How can you show your field expertise with literature reviews?

1 Define your scope and purpose

The first step in writing a literature review is to define the scope and purpose of your review. What is the main research question or problem that you are addressing? What are the key concepts and terms that you are using? What are the criteria for selecting and excluding sources? How will you organize and synthesize the information that you find? These questions will help you narrow down your focus and establish the aim and rationale of your review.

2 Search and evaluate sources

The next step is to search for and evaluate the sources that are relevant to your topic and scope. You can use various databases, journals, books, and other sources to find the most current and credible literature in your field. However, you should not rely on the quantity or popularity of the sources alone. You should also critically assess the quality, validity, reliability, and relevance of the sources, as well as their strengths, weaknesses, limitations, and biases. This will help you identify the most significant and influential sources that will support your argument.

3 Analyze and synthesize the literature

The third step is to analyze and synthesize the literature that you have selected and evaluated. This means that you should not simply summarize or describe the sources, but rather compare, contrast, and integrate them to identify the main themes, trends, gaps, controversies, and implications in the literature. You should also relate the literature to your own research question or problem, and explain how it informs, supports, or challenges your perspective. This will help you demonstrate your understanding and interpretation of the literature, as well as your ability to synthesize and communicate it effectively.

4 Identify the research gap and contribution

The fourth step is to identify the research gap and contribution that your literature review makes. This means that you should not only report what has been done in your field, but also what has not been done or what needs to be done. You should highlight the gaps, inconsistencies, or limitations in the existing literature, and explain how your review addresses or fills them. You should also state the contribution or value of your review to the advancement of your field, and how it sets the stage for your own research or argument. This will help you show your originality and significance of your literature review.

5 Write and revise your review

The final step is to write and revise your review according to the standards and conventions of your field and genre. You should follow a clear and logical structure that guides the reader through your review, and use appropriate headings, transitions, and citations to organize and acknowledge your sources. You should also use a formal and academic tone that reflects your field expertise, and avoid personal opinions, emotions, or biases. You should also proofread and edit your review for clarity, coherence, accuracy, and consistency, and seek feedback from your peers or mentors to improve your review.

6 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?