Write a Dissertation Literature Review

1. Introduction

Not to be mystified with a book review, a dissertation literature review surveys scholarly articles, books and other sources (e.g. dissertations, conference proceedings) appropriate to a exacting subject, area of research, or theory, providing a report, summary, and serious assessment of each work. The reason is to offer an overview of important dissertation literature published on a topic.

2. Components

Similar to primary research, development of the dissertation literature review requires four stages:

• Trouble formulation—which topic or field is being examined and what are its component issues?
• Literature search—finding materials relevant to the subject being explored

Dissertation Literature reviews should comprise the following essentials:

• An overview of the subject, issue or theory under thoughts, all along with the objectives of the dissertation literature review
• Separation of works beneath assessment into groups (e.g. those in support of a particular position, those against, and those offering alternative theses entirely)