The length of a literature review varies depending on its purpose and audience. In a thesis or dissertation, the review is usually a full chapter (at least 20 pages), but for an assignment it may only be a few pages. There are several ways to organize and structure a literature review.
Can a literature review be 500 words?
What is a literature review? – A literature review is a type of academic writing that provides an overview of existing knowledge in a particular field of research. A good literature review summarises, analyses, evaluates and synthesises the relevant literature within a particular field of research.
It illuminates how knowledge has evolved within the field, highlighting what has already been done, what is generally accepted, what is emerging and what is the current state of thinking on the topic. Additionally, literature reviews identify the gaps in the current knowledge – that is, uninvestigated or under-researched areas.
Whether the literature review is short or extended, similar structural and linguistic features apply. Literature refers to a collection of published information/materials on a particular area of research or topic, such as books and journal articles of academic value.
what has been established, discredited and accepted in your field of researchareas of controversy or conflict among different schools of thoughtproblems or issues that remain unsolvedemerging trends and new approacheshow your research extends, builds upon, and/or departs from previous research.
A review of literature presents much more than a summary of relevant sources. The act of reviewing involves evaluating individual sources as well as synthesising these sources in order to develop your own research project. A literature review functions as a tool to:
provide a background to your work by summarising the previously published work on your topicclassify the research into different categories and demonstrate how the research in a particular area has changed over time by indicating historical background if applicable (early research findings in an area) as well as explaining recent developments in an areaclarify areas of controversy and agreement between experts in the area as well as identify dominant viewsevaluate the previous research and identify gaps (i.e. unexplored or under-researched areas)help justify your research by indicating how it is different from other works in the same area.
Literature reviews can form part of a research project or proposal, or they can be stand-alone extended documents. A literature review that is part of a course assignment might be of 500 to 1000 words, while a literature review that is presented as a journal article might be in excess of 5000 words.
- Literature reviews exist within different types of scholarly works.
- Short literature reviews can be presented in journal articles, book chapters, or coursework assignments to set the background of the research topic.
- The focus of a literature review in a graduate research thesis is to identify gaps and argue for the need for further research.
Depending on the purpose of the writer and the context in which the literature review will be presented, a selective or comprehensive approach may be taken. In the selective approach, a single or limited number of sources are reviewed (e.g. the introduction of a journal article).
- This relates to shorter literature reviews.
- A comprehensive approach requires the review of numerous sources (e.g.
- Books and articles), which can be presented as a substantial chapter in a research thesis or published on its own as a scholarly article.
- This relates to extended literature reviews.
- Adapted from under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States license.) What do you think a literature review is, and what is it not ? Drag and drop the following statements under the right heading and click ‘check’ to check your answers.
: Literature review
Can I write a literature review in a week?
Writing up a full research article in a single week? Maybe you think that’s impossible. Yet I have done it repeatedly, and so have students in my courses. This is an exceptionally joyful (even if demanding) experience: being so productive just feels great! You are not wasting any time, and a paper produced in one go is typically coherent and nice to read.
- Even if you are a slow writer, you can write a whole paper in a single week — if you follow my strategy.
- Read below about what you need to prepare and how to approach this project.
- I wrote my first scientific research article in 7 days.
- It started as a desperate effort to stop my procrastination and “just do it”.
But I was surprised what a positive experience it was: focused and efficient, I was making daily progress, feeling motivated and content. Finally, the fruits of my hard work were gaining shape — and they did it so quickly! I realized it was highly effective to write up a paper like this: writing for the whole day, every day until the first draft was finished.
- My writing project was firmly present in my mind — I didn’t lose time catching up with what I have written in the last session.
- Since I was not doing anything else, my wandering mind settled in very fast, and I was getting into a routine.
- The daily progress was clearly visible and motivated me to continue.
And the result was a coherent paper that was easy to revise. Meanwhile, this paper-a-week approach is my favorite. That’s how I write my papers, and that’s what I teach to students. In on-site courses young scientists draft a whole paper in 5 days, writing one major section per day.
- At the beginning of the week, many participants have doubts.
- But at the end of the week, they are all excited to see how much they managed to write in just a single week.
- If you would also like to try out this approach, then read on about the necessary preparations, the optimal setting, and a productive writing strategy.
If you would like to get support during the preparation, drafting and revising of your research article, check out my online course Write Up Your Paper,
How many sources for a 3,000 word literature review?
| Article Size (Word Count) | Median Number of References |
|---|---|
| (1000, 2000] | 15 |
| (2000, 3000] | 28 |
| (3000, 4000] | 36 |
| (4000, 5000] | 44 |
How long should a literature review be in a 3000 word essay?
Literature review ( 1,200 to 2,000 words ) Methodology (1,500 to 2,000 words) Research (800 to 1,000 words)
Is it possible to write 20 pages in a day?
