Research Guides: McNair Scholars Program: Annotated Bibliography/Review of Literature

What is a review of literature?

An integrated analysis that:

Summarizes
- What questions were addressed?
- What are the main conclusions (What does the study argue?)
Synthesizes
- Where do the studies agree?
- Where do they disagree?
  - What are the bases for disagreement?
- What theories/policies/evidence were looked at?
Critiques (strengths/weaknesses)
- How solid are the conclusions? Or, is there reason to doubt the conclusions? Are they based on:
  - Sound reasoning
  - Careful assessment of evidence
  - Well-executed methodology
- What is overall quality of the literature?
Points out gaps
- What questions were neglected?
- What relevant information and alternative theories were not discussed?
- What problems require additional research?

Introduction
- Define topic and establish reason for literature review
- Point out general trends about topic
- Explain criteria used in analyzing and comparing articles
Body of Review
- Groups articles in
  - Thematic clusters (chronologically, thematically, or methodologically)
  - Subtopics
- Smooth, logical transition between clusters
- Emphasizes main findings or arguments of articles in student’s own words (very limited direct quotations from articles)
Conclusion
- Summarizes major themes and identifies areas of controversy
- Pinpoints strengths and weaknesses among articles
  - Innovative methodology
  - Gaps in research
  - Etc.
- Concludes by forming questions that need further research
- Provides insight into relationship between that topic and larger field of study/discipline

On one hand	Rejected
On the other hand	Confused
Contrary to	Reinforced
In line with	A similar focus/approach/tone
Parallel to	A slightly different focus/approach/tone
Related to	A broader scope
Linked to	A narrower scope
Responded to	More specific/more general
Elaborated	In the same vein
Undermined	In a different sphere
Explored/investigated	Adapted
Contributed to the research on	Missed
Entered the debate	Supported
Re-emphasized the categories	Revisited the same subject
In agreement with	Revolutionized the field of
In opposition to	Bypassed the debate
In confirmation of	Broke out of the paradigm
In response to	Went beyond
In reaction against	Misinterpreted
In contrast to	criticized
Influenced by