MLA Format Essay
- 11 June 2019
- 607 words
Engaging in intensive research requires an inclusion of a literature review in writing a final report. Basically, such papers do not strictly follow a general essay structure. In turn, distinguishing such a text from other types of works requires a clear understanding of its definition and format of writing, format, and unique features in its structure. Finally, students should observe basic steps on how to write a literature review for a research paper, including an example itself, topics, what to include, and what to avoid.
General Aspects
Various primary goals of different types of papers impact a definition of a literature review. Firstly, a review surveys existing studies that are relevant to a topic of interest. Basically, an entire survey is useful because it illustrates a person’s knowledge of existing studies. Moreover, this feature provides a project with some sense of credibility. Secondly, this type of work synthesizes identified previous studies into a succinct summary. In writing, main theories or ideas are highlighted with much evidence to give readers a deep understanding of a presented topic. Finally, a further examination presents a critical analysis by pointing out some limitations of certain lines of thought and addressing controversial aspects of a topic and writing about them. In turn, a whole analysis yields key knowledge gaps by using literature analysis. Therefore, a literature review may be defined as a systematic presentation of existing information that establishes a valid foundation for conducting and writing a current study as its starting point.
What Is a Literature Review and Its Purpose
According to its definition, a literature review is a comprehensive summary and critical evaluation of existing research on a particular topic. For example, the main purpose of writing a literature review is to provide an overview of a current state of knowledge, identify some gaps in research studies, and highlight key areas of agreement and disagreement among scholars (Greetham, 2021). Basically, organizing this section of a research paper includes systematically searching for relevant academic works, such as books, journal articles, and dissertations, and then analyzing and synthesizing their findings. Further on, by reviewing existing studies, people identify some patterns, themes, and gaps in their research, highlighting areas that require further investigation (Younas & Ali, 2021). In writing, this process helps to clarify a theoretical framework and methodologies that have been employed by other scholars, allowing an author to build on or challenge these foundations. Moreover, it is an essential part of academic writing that demonstrates a person’s familiarity with a specific field and a scholarly context within which an entire work is situated (Kraus et al., 2022). In terms of pages and words, the length of a literature review depends on academic levels, scopes of research, and paper requirements, while general writing guidelines are:
High School
- Length: 1-3 pages
- Word Count: 250-750 words
- Comment: Typically brief writing, focusing on a few key sources related to an assigned topic.
College (Undergraduate)
- Length: 2-4 pages
- Word Count: 500-1,000 words
- Comment: More comprehensive writing, involving a broader range of sources and more critical analysis.
University (Advanced Undergraduate or Honors)
- Length: 3-6 pages
- Word Count: 750-1,500 words
- Comment: Detailed and critical writing, often forming a significant part of a thesis or major research project.
Master’s
- Length: 4-8 pages
- Word Count: 1,000-2,000 words
- Comment: In-depth and exhaustive writing, providing a thorough review of current knowledge and literature relevant to a study subject.
Ph.D.
- Length: 6-10+ pages
- Word Count: 1,500-2,500+ words
- Comment: Extremely comprehensive and detailed writing, often forming a substantial chapter of a thesis paper or dissertation.
