How to Write a Literature Review at a UK University
A step-by-step guide to writing a literature review that earns first-class marks at UK universities.
A literature review isn't a summary
First-class literature reviews argue. They group sources, compare positions, identify tensions and end by carving out the gap your own work will fill.
Step 1: scope and search
Set inclusion criteria (date range, geography, methodology) before you search. Use JSTOR, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar with targeted Boolean queries.
Step 2: thematic grouping
Don't write source-by-source. Group sources around themes or debates. Each theme becomes a sub-section.
Step 3: critical engagement
For each source, ask: what is the author claiming, what's the evidence, what are the limitations? Markers reward critical engagement, not faithful summary.
Step 4: gap analysis
End the review by pointing to the specific gap your research addresses. That gap justifies your entire dissertation.