Writing a literature review

1. Writing a literature review Researching Society and Culture 3rd February 2014 Hannah Jones

2. What is a literature review? • Discusses relevant literature already published on a topic • Relates this existing literature to the specific essay question • Demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of the literature • May develop an argument about the state of the research field, or explain how an essay fits into existing research

3. Why write a literature review? • Show you know about and understand what has been written on your subject already • Explain the context for your essay, argument or research • Provide background information that will help to make sense of your arguments or conclusions later in the essay

4. How to write a literature review • Planning • Reading • Taking notes • Thinking • Writing • Referencing

5. Planning • Essay structure • Time management • Key words in the essay question • Key themes [research topic, research methods, theories?] • Sub-headings, mind-maps, abstract? • Know what points you need to make • Literature that will explain the points you make

6. One version of a ‘mind-map’

7. Reading Throughout your degree, read widely. It will help you develop ideas and improve your writing style. • Consider key parts of the essay question and what you need to know about • Literature search, reading lists • Focused reading: for both information and ideas • Note taking

8. Taking notes • Find a system that works for you • Note key points – and your own reactions • Remember to note the reference that goes with your key points or insights

9. Thinking • Reflect on what you have read. This takes time! • Note down connections (or contradictions) you see between different texts • Try out new things, reconsider your arguments • Organise your notes, connect them to the essay question

10. Writing • Clarity: what do you want to communicate? • Write in a way you can understand • Get words on paper that you can edit • Edit, redraft, proofread • Have you communicated what you wanted to say?

11. Referencing • In-text citations, e.g. (Duneier, 1999) • Bibliography, e.g. Duneier, M (1999) Sidewalk, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. • Be consistent • Check a referencing guide e.g. http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/using/getmore/bibliographic-citation-referencing/

12. Marking criteria Bear in mind what you need to demonstrate in you work in order to get a good grade. To achieve a 2.i: “High quality work demonstrating good knowledge and understanding, analysis, organisation, accuracy, relevance, presentation and appropriate skills”

13. Pitfalls • Last-minute writing • Listing or summarising what you have read rather than engaging with it • Lack of organisation, relevance or coherence • Ignoring the assignment question • Plagiarism (copying without citations)

14. Tips • Read widely and actively • Learn from examples • Draft and re-draft • Focus on what you want to say, try to keep an argument or structure in mind