Format
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Title | Presents a concise and descriptive title that reflects a unique scope and focus of a literature review. |
| Abstract | Covers a separate page with a brief summary of a literature review, including the main findings, conclusions, and significance. |
| Introduction | Background: Contextualizes a chosen topic and explains its relevance for writing. |
| Purpose: States a specific purpose of a literature review and what it aims to achieve. | |
| Scope: Defines a clear scope of a paper, including a time period, geographical focus, or specific themes. | |
| Methodology | Search Strategy: Describes how the literature was identified, including databases and keywords used. |
| Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Specifies the criteria for selecting or excluding sources. | |
| Data Extraction: Explains how data from selected studies were extracted and analyzed. | |
| Thematic Sections | Organization: The literature is often organized by themes, concepts, or chronological order. |
| Summary of Findings: Summarizes key findings from observed sources relevant to each theme or section. | |
| Critical Analysis: Critically evaluates some strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in existing knowledge. | |
| Discussion | Synthesis: Combines insights from various studies to identify patterns, trends, and relationships. |
| Implications: Discusses some implications of the findings for future research, practice, or policy. | |
| Gaps in Knowledge: Identifies areas where further examination is needed. | |
| Conclusion | Summary: Recaps main findings and contributions of a presented overview. |
| Research Questions/Hypotheses: Suggests research questions or hypotheses for future studies. | |
| List of References | Includes a separate page with a complete list of all sources cited in a literature review, formatted according to a relevant academic style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard, etc.). |
Note: Some writing sections of a literature review can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, depending on academic disciplines and institutional expectations. For example, a standard literature review format is a well-organized structure or framework used to present and arrange various sections and content in a clear and coherent manner (Fink, 2020). Basically, the 5 key parts of a literature review are an introduction, methodology, thematic sections, discussion, and conclusion. Further on, the 5 main rules for writing a literature review are defining a clear research question, conducting a comprehensive search, organizing academic articles thematically or methodologically, critically evaluating observed sources, and identifying gaps in current knowledge to highlight areas for further study (Snyder, 2019). In writing, a literature review typically goes after an introduction and before a methodology section in a dissertation, research paper, or thesis. Moreover, the 5 C’s of a literature review are citing relevant sources, comparing different findings, contrasting opposing views, critiquing methods and arguments, and connecting obtained information to a research question or objectives (Greetham, 2021). In turn, the 10 main types of literature reviews include narrative, systematic, meta-analysis, scoping, annotated bibliography, integrative, theoretical, critical, rapid, and umbrella formats. Finally, a principal difference between a literature review and an annotated bibliography is that the former synthesizes and analyzes existing research on a specific topic to provide a comprehensive overview, while the latter provides a summary and evaluation of each individual source without connecting them into a broader narrative (Remler & Van Ryzin, 2022). As a result, to start a literature review, people begin by clearly defining their research topic or question and providing an introduction that outlines a specific scope, purpose, and significance of further examination.
Structure
Introduction
A literature review employs a slightly different format for its introduction. For example, an introduction section describes a unique context of a chosen topic and mentions key reasons for an entire analysis (Greetham, 2021). In writing, an opening paragraph highlights a specific organization of ideas and precisely defines a scope of further examination. Further on, people do not write a thesis statement in such papers, and there is no argument from an author within an introduction (Fink, 2020). As such, a scope of research and critical reasons for undertaking an entire examination play a relatively similar role as a thesis statement in a traditional essay and its writing. In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a literature review are:
- A main purpose of this literature review is to critically examine and synthesize a body of research that has been conducted on [topic], with an aim of identifying key trends, gaps, and areas for future inquiry.
- Over the past several decades, an extensive body of knowledge has emerged on [topic], with scholars exploring various dimensions, such as [key aspects], and this paper covers a brief overview of these contributions.
- In recent years, there has been a growing body of work focusing on [topic], driven by an increasing recognition of its importance in [field or context], and this document summarizes and analyzes these developments.
- This paper examines existing knowledge and research on [topic], explores how different scholars have approached a subject from various theoretical and methodological perspectives, and identifies areas of consensus and debate.
- An entire field of [specific field] has seen substantial growth in studies related to [topic], with numerous scholars contributing to people’s understanding of [specific aspect], and this research paper synthesizes their findings and provides a clearer picture of a current state of knowledge.
- This report aims to provide a critical assessment of current knowledge on [topic], focusing on how an entire research has evolved over time and key issues that have shaped scholarly discourse in this area.
- As a controversial topic of [topic] continues to attract attention from scholars across disciplines, this examination seeks to explore a diverse range of studies that have been conducted, highlighting both strengths and limitations of existing knowledge.
- A primary objective of this report is to evaluate critical contributions of various studies on [topic], examining how different approaches and methodologies have influenced a general understanding of a subject and identifying gaps in current knowledge.
- This study provides a comprehensive analysis of a current body of knowledge on [topic], with a particular focus on how recent advancements in [specific field] have contributed to new insights and some implications of these findings for future investigation.
- In order to build a solid foundation for a present study, this report examines existing knowledge on [topic], tracing a development of key concepts and theories and assessing an overall quality and scope of the evidence available.
Body Paragraphs
Writing a body section of a literature review covers a slightly distinct approach. For example, an entire presentation of information moves from a broad perspective on a presented topic to a narrowly focused perspective associated with a current study (Remler & Van Ryzin, 2022). In writing, a body part in an essay on a simple topic is typically restricted to a narrow scope from the beginning to the end of this section. Basically, it is because the supporting evidence is arranged based on a decreasing hierarchy of importance. Conversely, writing a body section of a literature review begins with a broad discussion of fundamental theories on a research topic (Greetham, 2021). Moreover, this writing part narrows to an overall outcome of studies that focus on the same or closely associated issues. As a result, people investigate their themes in a body section of a proposed study.
