thompson rivers university literature review template

• Franklin University |
• Help & Support |
• Locations & Maps |

• | Research Guides

To access Safari eBooks,

• Select not listed in the Select Your Institution drop down menu.
• Enter your Franklin email address and click Go
• click "Already a user? Click here" link
• Enter your Franklin email and the password you used to create your Safari account.

Continue Close

Public Administration

• Franklin University Resources
• Recommended Resources
• Scholarly Resources vs. Not Scholarly Resources

What is a Literature Review?

Literature review process.

• Career/Employment Information

What is APA Style?

APA Style is a standardized writing format, established by the American Psychological Association, which you may need to follow when submitting projects or papers. If you have questions about APA formatting, look at our APA Style Guide .

RefWorks   is a powerful online research management tool designed to help you easily gather, organize, store and share your research and to instantly generate citations and bibliographies. See our RefWorks research guide  for information about using refworks. 

A Literature Review is NOT:

• just a summary of sources
• a grouping of broad, unrelated sources
• a list of anything and everything that has been written on a specific topic
• literature criticism (think back to high school English classes) or a book review

So, what is it?

• a summary of each resource (but not just a summary!)
• an analyzation and interpretation of each resource
• a critical evaluation of each resource

A literature review is when you , the researcher, collect the Top Resources that you consider to be directly related to your research question. You will then take those resources and discuss how each of them supports (or does not support!) your research question, AND each other. 

For example, pretend your research question is "Does My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic teach kids positive, helping behavior?" You have three resources: Resource A, Resource B, and Resource C. Let's say that Resource A and Resource C agree that the My Little Pony show teaches kids positive social behaviors, like sharing. But maybe Resource B disagrees slightly, and says that there are some areas of the show that could use improvement. Your literature review should point out what all three resources agree on, and where they disagree (or differ). 

You are NOT adding your own opinion! That belongs to a different type of assignment. You're simply summarizing and combining (sometimes called synthesizing) the main points from each resource. 

Why is it important?

A literature review is important because it:

• Explains the background of research on a topic
• Demonstrates why a topic is significant to a subject area
• Discovers relationships between research studies/ideas
• Identifies major themes, concepts, and researchers on a topic
• Identifies critical gaps and points of disagreement
• Points the way in fulfilling a need for additional research
• Discusses further research questions that logically come out of the previous studies

The analytical features of a literature review might:

• Give a new interpretation of old material or combine new with old interpretations
• Trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates
• Depending on the situation, evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant
• Identify where gaps exist in how a problem has been researched to date

Be sure to check out the Literature Review Template linked below to help you construct and organize your review! 

• Literature Review Template (pdf) from Thompson Rivers University

Development of the Literature Review

Four stages:.

• Introduce the reader to the importance of the topic being studied . The reader is oriented to the significance of the study and the research questions or hypotheses to follow.
• Places the problem into a particular context  that defines the parameters of what is to be investigated.
• Provides the framework for reporting the results  and indicates what is probably necessary to conduct the study and explain how the findings will present this information.
• Literature search -- finding materials relevant to the subject being explored.
• Evaluation of resources  -- determining which literature makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the topic.
• Analysis and interpretation -- discussing the findings and conclusions of pertinent literature.

Consider the following issues before writing the literature review:

Sources and expectations.  if your assignment is not very specific about what form your literature review should take, seek clarification from your professor by asking these questions:.

• Roughly how many sources should I include?
• What types of sources should I review (books, journal articles, websites)?
• Should I summarize, synthesize, or critique your sources by discussing a common theme or issue?
• Should I evaluate the sources?
• Should I provide subheadings and other background information, such as definitions and/or a history?

Find Models.   When reviewing the current literature, examine how authors in your discipline or area of interest have organized their literature reviews. Read not only for information, but also to get a sense of the types of themes you might want to look for in your own research review.

