The Six Guidelines For Dissertation Literature Review

In the process of creating the work it is very important to pay attention to the dissertation literature review in order to prove your paper’s accuracy. Dissertation literature review is a register or summary of used resources related to the topic of the dissertation project. Here are a few guidelines you should follow during the dissertation literature reviews writing stage.

Use evidence

A literature review in this sense is just like any other academic research paper. Your interpretation of the available sources must be backed up with evidence to show that what you are saying is valid.

Be selective

Select only the most important points in each source to highlight in the review.

The type of information you choose to mention should relate directly to the review’s focus, whether it is thematic, methodological, or chronological.

Use quotes sparingly

The survey nature of the literature review does not allow for in-depth discussion or detailed quotes from the text. Some short quotes here and there are okay; though if you want to emphasize a point, but if you find yourself wanting to put in more quotes, check with your instructor.

Summarize and synthesize

Remember to summarize and synthesize your sources within each paragraph as well as throughout the review.

Keep your own voice

While the literature review presents others’ ideas, your voice should remain front and center.

Use caution when paraphrasing

When paraphrasing a source that is not your own, be sure to represent the author’s information or opinions accurately and in your own words.

Now after you get draft in hand? The first thing is to revise. Spending a lot of time revising is a wise idea, because your main objective is to present the material, not the argument. So check over your dissertation reviews again to make sure it follows the assignment and/or your outline. Then just as you would for most other academic forms of writing, rewrite or rework the language of your review so that you’ve presented your information in the most concise manner possible. Be sure to use terminology familiar to your audience; get rid of unnecessary jargon or slang. Finally, double check that you’ve documented your sources and formatted the review appropriately for your discipline.