Conclusion
A conclusion section of a literature review does not conform to traditional content restrictions. For example, writing a conclusion paragraph focuses on defining some gaps in knowledge and linking a current study with an existing body of literature (Fink, 2020). Essentially, a principal writing aim of a conclusion part forces people to introduce new information based on findings. Despite this variation from basic rules of concluding an essay, such a format of a conclusion section is still relevant in writing (Remler & Van Ryzin, 2022). Finally, another section of a more substantial work, such as an introduction section in a dissertation, research paper, or thesis paper, addresses key specifics of a proposed study.
Types
| Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Narrative | To provide a broad overview of a topic, summarize and synthesize existing research, offer a general understanding, and identify key themes or trends. |
| Systematic | To answer a specific research question by systematically identifying, selecting, and critically appraising relevant studies, provide a comprehensive summary, and minimize bias in writing. |
| Meta-Analysis | To statistically combine results from multiple studies, determine overall trends or effects, and increase a power and precision of the findings. |
| Scoping Review | To map existing knowledge or literature on a broad topic, identify key concepts, gaps, and types of evidence available for writing, and provide a preliminary step before conducting a systematic analysis. |
| Annotated Bibliography | To provide a list of citations with a brief summary and examination of each source and understand a scope and quality of research on a specific topic. |
| Integrative | To critique and synthesize representative literature on a topic in an integrated way, aiming to generate new frameworks and perspectives, and include both theoretical and empirical knowledge. |
| Theoretical | To evaluate existing theories related to a particular topic, compare and contrast them, and propose new theoretical insights or developments. |
| Critical | To critically evaluate and analyze current knowledge on a chosen topic, challenging assumptions, methodologies, and conclusions, and advance understanding by offering a new perspective. |
| Rapid | To quickly assess what is known about an assigned topic, use streamlined methods to expedite a review process, and provide timely evidence for decision-making. |
| Umbrella | To evaluate systematic reviews or meta-analyses, summarizing high-level evidence on a broad topic and providing an overarching synthesis of study findings. |
Topics
- Influence of Colors on Mood and Behavior
- Exploring the Impact of Telemedicine in Patient-Centered Care
- Climate Change Predictions: Alarmist Propaganda or Scientific Reality?
- Racial Dynamics in the Harlem Renaissance: A Detailed Study
- Evaluating an Impact of Remote Healthcare on Chronic Disease Management
- Advancements in Nanotechnology for Targeted Cancer Therapies
- Sustainable Practices in Urban Farming: A Global Perspective
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Applications in Treating Adolescent Depression
- Digital Identity Verification and Its Implications for Privacy
- Understanding Psychological Effects of Social Isolation in Older Adults
- Ethical Considerations in the Use of Autonomous Vehicles
- Relationships Between Gut Health and Mental Well-Being
- Influence of Cultural Narratives on Public Health Campaign Effectiveness
- Gender Differences in Coping Mechanisms for Work-Related Stress
Steps on How to Write a Right Literature Review
To write a literature review, people systematically search for and analyze relevant academic sources, synthesize the findings, and critically evaluate an existing body of knowledge to provide a comprehensive overview of a chosen topic and identify gaps or areas for further study. For example, the 3 main parts of a literature review are an introduction, a body (or main content), and a conclusion (Greetham, 2021). Besides, a literature review in a research paper is a section that surveys, synthesizes, and critically evaluates an existing body of knowledge on a specific topic to provide context, highlight gaps, and establish a foundation for a current study. As such, basic steps for writing include:
- Define Your Research Topic: Clearly identify a unique topic or research question you want to explore in writing your literature review.
- Conduct a Comprehensive Search: Use academic databases, journals, and other reliable sources to gather relevant articles on your topic.
- Select Relevant Sources: Choose studies and articles that are most pertinent to your research question and writing objectives.
- Organize Your Literature: Categorize all academic sources by themes, theories, methodologies, or chronological order to create a structured outline.
- Analyze and Evaluate Sources: Critically assess an overall quality, methodologies, and findings of selected sources, noting strengths and weaknesses while writing.
- Identify Gaps in Knowledge: Highlight some areas where research is lacking or where there is disagreement among scholars.
- Develop a Thesis or Purpose Statement: Formulate a clear thesis or purpose statement that guides an entire direction of your writing.
