Synthesize your findings. Your findings are your evaluation of the literature reviewed: what you consider the strengths and weaknesses 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.
Across the articles that you read, pay attention to what the:
- Common/contested findings
- Important trends
- Influential theories
Identifying these elements as you are reading and writing notes about your sources will help you later when you start writing
Keep this in mind when writing your literature review:
- Do not over-quote: If you only quote from every single author you found, then you are not showing any original thinking or analysis. Use quotes judiciously. Use quotes to highlight a particular passage or thought that exemplifies the research, theory, or topic you are researching.
- Instead, use paraphrasing: Restate the main ideas of a paragraph or section to highlight, in your own words, the important points made by the author.
- Summarize findings, significant sections, a whole article, or book: This is different from paraphrasing since you are not re-stating the author's words but summarizing the main point of what you are reading concisely for your readers.
Note: In all cases, do not forget to give credit to these sources since they are not your original ideas but someone else's. Check the specific citation style you are using for the appropriate in-text citation format. Visit the Citation Styles Guide to learn more about how to cite your bibliography using your research field's citation style!