extended essay literature review

IB DP Extended Essay: Lit Reviews

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What is a Literature ("Lit") Review?

A literature review surveys books, scholarly articles, and any other sources relevant to a particular issue, area of research, or theory, and by so doing, provides a description, summary, and critical evaluation of these works in relation to the research problem being investigated. Literature reviews are designed to provide an overview of sources you have explored while researching a particular topic and to demonstrate to your readers how your research fits within a larger field of study.

Fink, Arlene.  Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From the Internet to Paper . Fourth edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2014.

The Importance of a Good Literature Review

A literature review may consist of simply a summary of key sources, but in the social sciences, a literature review   usually has an organizational pattern and combines both summary and synthesis, often within specific conceptual categories . A summary is a recap of the important information of the source, but a synthesis is a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that information in a way that informs how you are planning to investigate a research problem. The analytical features of a literature review might:

• Give a new interpretation of old material or combine new with old interpretations,
• Trace the intellectual progression of the field, including major debates,
• Depending on the situation, evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most pertinent or relevant research, or
• Usually in the conclusion of a literature review, identify where gaps exist in how a problem has been researched to date.

The purpose of a literature review is to:

• Place each work in the context of its contribution to understanding the research problem being studied.
• Describe the relationship of each work to the others under consideration.
• Identify new ways to interpret prior research.
• Reveal any gaps that exist in the literature.
• Resolve conflicts amongst seemingly contradictory previous studies.
• Identify areas of prior scholarship to prevent duplication of effort.
• Point the way in fulfilling a need for additional research.
• Locate your own research within the context of existing literature [very important].

Fink, Arlene.  Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From the Internet to Paper.  2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2005; Hart, Chris.  Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1998; Jesson, Jill.  Doing Your Literature Review: Traditional and Systematic Techniques . Los Angeles, CA: SAGE, 2011; Knopf, Jeffrey W. "Doing a Literature Review."  PS: Political Science and Politics  39 (January 2006): 127-132; Ridley, Diana.  The Literature Review: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students . 2nd ed. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE, 2012.

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Writing a Literature Review

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A literature review is a document or section of a document that collects key sources on a topic and discusses those sources in conversation with each other (also called synthesis ). The lit review is an important genre in many disciplines, not just literature (i.e., the study of works of literature such as novels and plays). When we say “literature review” or refer to “the literature,” we are talking about the research ( scholarship ) in a given field. You will often see the terms “the research,” “the scholarship,” and “the literature” used mostly interchangeably.

Where, when, and why would I write a lit review?

There are a number of different situations where you might write a literature review, each with slightly different expectations; different disciplines, too, have field-specific expectations for what a literature review is and does. For instance, in the humanities, authors might include more overt argumentation and interpretation of source material in their literature reviews, whereas in the sciences, authors are more likely to report study designs and results in their literature reviews; these differences reflect these disciplines’ purposes and conventions in scholarship. You should always look at examples from your own discipline and talk to professors or mentors in your field to be sure you understand your discipline’s conventions, for literature reviews as well as for any other genre.

A literature review can be a part of a research paper or scholarly article, usually falling after the introduction and before the research methods sections. In these cases, the lit review just needs to cover scholarship that is important to the issue you are writing about; sometimes it will also cover key sources that informed your research methodology.

Lit reviews can also be standalone pieces, either as assignments in a class or as publications. In a class, a lit review may be assigned to help students familiarize themselves with a topic and with scholarship in their field, get an idea of the other researchers working on the topic they’re interested in, find gaps in existing research in order to propose new projects, and/or develop a theoretical framework and methodology for later research. As a publication, a lit review usually is meant to help make other scholars’ lives easier by collecting and summarizing, synthesizing, and analyzing existing research on a topic. This can be especially helpful for students or scholars getting into a new research area, or for directing an entire community of scholars toward questions that have not yet been answered.

What are the parts of a lit review?

Most lit reviews use a basic introduction-body-conclusion structure; if your lit review is part of a larger paper, the introduction and conclusion pieces may be just a few sentences while you focus most of your attention on the body. If your lit review is a standalone piece, the introduction and conclusion take up more space and give you a place to discuss your goals, research methods, and conclusions separately from where you discuss the literature itself.

Introduction:

• An introductory paragraph that explains what your working topic and thesis is
• A forecast of key topics or texts that will appear in the review
• Potentially, a description of how you found sources and how you analyzed them for inclusion and discussion in the review (more often found in published, standalone literature reviews than in lit review sections in an article or research paper)
• Summarize and synthesize: Give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole
• Analyze and interpret: Don’t just paraphrase other researchers – add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole
• Critically Evaluate: Mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources
• Write in well-structured paragraphs: Use transition words and topic sentence to draw connections, comparisons, and contrasts.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance
• Connect it back to your primary research question

How should I organize my lit review?

Lit reviews can take many different organizational patterns depending on what you are trying to accomplish with the review. Here are some examples:

• Chronological : The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time, which helps familiarize the audience with the topic (for instance if you are introducing something that is not commonly known in your field). If you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order. Try to analyze the patterns, turning points, and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred (as mentioned previously, this may not be appropriate in your discipline — check with a teacher or mentor if you’re unsure).
• Thematic : If you have found some recurring central themes that you will continue working with throughout your piece, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic. For example, if you are reviewing literature about women and religion, key themes can include the role of women in churches and the religious attitude towards women.
• Qualitative versus quantitative research
• Empirical versus theoretical scholarship
• Divide the research by sociological, historical, or cultural sources
• Theoretical : In many humanities articles, the literature review is the foundation for the theoretical framework. You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts. You can argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach or combine various theorical concepts to create a framework for your research.

