How To Structure Literature Review and Write It Easily

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Conducting a literature review is an essential part of a research project. It helps you understand the existing knowledge on a topic, identify gaps in the research, and build a strong foundation for your study. Organizing the information can be challenging. Using Literature Review Tools, you can structure and present your findings clearly, and compellingly. This blog post will explore the steps to help you organize your literature review effectively.

What Is A Literature Review?

A literature review critically analyzes published sources or literature on a particular topic. It discusses the published information in a specific subject area and often considers a certain time frame within which those sources were published. A literature review can be a mere summary of the sources, but it goes beyond that. Not only does it summarize the information provided by the sources, but it also reorganizes, reshuffles, or reinterprets that information.

This rearrangement might present new interpretations of old material or combine new interpretations with old ones. In some cases, a literature review might also track the intellectual progression of a particular field, considering major debates that have transpired over time. Lastly, literature reviews can also evaluate sources, helping readers determine which are most pertinent or relevant to their research.

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How To Structure Literature Review

The Introduction Section

There is no need to overcomplicate things when structuring a literature review. A good place to start is with the introduction section. The introduction is like the appetizer before the main course. It should give readers a sneak peek into the review and how it is organized. In essence, it lays the groundwork for what to expect. The introduction also sets the stage by introducing the topic, explaining any complex terms, and outlining the scope of the review - what it includes and excludes.

The Body Section

The body of the literature review is the meat of your work. It's where you unpack, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize existing research. This is the part where you'll gain or lose the most marks, so getting this right is crucial. Carefully think about how you'll organize your discussion to present it. Your literature review should adequately review the literature, which involves identifying, analyzing, and synthesizing it. When structuring your literature review, consider the best approach to provide a comprehensive review for your specific research and objectives.

The Conclusion Section

You've reached the conclusion section of your literature review. This is where you tie up all the loose ends and set the tone for the rest of your research. In this part, you'll present the key findings of your literature review, emphasize necessary research for your questions, and highlight any gaps in the literature. Based on this, you must clarify how your research will help fill these gaps and contribute to the existing literature.

Complete Step-by-Step Guide On How To Use Unriddle's AI Research Tool

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Unriddle. I’ve also copied it below :)

From here, it's pretty simple.

Unriddle helps you read, write and learn faster.

Interact with documents via AI so you can quickly find and understand info.

Then start writing in a new Note and Unriddle will show you relevant content from your library as you type.

Get started by uploading a document.

Or read on for the full rundown.

Interact with documents

When you upload a document, Unriddle generates an AI assistant on top of this data.

Click 'New' in the right sidebar and then select 'Upload' to get started.

Use this assistant to answer specific questions about the text, summarize content and simplify jargon.

The trick is to be super clear about what you want.

If you're summarizing a research paper, for example, instead of saying “Summarize” or “Summarize this research paper”, say something like “Explain this research paper to me in simple terms. What method did the researchers use? What did they find? Why does it matter?”.

The second prompt will produce a much better overview of the paper because we're giving the AI more hints about what we want.

Automatic relations

Unriddle grasps the context behind each Note and Document in your library and automatically links them based on meaning.

Let's say you have a collection of nuclear physics papers in your library.

When you start writing a note about The Manhattan Project, simply mentioning "The Manhattan Project" will prompt Unriddle to find the connection between this note and the nuclear physics papers.

Even if you didn't explicitly mention the research papers, Unriddle's knowledge of Oppenheimer, his work, and the significant relevance of these papers means it understands the connection and automatically links them together.

In short, Unriddle shows you relevant content from your library at the exact moment you need it, even if you haven't explicitly mentioned it.

Citing your sources

Writing is hard when you have a ton of sources to track.

So we made it easy.

Highlight some text, click ‘Cite’ and you’ll see items from your library that contain information related to the selection of text you just highlighted as determined by our AI.

When you select an item Unriddle inserts a link into highlighted text that, when clicked, takes you to the referenced item.

Writing with AI

Click ‘New’ in the sidebar and hit ‘Note’ to open up a new note.

Here you’ll find all the text formatting options you’re used to and more.

Type ‘++’ to generate text based on the context of what’s already written.

Highlight text and click ‘Ask AI’ to open up the AI menu where you’ll find options to improve, expand, summarize and explain.

You can type custom prompts too!

Finally, you can open any note in a pane on the right side of the screen while interacting with documents. Just click the orange pencil icon at the top of the chat window.

Chat Settings

Adjust the model, temperature and response length in the Setting sidebar.

Click the cog icon in the top right corner of the screen and look for "Chat Settings".

These apply across all documents but you can easily flip between them regardless of settings at the time of upload.

Model: the machine learning model used to generate responses.

Temperature: the amount of creative license you give to the AI.

Max length: the maximum number of words generated in a response.

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How To Write A Literature Review In 9 Simple Steps

1. Do a literature search

When starting a literature review, the first step is to conduct a literature search to find out what has been written on your topic. Begin by reviewing references in recent articles or books on the topic. Use search engines like Google Scholar or UNE databases to find scholarly materials related to your topic. If material is unavailable, seek your supervisor's assistance or consider interlibrary loans. Refine your search topic if it is too broad or narrow.

