Be sure to select a topic you can manage in the time frame you have to complete the project. Narrow down the topic if it is too broad. If you need help with this, ask your professor, ask a Librarian, or use subject suggestions in Galileo.
Use a variety of sources: books, articles, conference proceedings, government reports, thesis and dissertations, etc! Do NOT rely solely on electronic full-text material (which is readily available). Reference resources, such as dictionaries, may be useful in defining key terminology, and encyclopedic sources may provide a good introduction in to specific areas of the topic.
The MOST IMPORTANT PART of this step is to REVIEW and ANALYZE the literature you collect! The review process is ongoing - you may need to go back to locate additional materials as you identify new ideas to see if others have written on similar topics.
During the review, you can begin to notice patterns in the literature, and to separate your findings in to different categories.
Remember, a literature review is NOT simply a list of the resources with a summary of each one!
You can organize the review in many ways; for example, you can center the review historically (how this topic has been dealt with over time); or center it on the theoretical positions surrounding your topic (those for a position vs. those against, for example); or you can focus on how each of your sources contributes to your understanding of your project.
Your literature review should make the reason and importance of your research topic apparent!
The review of literature should flow easily with the rest of your research proposal. If you need additional guidance, see your research mentor, your professor, or a librarian!
The Literature Review by Here are some titles from the Asa H Gordon Library catalog to help guide you as you write your Literature Review.
100 Questions (and Answers) about Research Methods by Savannah State University 2200 Tompkins Rd Savannah, GA 31404 Phone: (912) 358-4324 Reference Text Line: (912) 226-2479