 Hi, and welcome back here. So today's video is all about literature review writing. Now I understand this is a very specific area of academic writing, and it's only relevant really to people who are at the stage or are required to do it. But it's still very useful. There is a reason to specific reasons why I picked up this specific area to talk about today. The first one is just generally it's something that I have been working on for months now. I also have a supervisor meeting tomorrow so videos like this helped me to organize and collect my thoughts gather my thoughts you know kind of present them ready for our discussion so it's kind of a warmer for me and my supervisor tomorrow. And the second thing is I actually am having a desk day here today so I'm literally like desk bound, I am creating a lot of content, and that in particular is for my academic community on Patreon so the focus this month was for the task one writing of preparation for IELTS examinations. And you know we've got into the swing of things over there. So I just have some content to create some videos and some material because obviously if you do know anything about my Patreon. We go into full video tutorials full video tutorials where you know I have material to accompany what I'm saying, and I often prepare the tutorial. sessions beforehand, so I give my students in the community, a chance to actually download the material have a look through it, and have it ready to when we have the video tutorial. So it does take time. It's something that is, you know, I put a lot of work and dedication into and I enjoy it this is absolutely you know privileged for me to be able to do that. And that is one of the reasons why I love social media because it allows me to share that expertise and the passion I have for the expertise so basically I'm having a desk bound day. Yeah, it's me and this space here on this wonderful Thursday and other thing I'm fasting. So I won't actually be able to have any tea coffee or any kind of snack or anything which is a good thing because it just refocuses my mind and definitely not having the excuse to kind of wander off and find something to eat is definitely helpful. So I figured this specific area of literature review writing, which I have touched upon I've gone in and out of. And you know, this is more of a again a chatty style video. I will definitely be doing a tutorial on literature review writing very shortly. And then I will share here. It's obviously there are exclusive things that I put in my community on Patreon, but there are also things that I like to share here and I'm happy to share with the people who don't have access to my private academic community on Patreon so these are just you know the thoughts and the things I want to share in terms of my experience and in terms of what I have learned from everything and from everyone so far. So I hope that's a comprehensive introduction as to you know what this video chat is about. And I think the first thing I'd like to start off with is just the idea of a literature review the idea. If you are someone who is just kind of stumbling into that area of academic writing and research a literature review sounds just, I guess, in its basic form. A review of the literature in the sense that what you do is you read and you write a review on what the literature is. I don't want to completely negate that and say that that is not what it is because that does form some element of what is required in a literature review but definitely in terms of actually, you know, a PhD worthy literature review. There are skills beyond reviewing and summarizing that you do need to develop and master and showcase. So that is kind of, you know, that that's the essence I would say that's the starting point. Yes, you do need to read and yes you do need to summarize in great detail basically what you have read, but I would say the summary part of the literature review is more for you, not for the actual literature review if that makes sense. So, of course, summary summarizing is a useful academic skill and I will never ever downplace usefulness and effectiveness. If you know anything about what I have spoken about the blooms hierarchy of critical thinking skills and I do have some material on that so just have a look at my channel and you'll see anything to do with critical thinking skills, there is a pyramid, and you'll see summarizing is usually at the lower end what is considered to be the lower level critical thinking skills, but it's still useful because it's a foundation you need to be able to summarize information before you can actually come to analyze or critique or evaluate it. So it is definitely useful, and I don't want to like I said I don't want to negate or downplay the fact that summarizing is needed. But when I say the summarizing is required for you, it's because it's for your understanding, and it's for you to obviously remember the key points of what you've read because if you think about the amount of literature that you have to engage with it's a huge amount, especially at PhD level it's huge you know you are reading, you know masses, and it's ongoing. So being able to summarize you know 30 page article is an absolutely useful skill now you could say, you know just having a look at this abstract is enough. I wouldn't disagree with that, but the abstract only gives you an insight that's basically what it does the abstract is kind of you know an outline of what is going to be covered in the article. So it's a good filter point where you think okay this is necessary or this is useful or it's not and then you decide you make your mind up whether you want to read it or you don't. That's