Finding & Citing Sources, Literature Reviews

A literature review is a critical and comparative analysis of sources in your research related to a particular topic.  It synthesizes multiple theses from your various sources and combines them together in a critical discussion. 

• A literature review can be it's own document or a section of a research paper.
• Literature reviews are NOT summaries, annotated bibliographies, or a compilation of your sources.

• Explore new insights about how your topic has been discussed in existing literature
• Provide context for your research
• Provide justification for your research

• Explanation of the topic 
• Discussion of what is being said by your sources
• Comparison of your sources (similarities, differences, etc.)
• Your thesis and its relation to your sources' theses

Organize your sources!

Annotate your sources!

• Do not summarize your literature review
• Compare, synthesize, and analyze your sources and connect to your own thesis
• Don't be afraid to revise, revise, and go back and edit your literature review