The Literature Review is a thorough summary of the recognized facts and information in academic literature about a given subject. Most cited sources in a dissertation or thesis are listed in the Literature Review. The student must locate previous research studies (usually found in professional journal articles) that have contributed to the field in a manner similar to what his or her own thesis or dissertation proposes. If little academic writing exists on a given subject, composing the Literature Review will be a very difficult task. The standard Literature Review should:
- justify the reason for the student's research. The student must convince the reader that his or her research is important and beneficial.
- allow the student to establish his or her theoretical framework and methodological focus. The Literature Review often becomes the basis for the entire thesis or dissertation.
- summarize each piece of literature in a few sentences and identify the approach taken by each author.
- evaluate the approach of each author and put it into a context.
- explain why each piece of literature was chosen as reference material for the dissertation or thesis.
- demonstrate the student's knowledge of the field. The student should not merely report what he or she has read. Instead, the student must show that he or she has a thorough, deep connection to the area of study; knows what the most important issues are and their relevance to his or her investigation; understands the controversies; recognizes what has been neglected; knows where previous studies have gone and anticipates where the field will go as a result of his or her study.
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Other Features (click for details)
Proposal
Title page (FREE, upon request)
Signature page (FREE, upon request)
Approval Sheet (FREE, upon request)
Statement of Permission to Use
Preface
Acknowledgements page
Dedication page
Table of Contents
List of Tables, Charts, Figures
List of Symbols and Abbreviations
Abstract
Synopsis
Executive Summary
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Hypothesis
Rationale
Literature Review
Methodology
Statistical Analysis
Data Collection
Subject Population
Conclusion
Results
Discussion
Recommendations
Endnotes
Bibliography (FREE, upon request)
References (FREE, upon request)
Works Cited (FREE, upon request)
Appendices
Plates
Vita |