from my experience and I know like I am somebody who does kind of like to take a lazy route. The abstract isn't enough into getting into more of what the article discusses really so be prepared you do need to read like there's no way around it. So that's why I always say you know if reading isn't your thing. Don't do a PhD and don't do any kind of research because you have to read you have to read and you have to understand. And that is where you're summarizing comes in so the summarizing aspect of the literature review is for you is for your understanding it's for you to getting to grasp with the key concepts key definitions key ideas key arguments, all of that. That doesn't mean that you're just going to regurgitate that in a narrative in a you know pros and present that as your literature chapter that is not what you need to do and that is something that is all you know will give you. It will be a week literature review, however, bear in mind that the literature review is an entire process. It's one where you will refine and you will remaster and there is a starting point so if your starting point is just literally. You've written you know 2000 3000 words which is just essentially kind of summary and a review of the literature that you've engaged with, I wouldn't beat myself up about it. I'm not saying this because I've been there because what it will do is, and of course it does depend on your supervisor and how good of a supervisor they are, they will pinpoint things that you need to develop in terms of critique, and in terms of, you know, deeper discussion and this that's also another important thing. Another thing that you'll find is that you will be able to develop threads, and that will take you off into directions of where you will actually refine your focus and essentially establish the gap which is all about what the the entire PhD is is really finding a gap. And making the original contribution to the field which you can't really make that original contribution until you kind of you know, establish the gap and really, you know, know what it what is missing and how you your research is going to add value to that. So essentially what you're saying is you know, you know, here's the gap. And here is why this research matters, and this is what I'm going to do about it. So keep that in mind. Okay, keep that in mind. The literature review will help you establish what the gap is, and why it matters for research to be undertaken in that field and then what exactly you are going to do. And from there then obviously you get your research questions now, you might be thinking, Okay, well, aren't my research questions done in my proposal or isn't it done at the stage where I get my upgrade yes that's true. So when you do write your proposal, you will have your research questions, but your research questions will either change or evolve. If something will happen it's highly unlikely it will stay the same from the point of where you've written your proposal, all the way until you actually, you know, write up your thesis it's highly unlikely. You might add some questions you may remove some questions. My research questions have gone through a refining process for sure. And that is all part of the process. But the point of the research question is to gravity to keep you, it's, it's your main research question, and then obviously the some questions that you have. They are supposed to be a gravitational pull for you to stay on focus so whenever you kind of start to wander off, you come back to your research questions because that's essentially what your research is going to answer. And you know you, it's supposed to draw you back. And one of my, she's not my supervisor anymore she was my, she's a one of the academics in the Department of Department of Educational Research at Lancaster University. She actually, she says it's an anchor think of your research question as an anchor that's pulling you back, you know, to focus. And I think that's a really nice analogy of that. So the literature review plays a big part in being able to obviously, you know, let you find the gap and say why it's important to have research in that gap and then what you are going to do. And then from then on, you're you refine or you produce essentially you produce the research questions. And like I said it doesn't matter if you have your research questions from your proposal for any part of the process up until that point. It's okay because it's either going to just cement it. I definitely think there will be some kind of a refinement to it that definitely will be but it's basically the light shining on you know what the questions are so you know because your questions are your research you know that's what your research is going to answer so it is essentially what you are going to do it's your mandate. And these are in the words of my supervisor my supervisor calls it your research mandate. Okay that's just saying you're establishing what is it what it is that you're going to do and then all from then on you go into the how how you're going to do it and then you go into the you know what it is and you know everything else just is sequential from there. So, I hope that has made sense and I think three further points from that that I would that I've discovered that I'm working on still is the first one like I said you know when you think of literary viewing you know if you just write it you know it's a review you do about the literature and it's kind of done it is it is never done until you finish your thesis right up. Okay, it is an ongoing process. And when you do your timetable or if you have a look at some example timetables of the thesis structure and how