Writing a related literature is an important aspect of any research work. It involves reviewing and synthesizing existing scholarly sources that are relevant to your research topic.
This process can be daunting, especially for novice researchers. However, with a clear understanding of the steps involved, one can master the art of writing a related literature.
The first step is to identify and understand your research question or topic:
Before beginning your literature review, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what you want to investigate.
This will help you to focus your search for relevant sources.
The second step is to gather sources:
Use academic databases, search engines, and other sources to gather relevant scholarly articles, books, and other materials.
You can also consult bibliographies and reference lists of existing sources to find additional relevant sources.
Ensure that the sources you choose are up-to-date and reliable.
Try also finding out what other researchers who worked on similiar problem gathered.
The third step is to read and analyze the sources:
Carefully read each source and take notes on the main arguments, methods, and findings. Identify common themes and gaps in the literature.
This will help you to identify the relevant information that will be useful in your research work.
The fourth step is to organize your literature review:
Use an outline or a table to organize your literature review. Group sources according to common themes or categories.
This will help you to identify similarities and differences between sources and to synthesize the information.
You can also use mind maps to visualize the relationships between the sources.
The fifth step is to write your literature review:
Begin with an introduction that explains the purpose of your literature review and the scope of your research.
Then, organize your sources into coherent paragraphs or sections, summarizing the main arguments and findings of each source, and showing how they relate to your research question or topic.
Be sure to use relevant and appropriate citations to support your arguments.
End with a conclusion that summarizes the main findings and identifies gaps in the literature that your research aims to address.
The final step is to edit and revise your literature review:
Review your literature review carefully for clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Make sure that your sources are properly cited and that your writing is free of errors.
It is also important to ensure that your literature review is well-structured and easy to follow.
Remember that writing a related literature requires critical thinking and analysis.
Don not simply summarize each source, but rather synthesize and evaluate the information in light of your research question or topic.
It is also important to be objective and unbiased in your analysis of the sources.