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LITERATURE REVIEW: Step by Step Guide for Writing an Effective Literature Review

introduction

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In this video, Chelsea Seaburn introduces the topic of how to write a literature review. She mentions that the tutorial will be longer and encourages viewers to use timestamps if they want to skip ahead. She also expresses excitement for the topic.

what is a literature review?

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What is a Literature Review? "A literature review is a review of research that's already been done about a specific topic. It allows you to gain a clear picture of the current knowledge on that subject. It sets the stage for your own original thoughts and ideas."

Why Does a Literature Review Matter? "A literature review significantly increases your knowledge on your given subject. It helps you understand what has already been researched, so you can add new information or look at it from different angles."

How to Create an Effective Literature Review "To create an effective literature review: 1. Know if your literaturereview should be systematic or narrative. 2.Identify relevant sources and gather them. 3.Evaluate each source's credibility and relevance. 4.Organize the sources based on themes or key concepts. 5.Analyze, synthesize, and summarize the findings in relation to your research question." }

stand alone or part of a larger assignment

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Structure of a Standalone Assignment A standalone assignment follows the same structure as a standard writing assignment. It includes a title page, reference page, introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Placement in Larger Assignments 'Literature review' is usually located after the introduction in larger assignments like research papers. It sets up the reader for the rest of your research.

Steps to Writing a Literature Review The process can be divided into two halves: search & organize and structure & write.

Search

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To begin your literature review, identify your topic and formulate a research question. Conduct smart research by reading the abstract or introduction of articles to determine their usefulness. Use keywords and boolean searches to refine your search. Pay attention to citation counts as an indicator of article quality. Access academic sources through university libraries or contact professors for assistance with paywalled articles.

Organize

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In the second step of the research phase, it is crucial to organize your findings. Create a reference list and brief statements about each article's relevance. This will help you remember what each source covers and why it is important for your research. An annotated bibliography can serve as an effective way to summarize articles, identify problems, propose solutions, and provide evidence for your research topic. Take time to digest the material before starting the writing process.

Structure

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Creating a Structure for Your Literature Review Congratulations on reaching the halfway point of your literature review! The second half is easier and faster. Start by selecting the best order to present your information and create an outline. There are different types of literature reviews: integrative, chronological, thematic, methodological, and theoretical. Choose one that suits your research goals. For this standalone assignment, a thematic review will be used to synthesize and summarize information about the topic.

Formatting Your Paper and Creating an Outline "Never write before you create an outline" - it's crucial when writing a literature review as it ensures logical presentation of information in APA format. Begin with creating an APA title page followed by section headings based on objectives or logical order for presenting information. Example section headings: 1) Problem 2) Evidence 3) Solution Formatting (Level 1) 4) Conclusion (Level 2)

Writing Process With proper research organization and structure creation done beforehand,the actual writing process becomes easy.Starting from this stage,you can focus solely on putting down all gathered data into words without worrying about structuring everything again.

Write

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Writing a Literature Review When writing a literature review, focus on the body portions first and create the introduction and conclusion last. Include in-text citations in your annotated bibliography to make creating the literature review easier. Shape paragraphs by using linking language that ties back to the source. Add transitions between paragraphs for better flow. The introduction should introduce the topic, provide background information, and include a thesis statement that summarizes main ideas from sources.

Concluding Your Literature Review In your conclusion, reiterate main points made in your paper and end with either restating your thesis statement or identifying gaps or areas of debate for further research. After completing writing, edit and proofread carefully with some time apart from writing if possible.