What are some strategies or tips I can use while writing my lit review?

Any lit review is only as good as the research it discusses; make sure your sources are well-chosen and your research is thorough. Don’t be afraid to do more research if you discover a new thread as you’re writing. More info on the research process is available in our "Conducting Research" resources .

As you’re doing your research, create an annotated bibliography ( see our page on the this type of document ). Much of the information used in an annotated bibliography can be used also in a literature review, so you’ll be not only partially drafting your lit review as you research, but also developing your sense of the larger conversation going on among scholars, professionals, and any other stakeholders in your topic.

Usually you will need to synthesize research rather than just summarizing it. This means drawing connections between sources to create a picture of the scholarly conversation on a topic over time. Many student writers struggle to synthesize because they feel they don’t have anything to add to the scholars they are citing; here are some strategies to help you:

• It often helps to remember that the point of these kinds of syntheses is to show your readers how you understand your research, to help them read the rest of your paper.
• Writing teachers often say synthesis is like hosting a dinner party: imagine all your sources are together in a room, discussing your topic. What are they saying to each other?
• Look at the in-text citations in each paragraph. Are you citing just one source for each paragraph? This usually indicates summary only. When you have multiple sources cited in a paragraph, you are more likely to be synthesizing them (not always, but often
• Read more about synthesis here.

The most interesting literature reviews are often written as arguments (again, as mentioned at the beginning of the page, this is discipline-specific and doesn’t work for all situations). Often, the literature review is where you can establish your research as filling a particular gap or as relevant in a particular way. You have some chance to do this in your introduction in an article, but the literature review section gives a more extended opportunity to establish the conversation in the way you would like your readers to see it. You can choose the intellectual lineage you would like to be part of and whose definitions matter most to your thinking (mostly humanities-specific, but this goes for sciences as well). In addressing these points, you argue for your place in the conversation, which tends to make the lit review more compelling than a simple reporting of other sources.

Crafting the Perfect Extended Essay (EE): A Step-by-Step Structure Guide

The Extended Essay (EE) is a crucial component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. It offers students a unique opportunity to conduct independent research on a topic of their choice and produce a structured academic paper. Proper structuring of the EE is essential for clarity, coherence, and meeting the IB's assessment criteria. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to structure your Extended Essay effectively.

Attention: The Importance of Structure

Imagine trying to navigate a dense forest without a map. That's what reading an unstructured essay feels like. A well-structured EE not only helps the reader follow your argument but also demonstrates your organizational skills and attention to detail.

Interest: Components of a Well-Structured EE

A standard EE is typically composed of several key sections, each serving a distinct purpose. Here’s a breakdown of each section:

• Essential Information : Include the title of your essay, your name, IB candidate number, subject, and the date of submission.
• First Impressions : A clear and concise title page sets the tone for the rest of your essay.
• Summary : In about 300 words, summarize the research question, scope, methodology, and conclusions of your EE.
• Purpose : The abstract gives the reader a quick overview of what to expect in your essay.
• Navigation : List all the sections and sub-sections of your essay with corresponding page numbers.
• Organization : This helps the reader navigate through your essay easily.
• Context : Provide background information and set the context for your research.
• Research Question : Clearly state your research question and explain its significance.
• Thesis Statement : Outline the main argument or thesis of your essay.
• Existing Research : Summarize and evaluate the existing literature related to your topic.
• Gaps and Justification : Identify gaps in the existing research and justify the need for your study.
• Research Methods : Describe the methods you used to collect data, whether qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods.
• Justification : Explain why these methods are appropriate for your research question.
• Procedure : Detail the steps taken during your research, including any experiments or surveys conducted.
• Thematic Organization : Divide this section into sub-sections based on themes or key points.
• Evidence and Analysis : Present your findings, analyze the data, and relate it to your research question and thesis.
• Critical Evaluation : Critically evaluate your findings and discuss their implications.
• Summary : Summarize the main findings of your research.
• Answer the Research Question : Clearly answer your research question based on the analysis.
• Implications and Recommendations : Discuss the broader implications of your findings and suggest areas for further research.
• Citations : Use a consistent citation style (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago) to list all the sources you referenced in your essay.
• Bibliography : Include a comprehensive list of all the sources you consulted during your research.
• Supplementary Material : Include any additional material that supports your research but is not essential to the main body (e.g., raw data, detailed calculations, survey instruments).

Desire: Tips for Effective Structuring

To ensure your EE is well-structured and meets the IB criteria, consider the following tips:

• Plan Ahead : Create a detailed outline before you start writing. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure a logical flow.
• Stay on Topic : Each section should directly relate to your research question and thesis. Avoid including irrelevant information.
• Use Clear Headings : Use headings and subheadings to break down the content into manageable sections. This improves readability and helps the reader follow your argument.
• Be Concise : Stick to the word limit (usually around 4,000 words). Be clear and concise, avoiding unnecessary jargon or overly complex sentences.
• Edit and Revise : Revise your essay multiple times to improve clarity, coherence, and overall quality. Seek feedback from your supervisor and peers.

Action: Moving Forward with Confidence

With a clear structure in place, you are well on your way to writing a successful Extended Essay. Remember, the structure is your roadmap, guiding both you and your reader through the intricate journey of your research. Stick to this guide, and you'll produce an EE that is not only well-organized but also compelling and insightful.

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