Writing 20 pages will take about 4.2 hours for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 8.3 hours for handwriting. However, if the content needs to include in-depth research, links, citations, or graphics such as for a blog article or high school essay, the length can grow to 33.3 hours.
Typical documents that are 20 pages include college dissertations, theses, and in-depth blog posts and journal articles. A typical single-spaced page is 500 words long. You may write faster or slower than this depending on your average writing speed. Adults typically type at about 40 words per minute when writing for enjoyment and 5 words per minute for in-depth essays or articles.
They can handwrite at 20 words per minute. College students typically need to be able to write at 60-70 words per minute in order to quickly write essays.
Can I write 10,000 words in a week?
Day 1 – Your first day, you’ll only write 2,000 words. Now, with a goal of 10,000 words in just three days, that probably doesn’t make much sense. Why would you make such little progress the first day, and leave yourself with 8,000 more words to write over the next two days? The problem here is that you’re thinking too big! 10,000 words is a lot to write in a short amount of time.
- But the key to Making It Happen is to start small, break up your word count, and chip away at your progress a little at a time until, before you know it, you’re there.
- There’s this thing I like to informally call the 500 word rule,
- If you have a hard time sitting down and getting started right away (it happens to me, too), this trick will change your writing productivity forever.
Trust me.
How long should literature review be in 30 000 word dissertation?
Structuring the literature review – In a PhD thesis, the literature review typically comprises one chapter (perhaps 8-10,000 words), for a Masters dissertation it may be around 2-3,000 words, and for an undergraduate dissertation it may be no more than 2,000 words.
- In each case the word count can vary depending on a range of factors and it is always best, if in doubt, to ask your supervisor.
- The overall structure of the section or chapter should be like any other: it should have a beginning, middle and end.
- You will need to guide the reader through the literature review, outlining the strategy you have adopted for selecting the books or articles, presenting the topic theme for the review, then using most of the word limit to analyse the chosen books or articles thoroughly before pulling everything together briefly in the conclusion.
The overall structure of the section or chapter should be like any other: it should have a beginning, middle and end. You will need to guide the reader through the literature review, outlining the strategy you have adopted for selecting the books or articles, presenting the topic theme for the review, then using most of the word limit to analyse the chosen books or articles thoroughly before pulling everything together briefly in the conclusion.
Some people prefer a less linear approach. Instead of simply working through a list of 8-20 items on your book review list, you might want to try a thematic approach, grouping key ideas, facts, concepts or approaches together and then bouncing the ideas off each other. This is a slightly more creative (and interesting) way of producing the review, but a little more risky as it is harder to establish coherence and logical sequencing.
Whichever approach you adopt, make sure everything flows smoothly – that one idea or book leads neatly to the next. Take your reader effortlessly through a sequence of thought that is clear, accurate, precise and interesting.
How long does a 1000 word literature review take?
It takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes to write a 1,000 word essay.
Can I write 3000 words in 12 hours?
So you’ve left your 3,000 word essay until the last minute? Not ideal, but don’t stress. You can make it happen by following our steps. 
Credit: Prostock-studio, mialapi, Olga_Shestakova – Shutterstock We know. You had every intention of getting your essay done before the deadline, but sometimes life gets in the way. Writing 3,000 words can take anywhere between six and 24 hours depending on the topic.
But, with our tips, you can easily get the essay done within a day. Get your head down and you could meet the deadline, and even produce an essay you’re proud of. Best of all, you can adapt our tips for a 2,000 word essay, a 4,000 word essay, or whatever length – all in a day! Take a deep breath. Remain calm.
Here’s how to write an essay fast. There are many reasons students find themselves in this pressurised situation (some more innocent than others). We’re not here to judge, just help you make the best of a tricky situation.
Can you write an essay in a day?
H ave you ever written an essay in 25 minutes? You have if you have ever sat for the SAT. While the stakes may be higher for a last-minute academic essay, the point is this: do not panic! Instead, read this six-step guide to writing an essay in a day: 1.
Understand your goals Whether you are writing a personal statement for a college or graduate school application, or an essay for a high school or college class, your assignment will have specific goals. Before you begin to write, review these goals. Clearly understanding your objective is essential when working with a shortened timeline.2.
Choose a topic Under normal circumstances, you might devote several days to brainstorming a promising topic, and then you might write a detailed outline before writing and revising your essay over a week or two. When you are on a tight schedule, this is not possible.
- So—write down the first three or four ideas that occur to you.
- If you cannot think of an appropriate topic, ask a parent or a friend to review the assignment with you.
- Do not spend more than 10 or 15 minutes on this part of your essay, as the execution ultimately matters more than the idea itself.
- In addition, do not stress yourself about selecting the “perfect” topic.
Without a topic, you will have no essay to turn in, and any essay is better than no essay. (It naturally follows that any topic is also better than no topic at all.) 3. Set deadlines Establishing deadlines for a one-day essay is key. Budget 5-10 minutes for brainstorming, 15-20 minutes for creating an outline, and several hours for writing.
