How do you add your personal touch to a literature review?

A literature review is a critical analysis of existing research on a topic, usually conducted as part of a larger academic project. It involves identifying, evaluating, synthesizing, and presenting the main findings and gaps in the literature. But how do you add your personal touch to a literature review, without compromising its objectivity and rigor? Here are some tips to help you write a literature review that reflects your own voice, perspective, and contribution.

1 Choose a relevant and interesting topic

The first step to adding your personal touch to a literature review is to choose a topic that you are genuinely interested in and passionate about. This will make the research process more enjoyable and motivating, and allow you to showcase your curiosity and creativity. Moreover, choosing a relevant and interesting topic will help you narrow down the scope of your literature review and focus on the most important and original aspects of the research question.

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Gabriel Kotaka De Orte

Experienced IT & Law Enforcement Professional | Leader in Technology Integration
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Choosing a relevant and interesting topic is the most important part. If you find something that resonates with you, then it will be natural that the review you write will have a personal touch. I belive the best way to do it while maintaining the form though, is by quoting and referencing your favourite authors about the same subject, and in a way, make them all talk to each other in the text. This approach gives you a few paragraphs of comment that are entirely linked to your words, that is because you are the mind making the connection between the review that you are making and the authors that you are quoting. It also shows a great level of erudition, which is always a good thing in academic writing.

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2 Develop a clear and coherent argument

The second step to adding your personal touch to a literature review is to develop a clear and coherent argument that guides your analysis and synthesis of the literature. Your argument should reflect your own position, perspective, and contribution to the topic, and demonstrate how you have critically engaged with the existing research. To develop a clear and coherent argument, you need to have a clear research question, a well-defined thesis statement, and a logical structure that connects the different sections and subtopics of your literature review.

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Dr. Gillian R. Rosenberg

PhD education | MEd Admin | qualitative researcher | author | developmental-conceptual editor | higher ed instructor | thesis coach | faculty coach
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How you decide to organize the review (i.e. your conceptual framework) is a reflection of how you understand the body of scholarship on your topic. The framework itself is a personal touch. I advise students not to miss this opportunity.

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3 Use your own words and style

The third step to adding your personal touch to a literature review is to use your own words and style to express your ideas and opinions. While you should always acknowledge and cite the sources that you use, you should also paraphrase and summarize them in your own words, rather than copying or quoting them extensively. This will show that you have understood and analyzed the literature, and that you have your own voice and perspective. Moreover, you should use a consistent and appropriate tone and language that reflects your academic discipline, audience, and purpose.

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Gabriel Kotaka De Orte

Experienced IT & Law Enforcement Professional | Leader in Technology Integration
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It would be best if you also considered the importance of reducing the size of quotes. I know quotes are a great way to express your view and to give strength to the arguments. However, they should always be impactful. If you ever find yourself skipping over quotes in some books, and realizing that they are unimportant, perhaps this is a good exercise to imagine how you can do it in your own writing. Maybe there is an opportunity to indeed voice your own words and style, give your interpretation of the meaning, and only quote the strongest voice from the other authors. That will keep your credibility and also give strength to your personality and opinions.

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Dr. Gillian R. Rosenberg

PhD education | MEd Admin | qualitative researcher | author | developmental-conceptual editor | higher ed instructor | thesis coach | faculty coach
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My rule of thumb for direct quotations is to use them only when the thought is beautifully articulated. Otherwise, prioritize your own voice and cite.

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4 Incorporate your own examples and evidence

The fourth step to adding your personal touch to a literature review is to incorporate your own examples and evidence to support your argument and analysis. You can use your own experience, observations, data, or findings from your own research project, as long as they are relevant and credible. This will show that you have applied and tested the literature in your own context, and that you have something new and valuable to add to the existing knowledge. However, you should also balance your own examples and evidence with those from the literature, and avoid being biased or subjective.

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5 Reflect on the implications and limitations

The fifth step to adding your personal touch to a literature review is to reflect on the implications and limitations of your literature review and your own research project. You should discuss how your literature review has answered your research question, how it has contributed to the existing knowledge and practice, and how it has informed or influenced your own research project. You should also acknowledge the gaps, challenges, and limitations that you have encountered or identified in the literature, and suggest directions for future research.

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6 Seek feedback and revise

The final step to adding your personal touch to a literature review is to seek feedback and revise your literature review accordingly. You can ask for feedback from your supervisor, peers, or other experts in your field, and use their comments and suggestions to improve your literature review. You should also proofread and edit your literature review for clarity, accuracy, coherence, and consistency. By seeking feedback and revising, you can ensure that your literature review is not only personal, but also professional and polished.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Dr. Gillian R. Rosenberg

PhD education | MEd Admin | qualitative researcher | author | developmental-conceptual editor | higher ed instructor | thesis coach | faculty coach
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If appropriate, share something about yourself as it relates to the topic. For example, how/why you connect with this particular topic, what it means for you to investigate it, a story... You can't get more personal than that :)

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How do you add your personal touch to a literature review?

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1 Choose a relevant and interesting topic

2 Develop a clear and coherent argument

3 Use your own words and style

4 Incorporate your own examples and evidence

5 Reflect on the implications and limitations

6 Seek feedback and revise

7 Here’s what else to consider

Academic Writing

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