Narrow the topic.  the narrower your topic, the easier it will be to limit the number of sources you need to read in order to obtain a good survey of relevant resources., consider whether your sources are current and applicable.  s ome disciplines require that you use information that is as current as possible. this is very common in the sciences where research conducted only two years ago could be obsolete. however, when writing a review in the social sciences, a survey of the history of the literature may be what is needed because what is important is how perspectives have changed over the years or within a certain time period. try sorting through some other current bibliographies or literature reviews in the field to get a sense of what your discipline expects. you can also use this method to consider what is consider by scholars to be a "hot topic" and what is not., follow the bread crumb trail.  the bibliography or reference section of sources you read are excellent entry points for further exploration. you might find resourced listed in a bibliography that points you in the direction you wish to take your own research., ways to organize your literature review, chronologically:  .

If your review follows the chronological method, you could write about the materials according to when they were published or the time period they cover.

By Publication:  

Order your sources chronologically by publication date, only if the order demonstrates a more important trend. For instance, you could order a review of literature on environmental studies of brown fields if the progression revealed, for example, a change in the soil collection practices of the researchers who wrote and/or conducted the studies.

Conceptual Categories:

The literature review is organized around a topic or issue, rather than the progression of time. However, progression of time may still be an important factor in a thematic review. For example, a review of the Internet’s impact on American presidential politics could focus on the development of online political satire. While the study focuses on one topic, the Internet’s impact on American presidential politics, it will still be organized chronologically reflecting technological developments in media. The only difference here between a "chronological" and a "thematic" approach is what is emphasized the most.

Methodological:  

A methodological approach focuses on the methods utilized by the researcher.  A methodological scope will influence either the types of documents in the review or the way in which these documents are discussed.

Sections of Your Literature Review:  

Once you've decided on the organizational method for your literature review, the sections you need to include should be easy to figure out because they arise from your organizational strategy.

Here are examples of other sections you may need to include depending on the type of review you write:

• Current Situation : information necessary to understand the topic or focus of the literature review.
• History : the chronological progression of the field, the literature, or an idea that is necessary to understand the literature review, if the body of the literature review is not already a chronology.
• Selection Methods : the criteria you used to select (and perhaps exclude) sources in your literature review. For instance, you might explain that your review includes only peer-reviewed articles and journals.
• Standards : the way in which you present your information.
• Questions for Further Research : What questions about the field has the review sparked? How will you further your research as a result of the review?

Writing Your Literature Review

Once you've settled on how to organize your literature review, you're ready to write each section. When writing your review, keep in mind these issues.

Use Evidence:

A literature review in this sense is just like any other academic research paper. Your interpretation of the available sources must be backed up with evidence to show that what you are saying is valid.

Be Selective:  

Select only the most important points in each source to highlight in the review. The type of information you choose to mention should relate directly to the research problem, whether it is thematic, methodological, or chronological.

Use Quotes Sparingly:  

Some short quotes are okay if you want to emphasize a point, or if what the author said just cannot be rewritten in your own words. Sometimes you may need to quote certain terms that were coined by the author, not common knowledge, or taken directly from the study. Do not use extensive quotes as a substitute your own summary and interpretation of the literature.

Summarize and Synthesize:  

Remember to summarize and synthesize your sources within each paragraph as well as throughout the review. Recapitulate important features of a research study, but then synthesize it by rephrasing the study's significance and relating it to their own work.

Keep Your Own Voice:  

While the literature review presents others' ideas, your voice (the writer's) should remain front and center. For example, weave references to other sources into what you are writing but maintain your own voice by starting and ending the paragraph with your own ideas and wording.

Use Caution When Paraphrasing:  

When paraphrasing a source that is not your own, be sure to represent the author's information or opinions accurately and in your own words. Even when paraphrasing an author’s work, you still must provide a citation to that work.

• << Previous: Scholarly Resources vs. Not Scholarly Resources
• Next: Career/Employment Information >>
• Last Updated: Nov 27, 2023 11:33 AM
• URL: https://guides.franklin.edu/PUAD

What’s Included: Literature Review Template

This template is structure is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for formal academic research projects such as dissertations and theses. The literature review template includes the following sections:

• Before you start – essential groundwork to ensure you’re ready
• The introduction section
• The core/body section
• The conclusion /summary
• Extra free resources

Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover. We’ve also included practical examples and links to more free videos and guides to help you understand exactly what’s required in each section.

