Literature Review

• Most theses and articles have literature review chapters or sections.
• It does several things.
• It gives the background of the area.
• This places the reader in the literature.
• If they know the area, it's a guide.
• If they don't know the area, it allows them access to some foundations of your work.
• It should also give the reader confidence that the author knows the area.
• It also sets the scene for your question and answer.
• A good format is to start with the general and move to the specific. Your work should be either more specific yet, or an example of the more specific.