A literature review is an extensive survey of research related to a given research topic. The purpose of a literature review is to give the reader an overview of previous research into a research topic in order to identify a gap that your research plans to fill. For example, if you're writing a paper about the effects of climate change on coastal cities, your literature review would explore what other scientists have discovered about sea-level rise, storm surges, and the impact on people and infrastructure.

A literature review is typically organized into sections or paragraphs based on themes or research questions. It doesn't just summarize each source; it analyzes and synthesizes information.

A literature review typically includes:

• Introduction: Clearly states the topic and its importance.

• Body:

  • Themes or research questions: Organizes the review into subtopics.

  • Summary and synthesis: Briefly describes key findings from multiple sources, highlighting similarities and differences.

  • Analysis and evaluation: Critically assesses the strengths and weaknesses of previous research.

  • Identification of gaps: Points out areas where more research is needed.

• Conclusion: Summarizes the main points and offers insights into the overall state of knowledge on the topic.

Remember:

• A literature review is not just a list of summaries.

• It should have a clear focus and argument.

• Use the proper citation style to give credit to the authors whose work you're discussing.

Example:

Instead of writing, "Smith found that climate change is causing sea levels to rise," you might write, "Several studies, including Smith's groundbreaking research, have consistently demonstrated an accelerated rate of sea-level rise attributed to climate change."

By the end of your literature review, your readers should have a clear understanding of the current state of knowledge on your topic and be able to see how your research fits into the bigger picture.

Similar to a standard bibliography, an annotated bibliography is a list of sources. What makes an annotated bibliography different, however, is that each source is annotated, giving a brief summary of the article and evaluating the source. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to help you see how a source might be useful to your research project. 

Here's a basic structure:

1. Citation: Include the entire citation for the source in whatever style guide your instructor requires (i.e., APA format). It may also be helpful to note how you found the article so you can more easily find it again. (Google Scholar: X search term, or EBSCO database: X search term).

2. Annotation: This section summarizes and evaluates the source. This annotation typically includes:

   • Summary: A brief overview of the source's main points.

   • Evaluation: Your assessment of the source's strengths, weaknesses, and reliability.

   • Relevance: How the source relates to your research topic.

Example:

Citation: Smith, J. (2023). The impact of social media on mental health. Journal of Psychology, 123(4), 56-78.

Annotation: Smith's article examines the correlation between excessive social media use and increased rates of anxiety and depression among young adults. By analyzing large-scale survey data, the author identifies specific platforms and features linked to negative mental health outcomes. While the study provides valuable insights, it lacks in-depth exploration of causal relationships and potential confounding factors. Nonetheless, this research contributes significantly to the growing body of literature on the psychological effects of social media.

• Abstract: An abstract is a very brief summary of the research article, its main points, and the significance of the research therein. It briefly details the research question and hypothesis, and previews some of the evidence used in support of the argument. This is always at the beginning of the article, but may or may not be labeled as an abstract. 

• Introduction: An introduction to an article will usually contain more detailed information about the background to the research topic. It will also include scope and context, as well as more detail and in-depth discussion of the research question, methodology, and hypothesis.

• Literature Review: An article’s literature review details the wide breadth of other research that has been conducted around this topic. This analysis usually summarizes, analyzes, and evaluates other studies and sources. The purpose of a literature review is to demonstrate a gap in the current research that this study aims to fill. 

• Method/Methodology: The methodology section details the precise procedures and methods used to gather data for the project. Even for a qualitative research paper, researchers need to explain and justify exactly what was undertaken in the data-gathering stage. The purpose of the methodology section is to give the reader enough information to be able to replicate the experiment.

• Results: After laying out how the authors went about gathering their data, in the results section, the authors will discuss the results that they found. This section should focus only on the results of experiments and data collection. How this data applies to the hypothesis/research question comes in the discussion section.

• Data: The data section contains the graphs, figures, and tables related to the research findings. These data should be directly related to the research question and findings.

• Discussion: The discussion section is where the authors discuss how the results relate to the research question and hypothesis. Another way to think about this is that this is where the authors discuss how the results prove or disprove their hypothesis. They may draw conclusions or highlight the implications of their findings. Authors may also discuss issues of the study, such as unresolved problems or shortcomings.