The cleanly-formatted Google Doc can be downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), so you can use it as-is or convert it to LaTeX.

PS – if you’d like a high-level template for the entire thesis, you can we’ve got that too .

FAQs: Literature Review Template

What format is the template (doc, pdf, ppt, etc.).

The literature review chapter template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What types of literature reviews can this template be used for?

The template follows the standard format for academic literature reviews, which means it will be suitable for the vast majority of academic research projects (especially those within the sciences), whether they are qualitative or quantitative in terms of design.

Keep in mind that the exact requirements for the literature review chapter will vary between universities and degree programs. These are typically minor, but it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalize your structure.

Is this template for an undergrad, Master or PhD-level thesis?

This template can be used for a literature review at any level of study. Doctoral-level projects typically require the literature review to be more extensive/comprehensive, but the structure will typically remain the same.

Can I modify the template to suit my topic/area?

Absolutely. While the template provides a general structure, you should adapt it to fit the specific requirements and focus of your literature review.

What structural style does this literature review template use?

The template assumes a thematic structure (as opposed to a chronological or methodological structure), as this is the most common approach. However, this is only one dimension of the template, so it will still be useful if you are adopting a different structure.

Does this template include the Excel literature catalog?

No, that is a separate template, which you can download for free here . This template is for the write-up of the actual literature review chapter, whereas the catalog is for use during the literature sourcing and sorting phase.

How long should the literature review chapter be?

This depends on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. As a general ballpark, literature reviews for Masters-level projects are usually 2,000 – 3,000 words in length, while Doctoral-level projects can reach multiples of this.

Can I include literature that contradicts my hypothesis?

Yes, it’s important to acknowledge and discuss literature that presents different viewpoints or contradicts your hypothesis. So, don’t shy away from existing research that takes an opposing view to yours.

How do I avoid plagiarism in my literature review?

Always cite your sources correctly and paraphrase ideas in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. You can always check our plagiarism score before submitting your work to help ease your mind. 

Do you have an example of a populated template?

We provide a walkthrough of the template and review an example of a high-quality literature research chapter here .

Can I share this literature review template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template in its original format (no editing allowed). If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.

Do you have templates for the other dissertation/thesis chapters?

Yes, we do. You can find our full collection of templates here .

Can Grad Coach help me with my literature review?

Yes, you’re welcome to get in touch with us to discuss our private coaching services , where we can help you work through the literature review chapter (and any other chapters).

Structured Narrative Literature Review Template

Journal title, journal issn, volume title.

The “Structured Narrative Literature Review Template” was developed by Katherine Williamson, Michele Reilly, and Santi Thompson in November 2022. It is intended to be discipline-agnostic but has been primarily used for research in Library and Information Science domains. Other researchers are free to use/repurpose this template. The authors are making this template available via an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license. This template replaces a previous version, titled “Literature Review Template”, found here: https://hdl.handle.net/10657/12663 .

Description

Collections.

• About Waterloo
• Faculties & academics
• Offices & services
• Support Waterloo

Literature Review

A literature review makes connections across research in an existing area of study. It evaluates multiple sources and draws conclusions about the primary themes. It also suggests opportunities for future research and may be presented either as a standalone document or part of a larger research project.

When you do a literature review, you find, read, analyse, and synthesize existing research. You demonstrate that you understand what has been written on the subject so far, and are now in a position to contribute to further research.

According to your start and end dates ( 2024-05-05 to 2024-05-24 ), you have 19 days to finish your assignment.

Step 1: Get started Complete by Mon May 06, 2024

A. understand the assignment.

Determine exactly what the assignment asks you to do. Read the assignment carefully to determine the topic, purpose, audience, format, and length. For more information, see Understand your assignment .

B. Develop your research question

A research question guides your research. It provides boundaries, so that when you gather resources you focus only on information that helps to answer your question. See Develop a research question . 

