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Research Writing

How to Do a Literature Review

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course has been created for those pursuing research, at PhD level or not – anyone who wants to improve their ability to write about academic literature for research purposes. You can use the hashtag #FLLitReview to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Understanding the literature review as a genre, and its fundamental role in all serious investigations and research projects
Developing a useful list of search terms and understanding where to use them to find the most relevant literature available
Developing a professional bibliography and annotating it with critical evaluations of readings
Asking good questions to guide the reading and writing process
Planning a critical discussion in response to specific questions and based on evidence from the published literature

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Reviews summary

Mastering academic literature reviews for research

According to learners, this course is a highly effective and foundational guide for mastering academic literature reviews, particularly beneficial for postgraduate students and those new to serious research. Students praise its clear, structured approach to topics like identifying search terms, critically evaluating sources, and building a professional bibliography. Many highlight the practical and actionable advice that can be immediately applied to thesis or research projects, noting improved confidence and writing skills. While generally well-received, some more experienced researchers found the pace to be a bit slow or desired more advanced content or modern tools. The instructor's explanations are frequently commended for their accessibility.

Instructor effectively explains complex concepts in an accessible way.

"The lectures were clear, but the overall structure didn't quite click for me."

"I appreciated how well the instructor broke down complex research writing concepts."

"The instructor explained complex ideas in a very accessible way."

"The instructor's guidance was superb."

Exceptionally valuable for new researchers and postgraduate students.

"Highly recommend for any postgraduate student!"

"It's excellent for those new to academic writing."

"Essential for anyone in academia."

"This course is probably better for absolute beginners in research."

Offers directly applicable advice for research and thesis writing.

"Practical and actionable advice throughout."

"I applied these principles directly to my research project and saw immediate improvement."

"My writing has definitely improved after taking this course."

"I found the techniques taught were immediately useful for my master's thesis preparation."

Provides a clear, actionable framework for academic literature reviews.

"This course was incredibly helpful for structuring my literature review."

"Excellent course for anyone diving into serious research. The structured approach... is gold."

"The content is well-organized, and the exercises really solidify the learning."

"I appreciated the step-by-step guidance on creating a bibliography and annotating sources."

May feel basic or slow for those with prior research experience.

"As an experienced researcher, I found some parts a bit basic..."

"...I found the pace a bit slow. Some of the examples felt a little outdated..."

"It provided a decent overview, but I felt it lacked depth in certain areas..."

"I was looking for something more advanced than what was offered here."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Research Writing: How to Do a Literature Review. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.