Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Literature Review
Literature Review
Literature Review
A literature review is the overview and critical evaluation of a body of literature with regards to a research
question. Rather than discussing each source one after another, it analyzes the literature as a whole in
order to present the field of study's major ideas, theories, concepts and debates and to reveal the gaps in
the literature. This analysis helps not only to establish the validity of a research project, but also to formulate
a clear research question. The literature review can be a paper in itself or be part of a larger research
project. Here is the suggested format for this type of paper.
This resource is not exhaustive and does not replace the assignment instructions given in class.
Writing a paper must always be done according to the professor's requirements.
Introduction
• Context
• Thesis
What is the central idea of the literature review?
• Outline
Body
Organize the sections of the paper in a logical order so that the reader can easily follow your
literature review. If the paper is long, section headings are a good way to specify its structure.
Conclusion
• Summary
What have you drawn from the literature?
• Final thought
What are the gaps in the literature?
© 2014
Academic Writing Help Centre (AWHC)
University of Ottawa
WRITING RESOURCES | TYPES OF PAPERS
GUIDELINES
Possible questions for analysis: What is the argument? Is it well developed and defended? Does the
methodology allow the author to effectively address the topic? Does the theoretical framework allow the
author to draw relevant and convincing conclusions? What are the possible biases? Are they hidden or
openly recognized?
Possible elements for comparison: Arguments, key terms, methodologies, results and conclusions,
theoretical approaches, topics ...
Example of a central idea: Although some historians make a correlation between the Ukrainian Catholic
and Orthodox churches and the retention of Ukrainian culture and language by Ukrainian immigrants in
Canada, little has been said of the role of the Roman Catholic Church in the development of Ukrainian
communities in Canada.
Example of a research question: How has the Roman Catholic Church shaped Ukrainian Canadian
identity?
© 2014
Academic Writing Help Centre (AWHC)
University of Ottawa