Table of contents
A checklist for the literature review
If you are still unsure about any of these questions, check your unit guide and/or seek advice from your tutor or Language and Learning adviser.
Have you analysed the topic carefully?
Yes
Yes
No
What exactly are you being asked to do?
What exactly are you being asked to do?
Not sure
What exactly are you being asked to do?
What exactly are you being asked to do?
Have you identified the key aspects of the topic?
Yes
Yes
No
Re-read the literature review specification and note the verbs
. Look for words like summarise, evaluate, expand and explain.
Re-read the literature review specification and note the verbs
. Look for words like summarise, evaluate, expand and explain.
Not sure
Re-read the literature review specification and note the verbs. Look for words like summarise, evaluate, expand and explain.
Re-read the literature review specification and note the verbs
. Look for words like summarise, evaluate, expand and explain.
Have you defined the key terms?
Yes
Yes
No
Review the section on Matching introductions and conclusions which give examples of key terms within an Introduction.
Review the section on Matching introductions and conclusions which give examples of key terms within an Introduction.
Not sure
Review the section on Matching introductions and conclusions which give examples of key terms within an Introduction.
Review the section on Matching introductions and conclusions
which give examples of key terms within an Introduction.
Have you explained the organisation of the review?
Yes
Yes
No
Have you determined the most appropriate structure for the review and communicated that decision to the reader? You could use a chronological, thematic or conceptual; or introduce an organisational structure which is linked to the research itself.
Have you determined the most appropriate structure for the review and communicated that decision to the reader? You could use a chronological, thematic or conceptual; or introduce an organisational structure which is linked to the research itself.
Not sure
Have you determined the most appropriate structure for the review and communicated that decision to the reader? You could use a chronological, thematic or conceptual; or introduce an organisational structure which is linked to the research itself.
Have you determined the most appropriate structure for the review and communicated that decision to the reader? You could use a chronological, thematic or conceptual; or introduce an organisational structure which is linked to the research itself.
Have you used primary research from peer-reviewed journals?
Yes
Yes
No
Have you reviewed the most recent and relevant literature? Have you included both empirical and theoretical works? Have you included the key writers in the field?
Have you reviewed the most recent and relevant literature? Have you included both empirical and theoretical works? Have you included the key writers in the field?
Not sure
Have you reviewed the most recent and relevant literature? Have you included both empirical and theoretical works? Have you included the key writers in the field?
Have you reviewed the most recent and relevant literature? Have you included both empirical and theoretical works? Have you included the key writers in the field?
Have you summarised the research in your own words?
Yes
Yes
No
Have you summarised the main points that the writer/s are making? Have you used Paraphrasing and quotation correctly?
Have you summarised the main points that the writer/s are making? Have you used Paraphrasing and quotation
correctly?
Not sure
Have you summarised the main points that the writer/s are making? Have you used Paraphrasing and quotation correctly?
Have you summarised the main points that the writer/s are making? Have you used Paraphrasing and quotation
correctly?
Have you evaluated the research?
Yes
Yes
No
Have you evaluated the literature for such factors as authority, validity, accuracy, objectivity, currency and coverage? Have you analysed the literature? Have you shown that you have understood what you have read?
Have you evaluated the literature for such factors as authority, validity, accuracy, objectivity, currency and coverage? Have you analysed
the literature? Have you shown that you have understood what you have read?
Not sure
Have you evaluated the literature for such factors as authority, validity, accuracy, objectivity, currency and coverage? Have you analysed the literature? Have you shown that you have understood what you have read?
Have you evaluated the literature for such factors as authority, validity, accuracy, objectivity, currency and coverage? Have you analysed
the literature? Have you shown that you have understood what you have read?
Have you summed up your work?
Yes
Yes
No
Have you demonstrated the importance of your topic and developed an argument? Have you shown how the literature ties in with your own research objectives/questions? Have you evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the literature with regard to your own research?
Have you demonstrated the importance of your topic and developed an argument
? Have you shown how the literature ties in with your own research objectives/questions? Have you evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the literature with regard to your own research?
Not sure
Have you demonstrated the importance of your topic and developed an argument? Have you shown how the literature ties in with your own research objectives/questions? Have you evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the literature with regard to your own research?
Have you demonstrated the importance of your topic and developed an argument
? Have you shown how the literature ties in with your own research objectives/questions? Have you evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the literature with regard to your own research?
Have you identified areas for further research?
Yes
Yes
No
Is there an obvious gap in the current literature? Have you made a recommendation as to a direction that further research could take? Have you raised any questions that you believe need to be answered?
Is there an obvious gap in the current literature? Have you made a recommendation as to a direction that further research could take? Have you raised any questions that you believe need to be answered?
Not sure
Is there an obvious gap in the current literature? Have you made a recommendation as to a direction that further research could take? Have you raised any questions that you believe need to be answered?
Is there an obvious gap in the current literature? Have you made a recommendation as to a direction that further research could take? Have you raised any questions that you believe need to be answered?
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