A literature review compares research around a question rather than collecting summaries. Set the scope and organise the discussion around meaningful themes.
A practical starting point
For Australian coursework, use the required databases and citation guidance. Include international work where relevant, while explaining differences in setting.
Understand the task
A literature review maps what research says about a focused question. Define the scope and use a transparent search process. Record databases, search terms and selection decisions so that you can explain how the material was found.
Develop the reasoning
Organise sources by ideas, approaches or disagreements. Compare studies that address the same issue and explain differences in design or setting. One summary per source rarely shows the relationships that make a review useful.
Use evidence carefully
Assess the evidence as well as the conclusions. Consider the sample, method, publication context and relevance to your question. A recent paper is not automatically stronger than an older foundational study.
Review the finished work
End by showing what the review establishes and where uncertainty remains. A research gap must emerge from the comparison, rather than from a claim that no one has studied your exact title.
Before you submit
- Check the brief and marking criteria for this task.
- Confirm the source and date of each factual claim.
- Review the argument before making the final language checks.
- Keep the final file and any submission confirmation.
Support for UK students
For feedback on how literature reviews in the ukn assignments, share your assessment brief and the part of your own work you want to improve. Assignment Writer can discuss the scope of academic guidance with students in Manchester and across the UK. Follow your institution’s rules on permitted assistance.
