A literature review is a survey of the existing body of work on a particular topic. It is used to identify trends, debates, and gaps in the research. A literature review is not a summary or a description of the existing literature. It is an analytical tool that helps you to understand the field of international relations and to identify the key debates that are taking place.
When writing a literature review, you need to be able to answer the following questions:
· What are the key debates that are taking place in the field of international relations?
· What are the major trends in the field of international relations?
· What are the gaps in the research?
· What are the areas that need further research?
In order to answer these questions, you need to be familiar with the existing body of work on international relations. You can find this literature by searching for journals and books that focus on international relations. You can also search for online databases such as the International Political Science Abstracts.
Once you have found the literature, you need to read it carefully and take notes. You should also try to identify the key arguments that are being made in the literature. After you have done this, you can start to write your literature review.
Your literature review should be structured around the key debates that you have identified in the literature. Each section of your literature review should focus on one of these debates. In each section, you should discuss the different arguments that have been made about the debate. You should also evaluate the evidence that has been presented in each of the arguments.
After you have written your literature review, you should proofread it carefully. You should also make sure that you have followed the formatting requirements of your journal or book.
Other related questions:
How do you write an IR literature review?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to write an IR literature review will vary depending on the specific field of IR research you are working in. However, there are some general tips that can be useful when writing an IR literature review.
Firstly, it is important to make sure that you have a clear focus for your review. This means narrowing down your topic to a specific research question or set of questions that you want to answer. Once you have done this, you can start to identify the key literature in your field that will help you answer your research questions.
Secondly, it is helpful to structure your literature review in a way that makes it easy for readers to follow. A common way to do this is to divide your literature review into sections, each of which covers a different aspect of your research question. For example, you might have a section on the different theoretical approaches to your topic, followed by a section on empirical studies.
Finally, remember to critically engage with the literature you are reviewing. This means assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each piece of research, and considering how it contributes to your overall understanding of your research topic.
What are the 5 steps in writing a literature review?
1. Choose a topic
2. Find and read relevant sources
3. Take notes on what you read
4. Identify themes and patterns in the research
5. Write your literature review
How do you write a literature review step by step?
There is no one definitive answer to this question. However, some tips on how to write a literature review step by step include:
1. Choose a topic.
2. Identify relevant sources.
3. Read and take notes on the sources.
4. Organize your notes.
5. Write the literature review.
What is the format of literature review?
There is no one specific format for a literature review. However, there are some common elements that should be included. These include:
1. An introduction that provides an overview of the topic and explains why the literature review is being conducted.
2. A review of the existing literature on the topic. This should include a summary of the main points of each source as well as a critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of each.
3. A discussion of the gaps in the existing literature and how your research will fill these gaps.
4. A conclusion that summarises the main points of the literature review and provides a recommendations for future research.