help you demonstrate the originality and value of your review.

4 Summarize and evaluate the main findings

The first step to writing a strong conclusion for your literature review is to summarize and evaluate the main findings that emerge from the literature. You should restate your thesis or argument and highlight how the main themes support or challenge it. You should also critically assess the strengths, limitations, and implications of the literature, and identify any inconsistencies, contradictions, or gaps that remain. This will help you show how you have answered your research question and achieved your purpose.

5 Discuss the implications and recommendations

The next step to writing a strong conclusion for your literature review is to discuss the implications and recommendations that result from your review. You should explain how your review contributes to the existing knowledge or practice in your field, and how it informs or relates to your larger project or research question. You should also suggest any directions for future research or action that arise from your review, and acknowledge any limitations or challenges that you faced. This will help you demonstrate the relevance and impact of your review.

6 End with a strong closing sentence

The final step to writing a strong conclusion for your literature review is to end with a strong closing sentence that summarizes and reinforces your main message. You should avoid introducing any new information or arguments, or repeating what you have already said. Instead, you should use a clear and confident tone that leaves a lasting impression on your reader. You can also use a question, a quote, or a call to action to engage your reader and encourage further inquiry. This will help you close your review on a positive and memorable note.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?