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Before reading your sources, take a few minutes to create a document folder comprised of all sources that you plan to read and review such as articles, book chapters, dissertations, government reports, etc. Next, arrange them alphabetically by the author's last name. This simple file management system will make it easier to locate sources throughout the literature review process.
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Once you have collected several good sources, the next thing to do is go through them thoroughly. When reading through sources, it’s important to take good notes. This process will help you learn the information, and the notes serve as an essential visual aid in your paper-writing process.
Choose a note-taking method that's most comfortable for you. Some people prefer to type notes on a computer, others use Citation Management tools, and others prefer trusty old pen and paper (or note cards). It's your choice.
When taking notes, it's important to remember that your focus is on the sections you have identified as relevant to your topic. In your notes, be sure to summarize the relevant points as presented by the source's authors and reflect on their meaning for your literature review. While this may seem labor-intensive, these notes will form a valuable basis for your review writing. Compiling these notes will enhance your ability to:
Adapted from Efron, Sara Efrat, and Ruth Ravid. Writing the Literature Review: a Practical Guide. The Guilford Press, 2018.