Literature Reviews - meaning
In the context of the academic exercise a Literature Review, literature itself is a word that can cause trouble. In this case, it means simply 'everything that has been written in the field', 'the [recognised] writing on a given subject'. More specifically, it implies two things: first, that the writing we are talking about is in some sense 'respectable', worth reading for academic study; and second, that it is probably therefore quite technical and specialised. What it does not mean in writing academic papers is "creative writing of recognized artistic value", to use one of the definitions available on line ([[1]]).
So the student writing a Literature Review should aim at a critical survey of the writing in the relevant field - or as much of it as practicable, given the level of study and the time available. A Literature Review can be a lengthy study, even an independent piece of research. Many academic journals and other publications produce an annual 'Literature Review'. There are even volume length books such as The Year's Work in English Studies (London, Oxford University Press, 19XX), of which the Hull University Library stocks several score volumes, one for each year since the series began in 1921. These are designed to help busy scholars keep abreast of the broad developments in their field, without having to read all the material published during the year. You may find it helpful to consult one of these useful volumes as a starting point for your own research.
You can also use the World Wide Web. If you search it with "Literature Review" as one search term, and your research topic as another, you may find a useful guide to work in your area. I am at present (11/05/2004) looking at a Google search Results page for "Literature Review", and I can go to The Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center's website, at [[2]], giving a Literature Review of a particular biological species, the Ruppia maritime, or to Wigeongrass: A Literature Review, at [[3]]. I can equally read the Literature Review: Aboriginal peoples and Homelessnes produced by Mary Ann Beavis, Nancy Klos, Tom Carter and Christian Douchant of the Institute of Urban Studies at The University of Winnipeg in Canada ([[4]]). None of these interests me, but one may be just what you need! More to the point, somewhere there may indeed be one that will give you just what you do need.
The purpose of a Literature Review