long it will take, you will see the literature review doesn't have a finish date it usually is an ongoing and there are reasons for that because what you will find. And I am at the fourth stage of redraft in my literary review is you'll find that what actually can work really well is if you let the literature review speaks speak for itself, rather than arguing for what you're looking for. And there's a reason for that if you think about if you're arguing for what you're looking for from the onset. Then it takes a different light in what the literature saying because then you're going to kind of mold the literature to say what it is that you're looking for. But if you actually let the literature speak for itself and you know. That is where you're going to establish the gap because you see, you know, what's the literature saying what our bodies saying what are certain bodies and for me and actually navigating through like bodies of literature because it's not. You can't just list what all scholars say all individual scholars or researchers or, you know, experts you can't do that sometimes you have to have a body of literature. And if you see what this body says what that body says and then you'll find you know the disparities amongst that and the gap that you know that it's all about the gap and highlighting the gap and I think if you let the literature speak for itself, rather than from the onset stamping and saying you know this is what I believe the literature says, because if you do that you're kind of going to want the literature to say what you want to say. And if you let the literature speak for itself, you will see the gap, the issues, the challenges, problems, and from there, you'll be able to refine what not just obviously from the gap, what your contribution is going to be and why you know your research is important. And you know, like I said, you know, the second point is that it is an ongoing process so don't think of it as done. Because from the very first literature view you do to the little paragraph part of your proposal. And then to the point where I wouldn't even say you finished because obviously I am not done with my thesis but even I can say, if I was to take the, the part that I wrote within my proposal and look at how far I've come now. But it's incomparable, it really is like there is a huge difference. And just let yourself also know that the literature review will only be as good as it as good as it gets at certain points, and you just have to park it and leave it that's why I said it's ongoing because for my fourth review right now. It's going to be the point where I'm like okay I'm done with this for now, and I need to move on to this part. And, and then from things I find in my data, I'm going to be able to come back, and then actually you know, sculpt the literature review in that way. So, you know, understand that it is as good as it gets at a certain point. And then you need to leave it and come back to leave it. Leave it with the intent that you will come back to it because you have to come back to it anyway you have to come back you can't just like be done. If that's the case you will find when you you know come to a further stage that it's all now pretty that it's either all irrelevant or there are huge parts of it that are no longer relevant to what it is you're saying, especially if you do refine or change or add any research questions. So, move on, and you can come back just bear that in mind you can move on you can come back that is why on my system here I have a system which is specifically for my thesis writing, I have folders. I have two chapters one chapter two chapters three chapter four chapter five and in each of those. I just you know, work simultaneously through them. I'll have the introduction going on I'll have the bits of the things that I feel shouldn't be in my literature review, and need to go back into my introduction, and maybe things need to be put into methods and you know it's a it's a work in progress that's going to treat it as a process process over the over product, you know. And so, if you think of that obviously the ongoing process you have your initial review. So that's like the you know the first kind of bit that you do that you're proud of. But then, bear in mind, not just about the redrafts and the refinements there is a point where you will come. And you will do another review like a major let's think about it these are the major reviews don't think about the redrafting. And so your initial review that's the first major piece that you produce. And then you come to the point where you will have another review in light of the data that you've collected. Okay, because that is absolutely essential because you need to see like you know the connection there and that's why I talk about sculpting. And then obviously, the other major review will be the final one, where you're at the, you know, right upstage of your thesis where you're rounding everything up and that's where, you know you're right you bring things together, you bring in all the things that you know are kind of like threads that are hanging. You've got the data to support to support you essentially, and it to support your claims, and that's where you're going to really pull it in and stamp it in so you have a refined sculpted literature review. So that is why you know the third point of sculpting it rather than framing if you think about, if you sculpt something, you shape it to kind of like fit a form. But if you frame something so if you think of a frame is quite rigid. And I think that is why I said, if you lead with what you want the literature to say, then you're going to force. You're going to