After reading all of your sources, begin constructing your argument that answers your research question
Review your annotations/notes with your argument in mind
Introduce your topic and argument early in your literature review
Organize your discussion of the literature either chronologically, methodologically, or thematically
Chronological organization: discussion of the literature proceeds by discussing sources in the order they were published; by publication chronology; or by trend
Methodological organization: focus is not related to the content of your sources, but by the authors' methods/methodologies
Thematic organization: discussion of the literature is arranged around a topic or issue, rather than around chronology or methodology
Support your interpretations with evidence from the literature
Highlight the most important points of a source
Use direct quotes sparingly (or, ideally, not at all!) — the focus in a literature review is on your analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of the literature
Remember that your paragraphs should address concepts, not authors — your sources should interact and engage with each other in your literature review; you should not list your sources and discuss them independently of each other
End your literature review with a discussion of your conclusions, their implications, and potential directions for future research
Revise and rewrite — like all writing, a literature review is an iterative process!
