5 Cs to Writing a Literature Review

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Writing a literature review can be a rewarding but intricate process, requiring a strategic approach to effectively synthesize existing research. This guide provides five principles that will not only aid you in organizing and evaluating your research; they will also help you uncover the essential connections within the literature you have gathered and between this literature and your own contribution to the field.

The five Cs to writing a literature review are cite, compare, contrast, critique, and connect.

Cite:

Citations are important for literature reviews because they credit the authors who have previously conducted related research and give a time frame to validate the relevance of the source.

• Who is the author?
• What year was the source published?
• Is this a well-known and cited source?

Compare:

Examine multiple sources and see what is similar in their findings.

• Are the results of multiple sources similar?
• Are the methodologies similar?
• Are the research questions similar? 

Contrast:

Examine multiple sources and see what is different in their findings.

• Are the results of multiple sources different?
• Are the methodologies different?
• Are the research questions different? 

Critique:

Consider what could have been done differently in the study.

• Was the research question properly addressed?
• Was the methodology appropriate?
• Do the results make sense for the study?

Connect:

Use your findings from the above points to build up your paper and provide background on what you are studying.

• What from each source supports your research?
• Could this be the methodology, results, or discussion portion of the source?

 

Note: Always review requirements carefully and follow the specific guidelines for your literature review, whether for coursework, a thesis or dissertation, or publication. 

If you need more help, schedule an appointment at your writing center!

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Compiled by Bailey Hair, Graduate Writing Center, Texas Tech University