• Conclusion: The conclusion section summarizes the overall project. It may also further highlight the significance of their findings. It is here that the authors may also make recommendations for future research or study. 

• References: Research articles always end with a reference section that notes all of the sources mentioned throughout the article. This is where readers can go to learn more about the background of the project or draw further connections with the larger academic community. 

When undertaking projects like a literature review, you might feel overwhelmed by the length and complexity of academic articles. It’s important to keep in mind that it’s not usually necessary to read an article in its entirety. In fact, most professionals and academics won’t read an entire article from page one until the end. Here’s what you can do instead:

Abstract: Your first step for reading an academic article is to read the abstract. Read this part carefully. This will give you a very brief summary of what the article is about, including the research question and hypothesis. 

Conclusion: Once you have finished reading the abstract, you can skip to the conclusion to get an insight into what the authors learned from their research. These two sections are the authors’ way of showing the reader “here’s what we set out to do” and “here’s what we found.” This is another section that you should read carefully. Once you have read these, you may find that the article is not relevant to your research. Don’t be afraid to set aside an article that doesn’t fit your research needs.  If you find the abstract and conclusion are interesting and are pertinent to your research question, it is time to do some deeper digging and more careful reading.

Introduction: Now that you have determined that the article is a good fit for your research needs, you should read the introduction to gain insight into the background of the article. You will also learn the research question and hypothesis. You can scan this section, but be sure to read the research question and hypothesis carefully.

Literature Review: This is another section that can be skimmed. As a student, the most important thing you can learn from a literature review is a) how to write your literature review and b) what other sources you might also want to read when you finish this article. This section can be skimmed, unless you are using it to find other sources of your own.

Methodology: The purpose of the methodology section is to provide credence to the study and also to give fellow researchers enough information to duplicate the study if desired. For your purposes as a student, you are likely not trying to replicate the study. Therefore, you can skim this section. One exception is if you are being asked to create your own research study. In this case, a methodology section can provide interesting insight and guidance on how to craft your own study.

Results/Data: For students, the results and data sections can be quite interesting to read, but these usually do not need to be read as carefully. Rather, you can rely on the Discussion section to allow the authors to explain the implications of their research.

Discussion: This section is very important for students trying to understand the implications of the research in the article, so be sure to read this section carefully. Here, the authors will tell you what conclusions they have drawn from the data collected. In short, authors will apply their data to their research question and hypothesis.

Conclusion (again): Now that you have read the article, you should re-read the conclusion carefully to better draw your own conclusions about what you have just read. 

Remember that, of course, every part of an academic article is important and serves its own purpose. However, with that in mind, some parts will be more relevant than others to a student surveying the article. The more articles you read and interact with, the easier the reading will get as you learn to understand this very specific genre of writing.

In the age of information overload, it's crucial to evaluate the credibility of your sources. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Author and Credentials:

• Who wrote it? Identify the author or organization.

• What are their qualifications? Check their credentials, expertise, and affiliations.

• Are they experts in the field? Look for academic titles, professional experience, or relevant publications.

Publication and Website:

• Where was it published? Consider the reputation of the journal, website, or publisher.

• Is the website reputable? Look for .edu, .gov, or .org domains, but remember these aren't foolproof.

• Check the website's overall quality: Look for professional design, clear information, and minimal advertising.

Content and Accuracy:

• Is the information supported by evidence? Look for citations, data, and references.

• Does the information align with other credible sources? Compare information from multiple sources.

• Is the language objective and unbiased? Avoid sources with strong emotional language or unsupported claims.

• Is the information up-to-date? Check the publication date, especially for rapidly changing topics.

Purpose and Audience:

• Why was the information created? Consider the author's motive (inform, persuade, entertain).

• Who is the target audience? Evaluate if the information is appropriate for your academic needs.

Bias:

• Is the information presented fairly? Look for balanced perspectives and evidence.

• Are there any hidden agendas? Be aware of potential biases or conflicts of interest.