- Write an Introduction: Provide an overview of a chosen topic, state a purpose of a literature review, and outline a specific scope and organization.
- Synthesize Your Literature: Integrate the main findings from different studies, showing how they relate to each other and to your research question in writing.
- Conclude and Reference: Summarize the main findings, suggest areas for future examination, and provide a complete list of references in an appropriate citation format, such as APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, or Harvard.
Complete Literature Review Example
What to Include
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Key Theories and Models | Discussion of some foundational theories and models that are relevant to a research topic. |
| Seminal Works | Reference to influential or pioneering studies that have significantly shaped a specific field. |
| Recent Advances | Overview of the latest research findings or emerging trends in a chosen field. |
| Methodological Approaches | Analysis of various research methodologies used in reviewed studies, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. |
| Comparative Analysis | Comparison of different studies or perspectives to highlight similarities, differences, and trends. |
| Contradictory Findings | Identification and discussion of studies that have produced conflicting results or differing interpretations. |
| Theoretical Gaps | Identification of areas where theories are underdeveloped or where new approaches may be needed. |
| Practical Implications | Discussion of how the findings from an entire body of knowledge could be applied in real-world contexts or practices. |
| Historical Context | Examination of how an entire understanding of a presented topic has evolved over time. |
| Citations of Influential Authors | Reference to key authors who are frequently cited in a specific field, indicating their impact on an entire research area. |
| Interdisciplinary Perspectives | Inclusion of research from related fields that offer different insights or approaches to a discussed topic. |
| Geographical Variations | Discussion of how a presented topic has been studied in different regions or cultural contexts. |
| Ethical Considerations | Analysis of any ethical issues that have been raised or addressed in existing knowledge. |
| Quantitative vs. Qualitative Studies | Comparison of findings from quantitative and qualitative research to provide a balanced perspective. |
| Future Directions | Insights into where a specific research field is heading and what areas are ripe for further study. |
Common Mistakes
- Lack of Clear Focus: Failing to clearly define a research question or focus for writing, leading to a literature review that is too broad or unfocused.
- Inadequate Search Strategy: Not conducting a comprehensive search, which results in missing important studies or relying on limited sources.
- Poor Organization: Presenting an entire writing in a disorganized manner without logical flow or coherent structure.
- Descriptive Rather Than Analytical: Simply summarizing different academic articles without critically analyzing or synthesizing the findings.
- Ignoring Theoretical Frameworks: Overlooking an actual importance of discussing relevant theories and how they relate to reviewed studies and writing about them.
- Failure to Identify Gaps: Not highlighting gaps in existing knowledge, which is crucial for justifying a real need for further examination.
- Overreliance on Secondary Sources: Relying too much on overviews or summaries of studies rather than engaging directly with primary research.
- Lack of Critical Evaluation: Not critically assessing an overall quality, relevance, or validity of studies included for writing.
- Inconsistent Referencing: Incorrectly citing sources or using inconsistent citation styles, which undermines an overall credibility of writing.
- Neglecting Recent Research: Failing to include the most current studies, which can make a literature review outdated and less relevant for writing.
Summing Up
To write a right literature review for a research paper, people systematically gather and critically analyze relevant sources, synthesize the findings to highlight trends, gaps, and debates, and present them in a structured manner that contextualizes and supports their study question. Basically, a literature review demonstrates a person’s understanding of a research topic. Moreover, this type of writing outlines an extent to which other scholars have studied a discussed topic. However, there are some inconsistencies in writing a content of individual sections of traditional essay or research paper structures.
References
Fink, A. (2020). Conducting research literature reviews: From the Internet to paper. SAGE.
Greetham, B. (2021). How to write your literature review. Bloomsbury.
Kraus, S., Breier, M., Lim, W. M., Dabić, M., Kumar, S., Kanbach, D., Mukherjee, D., Corvello, V., Piñeiro-Chousa, J., Liguori, E., Palacios-Marqués, D., Schiavone, F., Ferraris, A., Fernandes, C., & Ferreira, J. J. (2022). Literature reviews as independent studies: Guidelines for academic practice. Review of Managerial Science, 16(8), 2577–2595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-022-00588-8
Remler, D. K., & Van Ryzin, G. G. (2022). Research methods in practice: Strategies for description and causation. SAGE.
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Younas, A., & Ali, P. (2021). Five tips for developing useful literature summary tables for writing review articles. Evidence Based Nursing, 24(2), 32–34. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebnurs-2021-103417
