# The Sheridan Libraries

**Source**: https://guides.library.jhu.edu/lit-review
**Parent**: https://www.library.jhu.edu/library-services/instructional-teaching-support/

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# Write a Literature Review

Take a step-by-step approach to writing a lit review.

- [START HERE](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/c.php?g=388754&p=8804148)
- [Evaluate
  *This link opens in a new window*](http://guides.library.jhu.edu/evaluate)
- [Summarize](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/lit-review/summarize)
- [Synthesize](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/lit-review/synthesize)
- [Integrate](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/lit-review/integrate)

## Literature Reviews in the Social Sciences

An excellent free open-source book on creating literature reviews in the social sciences.

- [Research in Color: A hands-on roadmap to literature reviews in the social sciences](https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Courses/National_Louis_University/Research_in_Color%3A_A_hands-on_roadmap_to_literature_reviews_in_the_social_sciences)

  This workbook guides graduate students through the literature review process for a research course, dissertation, thesis, or publication. Through pragmatic and creative activities, students will find and evaluate sources, take effective notes, recognize patterns, and synthesize findings to prepare them for writing their literature reviews.

## Introduction

##### Literature reviews take time. Here is some general information to know before you start.

1. VIDEO -- [This video](https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/videos/literature-reviews-overview-graduate-students#transcript) is a great overview of the entire process.  (2020; North Carolina State University Libraries)\
   --The transcript is included\
   --This is for everyone; ignore the mention of "graduate students"\
   --9.5 minutes, and every second is important\
2. OVERVIEW -- Read [this page](https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/writing_a_literature_review.html) from Purdue's OWL. It's not long, and gives some tips to fill in what you just learned from the video.\
3. NOT A RESEARCH ARTICLE -- A literature review follows a different style, format, and structure from a research article.\

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Lit Review Article** | **Research Article** |
| **Does What?** | Reports on the work of others. | Reports on original research. |
| **Purpose** | To examine and evaluate previous literature. | To test a hypothesis and/or make an argument.  May include a short literature review to introduce the subject. |

- [**Next:** Evaluate >>](https://guides.library.jhu.edu/lit-review/evaluate)