Resources for Nursing: Literature Review Assignment

A literature review is a written argument that promotes a thesis position by building a case from credible evidence based on previous research. A literature review surveys scholarly articles, books and other sources (e.g. dissertations, conference proceedings) relevant to a particular issue, area of research or theory and provides a description, summary and critical evaluation of each work. The purpose is to offer an overview of significant literature published on a topic.

• Select a topic

• Search the literature

• Develop the argument

• Survey the literature

• Critique the literature

• Write the review

• Find a focus

• Construct a working thesis statement

• Consider organization

   a. Cover the basic categories

      Introduction: Gives a quick idea of the topic of the literature review, such as the central theme or organizational pattern.

      Body: Contains your discussion of sources.

      Conclusions/Recommendations: Discuss what you have drawn from reviewing literature so far. Where might the discussion proceed?

   b. Organizing the body

The different organizational methods are listed below:

Chronological:  If your review follows the chronological method, you could write about the materials according to when they were published. But there should be continuity among the information presented.

By publication: Order your sources by the type of publication.

By trend:  A better way to organize the above sources is to examine the sources under the trend, such as the history. Then your review would have subsections according to eras or years within this period.

Thematic:  Thematic reviews of literature are organized around a topic or issue, rather than the progression of time. B

Methodological:  A methodological approach differs from the two above in that the focusing factor usually does not have to do with the content of the material. Instead, it focuses on the "methods" of the researcher or writer. A methodological scope will influence either the types of documents in the review or the way in which these documents are discussed.

   c. Begin composing

   d. Revise your writing

If you need assistance with the selection of indexes to locate published research for your literature review it's possible to request an individual research consultation with your Librarian.