The Abstract
The abstract is a brief summary of the research paper’s ideas, methods, results, and conclusions. It's the paragraph that is displayed before the full study, so that potential readers can quickly decide whether the study is useful to them.
We don't need to be too fancy here. Your abstract may, in fact, look like a condensed version of your Introduction. Here's what it should contain:
- background information, or an indication of the projects, sources, and scholars that inspired your research,
- a clear statement of the problem or research question
- a clear statement of the purpose of the study
- methods of research (that is, the kind of sources are included in the project, and why those sources were included)
- the results of the study, presented objectively
- the author's conclusions, or a description of what the author thinks the study's results mean
- an explanation of the urgency of this topic.
Abstracts get their own page after the title page, and should be between 150 and 300 words.
Ready to write the paper?
Follow the links below for in-depth tutorials on each section of the literature review!
Introductions
Learn how to establish the topic, context, scope, and purpose of the review.
Problem Statements
Learn to identify the problem, gap, tension, or unanswered question that makes further investigation necessary.
Research Design & Methods
Learn to explain how sources were located, selected, evaluated, or analyzed when the type of literature review calls for a systematic approach.
Synthesis
Bring sources into conversation by identifying patterns, relationships, disagreements, developments, and gaps across the literature.
Discussion Sections
Interpret what the literature collectively shows and explain the significance, limitations, or implications of those findings.
Literature Reviews
Explore the purpose, structure, and key features of a literature review and learn how it contributes to scholarly research.