Literature Review is a study abroad research strategy that involves in-depth summarisation and synthesis of literature on controversial or even challenging research topics, and consists of three main parts: the introduction, the main body and the conclusion.
Introduction
In the study abroad community, a Literature Review is not a book review, commentaries, or testimonials; therefore, it should focus on digging deeper into study abroad writings that are closely related to the topic of the study, as well as concisely articulating, summarising, and reviewing and evaluating a variety of results published in study abroad journals.
The role of this section is to present the research topic using an inductive approach, looking at the big picture and COMPREHENSIVELY understanding the important literature in the subject area.
Main body
The main body of the essay is the focus of the synthesis and should elaborate and explain the concept of the theme and its value and significance, including an overview of the essay topic, an analysis of the characteristics of the question, and the means of assessment.
In addition, it is necessary to analyse how each type of work has been developed to push the boundaries and differentiate from the existing consensus view of others.
Conclusion
The conclusion assumes the role of summarising the main ideas of the whole essay.
It re-emphasises the core ideas, explains in detail the core tenets and values expressed in the selected literature, reveals possible problems and limitations of the existing views that have yet to be explored, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of previous work, and builds a new interpretative framework.
In short, Literature Review aims to carefully collate existing research results in the industry in order to effectively settle (a dispute) specific issues.
Practical Exercise: How to Start Writing a Literature Review
The first step in writing a good Literature Review is to define your focus.
At this stage, as with any other study abroad research, it is important to follow the principle of fluoroscopy of the whole from individual phenomena. Instead of simply piling up information, when collecting data, it is important to interpret each piece of literature in depth for its unique contribution to enhancing the cognitive level of the topic.
Step 2: Outlining the Theoretical Framework The placement of arguments is crucial, especially when it comes to specific topics or tendencies, such as lecture articles, monograph essays, etc.
Although the arguments in the synthesis need not disclose a radical stance or personal philosophical viewpoint, they serve as a crucial guide in grasping the diverse insights of the cited literature. Therefore, it is important to select and use appropriate perspectives based on the information gained to construct a theoretical framework that will more clearly and intuitively demonstrate to the reader the level of understanding and acceptance of a particular citation.
