A literature review is a written overview of the published knowledge on a given topic. It is not simply a series of annotations on separate books or articles. A literature review may be an assignment in itself, or part of a broader assignment.
When writing a literature review, you should aim to do the following:
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Summarise the arguments or findings of the key thinkers or researchers in the field.
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Compare and/or reconcile these arguments or findings.
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Make a conclusion on the state of knowledge or opinion on the topic.
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Note apparent gaps in the literature with a summary of needs for further research.
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In longer works, explain how your investigation will contribute to the state of knowledge.
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