Organization of Literature Review

When writing, I recommend breaking the lit review into four parts:

1.     Intro and conclusion statements;

      a.      Intro-list key authors you used

     b.     List key search terms you used

     c.      List all the libraries and data bases you used

     d.     Chapter 2 has a conclusion and a summary

                       i.     Conclusion: mention everything you wrote in the chapter:1-2 pages

                        ii.     Summary: a transition to the next chapter

2.     Part 1.  Historical perspective of your problem 7-10 pages

     a.      Go back to where it began

     b.     Trace the evolution forward

     c.      About 5-7 pages

3.     The Meat of Your Problem 7-10 pages

     a.      What is happening

     b.     Other research on the problem

     c.      Other methodology used to delve into problem

     d.     Similar but different research on problem

4.     The catch-all portion 7-10 pages

     a.      Alternate viewpoints

    b.     Tie in your theoretical framework

     c.      What do you expect to find

Remember: Your sources must be 85% within 5 years of the day the dean signs your dissertation and 95% must be peer reviewed or books.  Secondary sources are discouraged and some committee members will not allow them at all (no—as cited by).