Step 2: Research Complete by Sun May 12, 2024

A. design your research strategy.

When conducting research for the literature review, you should put some thought into where and how you will search.

• Where to search – first and second stage databases (PDF)
• Effective research strategies (PDF)

For help on how to conduct research, see  Conducting research and note taking (PDF) .

C. Evaluate sources for alignment with your topic

After collecting resources, evaluate and appraise the content for fit with your topic. The following resources provide guidance on making these choices:

• Evaluating information sources  
• Critical appraisal (PDF)

D. Read critically

Read critically and take quality notes to ensure a thorough understanding of the material. The following resources provide guidance on these tasks:

• Notetaking (PDF)
• Critical reading (PDF)

Step3: Organize your literature review Complete by Thu May 16, 2024

A. identify themes  .

Analyze your research to find trends and relationships across different sources. Here are some organizational patterns to look for:

• Similar concepts, theories, themes
• Organizational patterns
• Regional focus
• Historical development
• Problem-solution

See the resource How to think: moving from research to writing for information on how to use your sources to establish themes and find connections.  

B. Organize 

Using the organizational patterns previously identified, plan your literature review. See  Organizing your research: the outline approach (DOC) to get started.

C. Develop a thesis

Using the themes and conclusions you identified in the previous steps, develop a thesis statement that captures the overall state of the current research for your topic. See the resource Thesis statements .

Step 4: Write the first draft Complete by Mon May 20, 2024

A. verify the style guide requirements.

Check with your syllabus or course instructor for the style guide you need to use. These are some common citation styles.  

Chicago style guide (PDF)

APA style guide

IEEE style guide (PDF)

MLA style guide

B. Write the introduction  

Give the reader background on your topic and explain why the topic is worth studying. The introduction can also include:

• A clear articulation of the problem
• Your thesis
• An overview of how you’ve organized your literature review

C. Write your body paragraphs

Build each body paragraph on one of the connecting themes you discovered. Consider what several different sources have said about that theme and synthesize the information to show connections across the various sources.

Sometimes the sources will agree, sometimes they will not, and sometimes they may agree partially but with certain limits. It is your job to describe and interpret how the sources interact, then evaluate the current trends in research.

A special note about integrating sources

Integrating sources and citing them takes on significant importance in a literature review. Since you are synthesizing many other sources, be careful about how you reference them. Ensure your sources flow smoothly into the main text of your review. See the following resources for tips on how to do this well.

Making sources talk to each other (PDF)

Author prominent vs information prominent citations (PDF)

D. Write a conclusion 

Write a conclusion that summarizes the themes and key findings of your review. Key findings most often reveal something is missing in the literature, often referred to as the gap. If your literature review is a standalone document, the gap will suggest a possible path for future research. If your literature review is a part of a larger project, the gap provides a justification for the rest of your research.

If you would like to see a sample format for the final literature review, see this link: WriteOnline - Literature Reviews (PDF) .

Step 5: Revise and Proofread Complete by Fri May 24, 2024

A. evaluate your first draft and conduct additional research as needed.

Determine if there are any gaps in your draft. Do you have enough evidence to support your arguments? If you do not, you should conduct further research.

B. Revise your draft

Print out your paper and work from a hard copy. Read it carefully and look for higher order problems first, such as organization, structure, and evidence and analysis. For more help with these higher order issues, check out Tips for revision .

C. Evaluate your second draft and rewrite as needed

Narrow your focus to paragraph-level issues such as flow and transitions. See  Transitions words for help. 

D. Proofread and put your paper into its final format

Last step! Read carefully to catch all those small errors. Here are some Proofreading strategies . Also take time to make sure your paper adheres to the conventions of the style guide you're using. Think about titles, margins, page numbers, reference lists, and citations.

