Establishes the focus and explains why the topic matters.
You can't read everything. Use filters to narrow down the most relevant work.
Summarizes the main takeaways and clearly identifies the "gap" your research will fill. 6. Refine and Cite
Prioritize peer-reviewed journals and seminal books. 3. Evaluate and Analyze
Create a list of terms to use in databases like Google Scholar or JSTOR. 2. Search and Screen
Don't just summarize author by author. Instead, organize your review . Common structures include: Chronological: How the topic evolved over time.
Grouping sources by the specific sub-topics they cover.