not just force a discussion you're going to force something into form, basically, you know, but if you let the literature speak for itself and then you sculpt it you know going by what the data shows, and you come in, you know, you put your in and by the end you know the final major review of it before you know the right upstage before you finish your thesis, which bear in mind you know you probably aren't there. I'm not there, but just bear in mind that this is essentially what's going to happen. The sculpting just makes more sense because you're sculpting as you go along as you're refining as you get more data as you know refine your research questions and you're, you know, molding it but if you just frame it you're forcing it. And if you haven't let the literature speak for itself. And you know, you probably might make a lot of sweeping assertions which I have been guilty of. And that's what I'm actually working on now supporting claims I've made certain ups and substantiated claims. And by letting the literature speak for itself. I'm these things. So, you know, why certain, think of why certain elements are leading you to to a certain argument. And then again that's you know kind of you establish in your gap because if you've found and you know found this element that's pushing you towards this area. And then you can form an argument why that is what is going to be your in your valuable contribution, and why is it that that is important to have the research why is that. Why are those elements why are they worthy of your research what are you going to add to it. Based on basically you know what you've found from the literature speaking for itself rather than you speaking for it. And this comes back down to a voice because voice can be hard to get. I have spoken about voice I've spoken about you know, the writer voice where, and there is a fine line. And this is something my PhD supervisor shared with me she said you know, a lot of students struggle here, where they have either they don't have enough voice, or the voice becomes overpowering and then you end up you know, making sweeping assertions sweeping claims, unsubstantiated claims, or you go the other way, the complete other on you know other side of the spectrum, and you just basically have no voice, and you're just presenting basically summaries of arguments, and, you know, that what's being said and that's what you don't want you don't want a review, you don't want summaries of the literature. So it might sound tricky but letting the literature speak for a cell isn't just summaries because the summaries is essentially you saying this is what's being said. But what it is, is you know, when, when you engage with all these bodies and like I said, get used to the actual bodies of literature which I myself that's what I'm doing. There you will see where the debates are, where the arguments are, where there's a lot of focus where there's not too much focus, where there needs to be more research where there needs to be more information, where there's too little information. That is what the literature speaking for itself is. Because you know you kind of take a step back and you see what is it what is there what is being said. And then from there, then, when you've established you know, you know with the gap. And the reason is that you want to do, and why it's important for you to do it, then that's when you can really like stomp down your voice. And you know when refining it then you know you're going to get a strong voice through. Because you've actually let the literature speak for itself so your voice is actually now a substantiated voice. I would say that I don't know I don't think of the literature review as a linear process. But I think it actually could be a, you know a circular process you could be a starting point, and you have to go through all of this to get not to the, not to the back to the starting point but essentially, to the aim of what you wanted. You know, but again you could also argue that it is linear you started, and then now you've ended up with you know a much better refined product that is you know fit for purpose. So it is, you could look at it both sides really the argument is open there. It's definitely you know debatable whether it's a circular process or a linear process, but whichever one it is. I think the key point that I think that is worthy of taking away from this is that it is a process. It's a process. It needs to be refined it needs to be sculpted, and it takes time, and it's something that you at some point need to understand that this is as good as it gets. And put it aside, move on with the intention to come back to it and resculpt it when you are in a better position of knowing things for example your data. So I'm going to stop right there, because I don't want to turn this into an entire lecture. But like I said these are thoughts based on my experiences what I am obviously navigating and where I have learned through this. And just kind of like you know my dumping ground of thoughts, but I definitely will be doing a tutorial ask how to how to write your literature review. Just so that you know for people who kind of need to see the stages and how and what to do that is coming here on this channel so stay tuned if you are not subscribed do subscribe. And of course, give the video a thumbs up, and you'll see me soon, or you'll see me over if you are one of my patrons in my private academic community and you'll see me very soon because I have a lot of new content today tomorrow and over the weekend. And if not, you will still see me I will be back here inshallah so thank you very much for watching and you'll see you soon bye bye.