Tips for writing:

Active and passive voice (PDF)

Writing concisely (PDF)

Writing checklist (PDF)

• A-Z Sitemap
• Indigenous Education
• Academic Calendars
• Course Schedule
• Dates & Deadlines
• Course Registration
• Faculty & Staff Links
• Williams Lake
• News & Events
• Career Connections
• Student Email
• Staff Email
• TRUemployee
• Register now

Section Menu

• Open Learning
• Program Advising
• Programs FAQ
• TRU Start BC
• Arts and Science Breadth Requirements
• Business Breadth Requirements
• Courses FAQ
• Course Delivery Formats
• Education and Social Work Professional Development Courses
• Health Sciences Transition Courses
• Nursing Transition Courses
• Summer Science Lab Courses
• Registration FAQ
• Keys to Success
• Moodle Tutorials
• Finance FAQ
• Educational Advising
• ProctorU FAQ
• Canadian Invigilator Network (CIN)
• GDBA/MBA Exam Schedule
• Student Forms
• Academic Integrity and Student Conduct
• Formal Transfer Credit
• Registration
• Final Grades
• Grading Systems and Procedures
• Student Academic Appeals
• Program Completion and Graduation
• Release of Student Information
• Accessibility Services
• Writing Support
• Library Services
• Career Planning
• Open Learning Calendar
• Transferring Credit to Other Institutions
• University of Victoria Transfer Credit
• First Nations Language Centres
• Partnerships Contact
• Transfer FAQ
• Credit Bank
• Campus Students
• Open Learning Faculty Members
• Open Learning News
• Open Learning Teaching Excellence Awards
• Learning Technology

ENGL 1001: Literature and Composition 1

This course introduces short stories and the novel through examples of the genres drawn primarily from the twentieth century. The course is not a chronological or historical survey of literature. Instead, it examines the general characteristics of fiction by focusing on short stories and a novel. This course also provides a review of basic grammar, punctuation, and instruction in composing critical essays. ENGL 1011 (Literature and Composition II) is the continuation of ENGL 1001 and focuses on drama and poetry.

• Print, self-paced
• Online, self-paced

English 12 or equivalent

This course satisfies the first half of the introductory English literature and composition requirement of TRU-OL degrees. Students with credit for ENGL 1021 or ENGL 1019 may not take this course for further credit. Students with credit for ENGL 1001 may not take ENGL 1061 or ENGL 1999 for further credit in some programs.

Learning outcomes

• Identify and correct faults in sentences and paragraphs.
• Describe the components and basic structure of a short story and novel using specific examples from works studied in the course.
• Identify and discuss the literary patterns in a short story or novel.
• Read prose literature beyond the factual or literal level, for example, on a metaphorical level that reveals the human condition.
• Write coherent and focused critical essays on literary texts and topics. Apply analytical techniques in a critical essay.
• Apply analytical techniques in a critical essay.

Course topics

• Module 1: Introduction to Short Stories
• Module 2: Characterization
• Module 3: Setting
• Module 4: Plot
• Module 5: Point of View
• Module 6: Style
• Module 7: Theme

Required text and materials

Students  require the following e-textbook, which can be purchased directly from the TRU bookstore site at: https://thebookstore.tru.ca/site_digital.asp

• Sarah Norton & Brian Green. (2021). The Bare Essentials (10 th ed.) Nelson Education Ltd.  Type: E-Textbook. ISBN: 9781774128756

The following materials are required for this course:

• R.V. Cassill et al. (2015). The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction . (8 th ed.) W.W. Norton & Co. Type: Textbook. ISBN: 978-0-393-93775-6

Bundled with:

• Austen, Jane. New York: Norton & Co. (2016). Pride and Prejudice, A Norton Critical Edition . (4 th ed.)  Type: Textbook. ISBN: 978-0-393-26488-3

Bundle ISBN: 978-0-393-62641-4

Assessments

Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact [email protected] with any questions about this.

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final mandatory exam.

Open Learning Faculty Member Information

An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.

• Terms & Privacy
• Emergency Information
• Accreditation
• Accessibility Feedback
• Current Students
• Prospective Students
• Open Learning Students
• Faculty & Staff
• Financial Aid
• All Student Services
• Careers at TRU
• News & Events
• Conference Centre
• Room Bookings

Thank-you, this course is now in your cart .

