A literature review ought to be a clear, concise synthesis of relevant information. A literature review should introduce the study it precedes and show how that study fits into topically related studies that already exist. Structurally, a literature review ought to be something like a funnel: start by addressing the topic broadly and gradually narrow as the review progresses. (from Literature Reviews by CU Writing Center)
Reference to prior literature is a defining feature of academic and research writing. Why review the literature?
Synthesize your findings. Your findings are your evaluation of the literature reviewed: what you consider the strengths and weakness of the studies reviewed; the comparison you did between studies; research trends and gaps in the research that you found while researching your topic, etc...
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Across the articles that you read, pay attention to:
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Literature Review Example
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Why Annotate?
Answer: To save yourself time and frustration later in writing the literature review! Truly, this is your opportunity to quickly evaluate a source for key ideas, important data, and helpful quotes which can easily be recalled for use in writing the Literature Review. Why struggle to remember where you saw a key piece of information, when a quick, organized note and highlight could easily save you the trouble. Doing this work at the beginning of exploring sources will save you some real headaches later. Remember, an annotation is a critical evaluation (the notes) you make of a source and its key elements, conclusions and objectives.
Article: How to Critically Analyze a Source - Cornell University
Video: How to Create an Annotated Bibliography - Brock University