You can also set aside an hour for feedback and review, and another hour for any necessary revisions. You should also allow for an hour-long break to recharge your mind. Finally, plan to submit your essay several hours before the deadline. A schedule with some flexibility will allow you to adapt to any unforeseen complications.4.
Arrange for reviewers in advance Whenever possible, arrange for reviewers (such as your parents or friends) first thing in the morning, and let them know when they can expect a draft. When your deadline is in several days or weeks, you have the luxury of finding reviewers after you have finished your draft.
With a shorter deadline, you will not have this ability. Be clear on the short turnaround time to ensure as smooth a review period as possible.5. Outline your essay There are many resources that can advise you on how to write a wonderful essay, but the purpose of this article is to shape that advice to the demands of a very short timeline.
This includes resisting the urge to abandon the outline. Having an outline is even more important for a one-day essay than for a week-long project with a similar word count. A strong outline will keep your essay focused and organized from the start—which is critical when time constraints will limit your rewrites.
Your outline should not be detailed, and it should take no more than 15 or 20 minutes to complete. Determine your hook (see below for more information), and then jot down the threads that connect this moment to your central argument or idea.6. Stay organized When you are under pressure, your tendency may be to start writing and to see where your essay goes.
Try instead to use a brief anecdote or emotional impact statement (i.e. the “hook” in your opening paragraph) to set the stakes for your essay. This is essentially your opportunity to state why your argument or idea is worth your reader’s attention. Finally, remember that “perfect is the enemy of good.” Manage your expectations.
- Your goal should be to write a good essay, not a perfect one.
- If you have a compelling hook and a well-organized flow of ideas, check your writing for errors, and then send it in.
- Brian Witte is a professional SAT tutor with Varsity Tutors, a live learning platform that connects students with personalized instruction to accelerate academic achievement.
He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington and holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University More from Varsity Tutors:
7 Last-Minute Exam Tips for Students 6 Tips for Surviving Finals Week 3 Reasons to Register for SAT Writing Test
Contact us at [email protected],
How many pages is a literature review?
The length of a literature review varies depending on its purpose and audience. In a thesis or dissertation, the review is usually a full chapter (at least 20 pages), but for an assignment it may only be a few pages. There are several ways to organize and structure a literature review.
How long does it take to write 2500 literature review?
Writing 2,500 words will take about 1 hours for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 2.1 hours for handwriting. However, if the content needs to include in-depth research, links, citations, or graphics such as for a blog article or high school essay, the length can grow to 8.3 hours.
Documents that typically contain 2,500 words include college essays, operating manuals, and longer form blog posts. You may write faster or slower than this depending on your average writing speed. Adults typically type at about 40 words per minute when writing for enjoyment and 5 words per minute for in-depth essays or articles.
They can handwrite at 20 words per minute. College students typically need to be able to write at 60-70 words per minute in order to quickly write essays.
Is 3000 words enough for a research paper?
Word count: 3,000 words (excluding abstract and references) Papers should include a title page, an abstract, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion sections. Abstract: An unstructured abstract limited to 175 words should be provided.
Is 3000 words a lot for a paper?
How Many Pages is 3000 Words? — Word Counter How many pages is 3000 words? Single spaced, 3000 words yields about 6 pages, while double spacing produces around 12 pages. Depending on your word processor and preferences the page count may vary slightly, but with typical margins and 12 point Arial or Times New Roman font you should expect a similar number of pages.
How many pages can a literature review be?
The length of a literature review varies depending on its purpose and audience. In a thesis or dissertation, the review is usually a full chapter (at least 20 pages), but for an assignment it may only be a few pages. There are several ways to organize and structure a literature review.
How many papers is good for a literature review?
How much do you need? – This will depend on the length of the dissertation, the nature of the subject, and the level of study (undergraduate, Masters, PhD). As a very rough rule of thumb – you may choose 8-10 significant pieces (books and/or articles) for an 8,000 word dissertation, up to 20 major pieces of work for 12-15,000 words, and so on.
What are the limits of a literature review?
The limitations of a literature review of this nature is the complete reliance on previously published research and the availability of these studies using the method outlined in the search methodology (section 3.2) and the appropriateness of these studies with the criteria of the selection/exclusion procedure (section
How long does it take to write a 5000 word literature review?
Writing 5,000 words will take about 2.1 hours for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 4.2 hours for handwriting. However, if the content needs to include in-depth research, links, citations, or graphics such as for a blog article or high school essay, the length can grow to 16.7 hours.
- Typical documents that are 5,000 words include college dissertations, theses, and in-depth blog posts and journal articles.
- You may write faster or slower than this depending on your average writing speed.
- Adults typically type at about 40 words per minute when writing for enjoyment and 5 words per minute for in-depth essays or articles.
They can handwrite at 20 words per minute. College students typically need to be able to write at 60-70 words per minute in order to quickly write essays.