Proceed to checkout

ENGL 1001 Estimated Costs

Tuition and course fees: Includes tuition, administration, technology and other related fees.

Required material fees:

Shipping and handling fees:

Add to cart

NOTE: Values shown are estimates and may differ from actual costs. Currency shown in Canadian dollars.

Thank-you. This course is now in your cart .

• Thompson Rivers University Library
• Research Guides

Research for Literature Reviews

• Tips for Reading Scholarly Articles
• Writing and Publishing Resources
• Library Videos
• Core Sources
• Search Terminology and Strategy
• Find Books and Book Chapters
• Find Journal Articles
• Find Grey Literature
• Citation Mining
• Keeping Organized
• Staying Current

Reading Scholarly Articles

Step-by-Step Instructions for Reading a Primary Research Article

• Begin by reading the introduction, not the abstract.

The abstract is that dense first paragraph at the very beginning of a paper. In fact, that’s often the  only  part of a paper that many non-scientists read when they’re trying to build a scientific argument. (This is a terrible practice. Don’t do it.) I always read the abstract last, because it contains a succinct summary of the entire paper, and I’m concerned about inadvertently becoming biased by the authors’ interpretation of the results.

• Identify the  big  question.

Not “What is this paper about?” but “What problem is this entire field trying to solve?” This helps you focus on why this research is being done. Look closely for evidence of agenda-motivated research.

• Summarize the background in five sentences or less.

What work has been done before in this field to answer the big question? What are the limitations of that work?What, according to the authors, needs to be done next? You need to be able to succinctly explain why this research has been done in order to understand it.

• Identify the  specific  question(s).

What exactly are the authors trying to answer with their research? There may be multiple questions, or just one. Write them down. If it’s the kind of research that tests one or more null hypotheses, identify it/them.

• Identify the approach.

What are the authors going to do to answer the specific question(s)?

• Read the methods section.

Draw a diagram for each experiment, showing exactly what the authors did. Include as much detail as you need to fully understand the work.

• Read the results section.

Write one or more paragraphs to summarize the results for each experiment, each figure, and each table. Don’t yet try to decide what the results mean; just write down what they are. You’ll often find that results are summarized in the figures and tables. Pay careful attention to them! You may also need to go to supplementary online information files to find some of the results. Also pay attention to:

• The words “significant” and “non-significant.” These have precise statistical meanings.
• Graphs. Do they have  error bars  on them? For certain types of studies, a lack of confidence intervals is a major red flag.
• The sample size. Has the study been conducted on 10 people, or 10,000 people? For some research purposes a sample size of 10 is sufficient, but for most studies larger is better.
• Determine whether the results answer the specific question(s).

What do you think they mean? Don’t move on until you have thought about this. It’s OK to change your mind in light of the authors’ interpretation — in fact, you probably will if you’re still a beginner at this kind of analysis — but it’s a really good habit to start forming your own interpretations before you read those of others.

• Read the conclusion/discussion/interpretation section.

What do the authors think the results mean? Do you agree with them? Can you come up with any alternative way of interpreting them? Do the authors identify any weaknesses in their own study? Do you see any that the authors missed? (Don’t assume they’re infallible!) What do they propose to do as a next step? Do you agree with that?

• Go back to the beginning and read the abstract.

Does it match what the authors said in the paper? Does it fit with your interpretation of the paper?

• Find out what other researchers say about the paper.

Who are the (acknowledged or self-proclaimed) experts in this particular field? Do they have criticisms of the study that you haven’t thought of, or do they generally support it? Don’t neglect to do this! Here’s a place where I do recommend you use Google! But do it last, so you are better prepared to think critically about what other people say.

Excerpt from:

Raff, J. (2018). How to read and understand a scientific article. Retrieved from https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/career-advice-article/read-understand-scientific-article/

• << Previous: Find Journal Articles
• Next: Find Grey Literature >>
• Last Updated: Sep 28, 2023 10:09 AM
• URL: https://libguides.tru.ca/litreview