How to write a literature review

Purpose of the literature review

The purpose of the literature review is to provide a critical written account of the current state of research on a selected topic:

• Identifies areas of prior scholarship
• Places each source in the context of its contribution to the understanding of the specific issue, area of research, or theory under review.
• Describes the relationship of each source to the others that you have selected
• Identifies new ways to interpret, and shed light on any gaps in, previous research
• Points the way forward for further research.