Literature Review

By

Mr. Mutahar AL-Nahari

Parts of Presentation

The topic will be discussed in terms of:Definitions

Purpose of Literature Review(LR)

Issues considered before Writing LR

Relationships of LR with Components of Research

Organizing LR

Steps & Strategies for Writing LR

A literature review is “an account of what has been published on a

topic by accredited scholars and researchers”( Taylor, D. and

Procter,M.2005)

It is the critical description and synthesis of a number of research that lead to final report regarding the rationale for the study” (Seliger and

Shohami, 1989,P. 82).

Definitions

Two Types of Literature

Conceptual Literature: Concepts and Theories

Empirical Literature: Relevant Previous Studies

Why Literature Review?

• To Rationalize significance of problem

• To Identify relationships between IDEAS and PRATICE.

• To Find out important VARIABLES relevant to the topic.

*Gaining methodological

insights

• To Recognize HOW researchers use their methods and approaches.

Avoiding fruitless approaches

• To Show how YOUR Study to Existing Literature( not mere duplication)

Before Preparing Literature Review, Consider

the Following Issues:

Plagiarism

Relationship of Literature Review with other

Components of Research

Research

MethodsAnalysis,

Results and

Discussion

How to Organize Literature Review

Steps and Strategies for Writing Literature

ReviewSteps Strategies

Locate Relevant

Literature.

Identify key terms in your topic.

Identify key authors and journals.

Use state-of-the-art articles.

Scan tables of contents from key

journals.

Use reference lists from articles,

books, etc.

Avoid the popular press.

Steps and Strategies for Writing Literature

Review

Steps Strategies

Critically read the

literature.

Identify strengths & weaknesses

of individual articles

Identify strengths and weaknesses

of the field as a whole

Steps and Strategies for Writing Literature

Review

Steps Strategies

Prepare to writeInvestigate expected length and

format of the LR.

Make a preliminary outline.

Organize the literature you will

cover.

Limit the scope of the review

to the topic at hand.

Steps and Strategies for Writing Literature

Review

Steps Strategies

Write the introduction.

Write sub-sections.

Use transition markers.

Synthesize and critically evaluate LR.

Be careful not to plagiarize.Practise summarizing & paraphrasing.

Write the Review.

Steps and strategies for writing a literature

Review

Steps Strategies

Indicate

the gap.

Use the review to lead to your

research questions.

(Unresolved issues)

References

• Bell, J. (1999). Doing your Research Project. Philadelphia: Open University Press.

• Paltridge B. and Starfield, S. (2007). Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language. New York. Routledge.

• Seliger, H. & Shohamy, E. (1989). Second Language Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Taylor, D. and Procter, M. (2008). The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It. Health Sciences Writing Centre, University of Toronto

• Wallwork, A. (2011). English for Writing Research Paper. New York: Springer

The End