Literature | Materion (2024)

FAQs

How much literature review is enough? ›

In a PhD thesis, the literature review typically comprises one chapter (perhaps 8-10,000 words), for a Masters dissertation it may be around 2-3,000 words, and for an undergraduate dissertation it may be no more than 2,000 words.

A literature review is a select analysis of existing research which is relevant to your topic, showing how it relates to your investigation. It explains and justifies how your investigation may help answer some of the questions or gaps in this area of research.

Generally, it is recommended to have at least 10-15 references for a 3,000 word essay. However, this number can increase if the essay requires more in-depth research or if the topic is complex and requires a wide range of sources.

Actually, there is no defined number, because this would depend. It depends on your research question, how general or niche your topic is, and the scope of your study. For instance, if your field or topic is very specialized or it's very new, there may not be enough studies to review.

After you've selected a topic, one of the first major tasks is writing the literature review — the section some experts say is the most difficult and time-consuming.

Introduction (800 to 1,000 words) Literature review (1,200 to 2,000 words) Methodology (1,500 to 2,000 words)

Do not include extended quotations, and use direct quotes sparingly, if at all. The literature review is a synthesis and analysis of research on your topic in your own words. Most ideas can be and should be paraphrased. Professors sometimes perceive undue reliance on quotations as intellectual laziness.

Typically, a literature review comprises 20-40% of the thesis, equating to around 20-40 pages, yet this can fluctuate based on the topic, field, and institutional guidelines. However, if the literature review is for an assignment/project report it only needs to be a few pages long.

A literature review will usually do some or all of the following: Introduce the reader to a specific area of interest. Organise relevant sources thematically, starting with the more general, broader themes and narrowing towards the most specific themes. Introduce key theories relevant to the area of study.

The length of a literature review varies depending on its purpose and audience. In a thesis or dissertation, the review is usually a full chapter (at least 20 pages), but for an assignment it may only be a few pages.

What does a literature review look like? ›

Just like most academic papers, literature reviews also must contain at least three basic elements: an introduction or background information section; the body of the review containing the discussion of sources; and, finally, a conclusion and/or recommendations section to end the paper.

LENGTH OF A LITERATURE REVIEW

If your paper is 15 pages long 2-3 pages might suffice for the literature review.

For example, if your total paper is expected to be 15 pages long, 2-3 pages will likely suffice for the literature review. Again, be sure to carefully read (more than once) the assignment guidelines and rubric provided by faculty.

In a thesis or dissertation, the review is usually a full chapter (at least 20 pages), but for an assignment it may only be a few pages. There are several ways to organize and structure a literature review.

The literature review should be 4 to 5 double-spaced pages—slightly longer than the literature review in a typical journal article.

Balancing references is key; generally, 10-20 quality references suffice for a 2000-word essay. 2. Can I use online sources in academic essays? Yes, but ensure they are reputable and reliable sources.