INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE REVIEWS
Amber Huett, David MacMillan, Katie Crum, and Dr. R. T. Koch July 2011
UNA Center for Writing Excellence 1
The idea of “literature” usually conjures up images of dusty books that you are required to read for English,
American, or World literature classes. The “literature” in a literature review, however, refers to all the
previous research and scholarship on a particular topic, no matter what discipline you are studying; the
“review” is your explanation of what the literature says.
A literature review is the synthesis of the available literature regarding your research topic. This synthesis
merges the conclusions of many different sources to explain the overall understanding of the topic, thus
laying a foundation for both the research question and primary research. Although a literature review will
cite sources and should discuss the credibility of the sources included, it is more than an annotated
bibliography. Your literature review needs to review all the significant sources on a topic, regardless of
whether or not they support the claims you will eventually be working toward.
Your literature review, like any other document, should contain an introduction, a body, and a
conclusion.
Introduction
Your introduction should clearly explain the overall research topic and the depth of the information to be
presented; it often also explains the types of sources that will be used. If your literature review is part of a
larger research proposal or project, its introduction can be combined with the introduction of your paper.
Body
The body of your literature review is intended to give your audience an overview of the already-available
research on your topic. This can serve several purposes, including:
Establishing your credibility as an informed researcher
Illustrating the importance of a particular problem in a field
Identifying a gap in the knowledge of a particular subject
Defining key terms and ideas that are used in a particular field
Explaining research methods commonly used in a discipline
Identifying potential problems with possible research methods
Directing the reader toward the research question
Unlike the body of an essay or research paper, the body of a literature review is not intended to directly
support a thesis, unless this approach is specifically assigned. Instead, it provides the reader with the
background information needed before moving into further study or research. Generally speaking, the
overall purpose of a literature review is to establish a framework for further discussion. Present each piece
of literature using a claim, evidence, and discussion, but explain general information rather than arguing
specifically in support of your thesis.
1. The claim needs to tie into the overall purpose that the literature review relays. This may tie into
one of the modes of thought, such as comparison and contrast or cause and effect.
2. The evidence needs to be properly cited information from reliable sources that are relevant to the
topic and consists of the information given within the sources that you are reviewing.
3. The discussion needs to show how the sources support the specific claim being made. The
discussion should also put the information into a context that reflects your intended purpose.
A literature review should not simply list the relevant sources; that is the purpose of an annotated
bibliography. Coherent structure is important. The general information needs to work toward some overall
framework. Outlining the sources that you will present can help to provide a structure that will direct your
audience toward the research topic.