2. Read the literature

Once you have identified relevant texts, read through them to understand how the topic is approached and what is discussed. Record author names, titles, and take detailed notes while reading. Ask questions like what methodology is used, definitions, theoretical basis, evidence, and conclusions

3. Write short summaries

For each text, write a brief one-paragraph summary similar to an abstract. This helps in organizing information and understanding the content

4. Organize the summaries

Identify similarities between summaries and group them accordingly. The headings under which the summaries are grouped will depend on the topic and subject matter.

5. Write each section

Segment the literature review into sections that address specific themes or topics identified during the review process.

6. Decide on the order of presentation

Determine the order of presentation from the most important to the least significant information or from established to controversial theories.

7. Write the conclusion

Summarize major agreements and disagreements in the literature, and general conclusions, and indicate potential areas of further research if applicable.

8. Write the introduction

The introduction should clearly state the topic and its importance while indicating the relevance of the research area

9. Proofread and edit carefully

Thoroughly proofread the literature review to ensure it is accurate and well-structured.

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4 Approaches Of Literature Review Structure

1. Thematic Approach to Structuring a Literature Review

Organizing an analysis around themes, topics, or issues is an effective way to structure a literature review. It helps highlight critical debates within sub-themes and is particularly useful when focusing on a single overarching subject. Using the thematic approach, one can create a comprehensive and organized review presenting a particular topic's perspectives and facets. This approach enables the writer to explore the subject matter's breadth thoroughly.

2. Chronological Approach to Structuring a Literature Review

The chronological approach is useful when aiming to understand the development of a topic over time. This strategy involves organizing the literature based on when studies were published, typically moving from older to newer works.

Analyzing sources in this manner helps one understand how debates and turning points have influenced a subject and enables one to interpret the information in context. By tracing the evolution of ideas and perspectives over time, a writer can show the progression of the field under study.

3. Methodological Approach to Structuring a Literature Review

Focusing on the methods employed by other researchers is the core of the methodological approach to structuring a literature review. A study that employs this approach considers the perspective from which a particular theme was examined or the procedures used to answer specific research questions.

This approach can encompass a variety of methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research. Using this organizational structure, a writer can critically assess the different research methods used in the field and evaluate their effectiveness.

4. Theoretical Approach to Structuring a Literature Review

A theoretical approach systematically examines existing theories, models, and frameworks relevant to the research topic or question. This method is essential for establishing the context of a study, identifying gaps in the existing literature, and providing a foundation for subsequent research.

By examining the theoretical underpinnings of a field, a writer can create a solid basis for their research and contribute to advancing knowledge in their field. Theoretical literature reviews guide future research endeavors and design studies that build upon existing theoretical frameworks.

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Unriddle is an innovative AI-powered tool designed to revolutionize how you approach literature review. It serves as a trusty companion for readers and content creators alike, streamlining the process of data analysis, summarization, and content creation. This tool has gained popularity among academics, researchers, and students for its ability to enhance comprehension and simplify complex topics. With Unriddle, you can expect to supercharge your research process, save time, and produce better-quality written work. Let's dive into some of the key features and benefits that Unriddle offers

Quickly Find Information in Documents

Unriddle's ability to quickly locate specific information within documents can save you valuable time during the research process. By extracting and summarizing key points, Unriddle significantly accelerates your understanding of complex topics and aids in efficient information retrieval.

Simplify Complex Topics

The tool's capacity to simplify complex topics is particularly valuable when sifting through dense literature or research materials. Unriddle breaks down intricate concepts into digestible pieces, making it easier to grasp complex ideas and present them effectively in your own work.

Take Notes and Write with the Power of AI

Unriddle offers an intuitive note-taking feature that lets you jot down key points, ideas, or insights as you navigate your literature review. The AI-powered writing support facilitates the writing process by providing relevant suggestions, and enhancing clarity and coherence.

AI-Assisted Research

Unriddle is equipped with AI technology that analyzes the meaning behind your writing and identifies connections between your current work and previously read or written content. This feature ensures you stay informed about existing literature and maintain a coherent argument throughout your writing.

Citation Management

Unriddle simplifies the citation process by highlighting texts and providing relevant sources from your library. This feature ensures that you never lose track of important citations, streamlining the creation of a meticulously referenced literature review.

Collaborative Workspace

Unriddle's collaborative workspace enables real-time document sharing, allowing multiple users to contribute and communicate on the same projects. This feature is particularly beneficial for team-based research projects or group assignments, keeping everyone on the same page and fostering seamless collaboration.

Unriddle offers a comprehensive suite of features that cater to the diverse needs of researchers, academics, and students. By leveraging the power of AI, Unriddle propels literature review processes to new heights, allowing users to read faster, write better, and seamlessly navigate the complexities of academic research. If you're looking to elevate your literature review game, Unriddle is a tool worth exploring.

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