How to write a literature review step by step — from finding sources to writing
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My dissertation requires a 3000 word literature review and I have never written one before. My supervisor explained the concept but I still don’t really know how to structure it or how to actually write it. Where do I even start?
1 replies
A literature review is not a summary of papers one by one. That's the most common mistake. It's an argument about the *state of knowledge* in your field.
**The process:**
**Phase 1 — Reading (2-3 weeks)**
- Collect 20-30 relevant sources
- As you read, note: What do they agree on? Where do they contradict? What has changed over time? What gaps exist?
- Use a spreadsheet or reference manager (Zotero is free and excellent)
**Phase 2 — Finding themes**
- Group your sources by theme, not by date or author
- Typical themes: definitions/scope of concept, major theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, key findings, debates, gaps
**Phase 3 — Outlining**
Your lit review structure should be:
- **Introduction**: scope of the review, what you searched, period covered
- **Thematic sections**: each theme gets a section, within which you compare/contrast sources
- **Conclusion**: summarize state of knowledge, identify the gap your research addresses
**Phase 4 — Writing**
Write thematically. "Smith (2018) argues X, while Jones (2020) found Y, which suggests Z." Compare, contrast, synthesize — don't just describe each paper.
The last line of your lit review should lead naturally into your research question.