This site is adapted from the wonderful Literature Review site created by Julie LaDell-Thomas, Off-Campus Librarian at Central Michigan University. It is used with her permission, and we thank her for that.
One of the key components of a thesis or dissertation is the literature review, which should synthesize major research studies that are relevant to the student's research question.
Effective use of the Woodruff Library can contribute to the successful completion of your paper. In the following pages, you will be guided through the process of researching a topic and writing a literature review. You will learn how to identify, evaluate and use scholarly information, and you'll develop skills that will help with research and writing throughout your educational, professional and personal endeavors.
Before you begin your research, you can learn more about literature reviews and the research process in the background readings and other resources linked from the RESOURCES box on the left side of this page.
Image: (CC) J. Durham: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/564774
The main sections in this learning module are listed below.