The Sheridan Libraries
Source: https://guides.library.jhu.edu/lit-review/summarize Parent: https://guides.library.jhu.edu/lit-review
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Write a Literature Review
Take a step-by-step approach to writing a lit review.
Tip
Not every source you found should be included in your annotated bibliography or lit review. Only include the most relevant and most important sources.
Get Organized
Use this template to help you evaluate your sources, create article summaries for an annotated bibliography, and a synthesis matrix for your lit review outline.
Summarize your Sources
Summarize each source: Determine the most important and relevant information from each source, such as the findings, methodology, theories, etc. Consider using an article summary, or study summary to help you organize and summarize your sources.
Paraphrasing
- Use your own words, and do not copy and paste the abstract
- The library's tutorials about plagiarism are excellent, and will help you with paraphasing correctly
Annotated Bibliographies
Annotated bibliographies can help you clearly see and understand the research before diving into organizing and writing your literature review. \ Although typically part of the "summarize" step of the literature review, annotations should not merely be summaries of each article - instead, they should be critical evaluations of the source, and help determine a source's usefulness for your lit review.\
Definition:
A list of citations on a particular topic followed by an evaluation of the source’s argument and other relevant material including its intended audience, sources of evidence, and methodology
Purpose:
- Explore your topic.
- Appraise issues or factors associated with your professional practice and research topic.
- Help you get started with the literature review.
- Think critically about your topic, and the literature.
Steps to Creating an Annotated Bibliography:
- Find Your Sources
- Read Your Sources
- Identify the Most Relevant Sources
- Cite your Sources
- Write Annotations