Do Thorough Research

• 1). Research the field of study until you are convinced that you have located everything of substance that has been written on it. This is one of the reasons that the subject matter for a dissertation should be kept specific and focused. If, for example, the topic is "Physics in the Twentieth Century," there is no way to cover even a portion of what exists in the field. Instead, try "The Influence of Niels Bohr on the Work of Max Delbruck." Coverage of everything that has been written on this subject is possible.
  
  
• 2). Explore every avenue that presents itself in relation to the topic and keep careful records of what you have done and where you found sources. Pay particular attention to bibliographies and use these to find further works.
  
  
• 3). Familiarize yourself with online research tools such as JSTOR. Online tools provide access to vast amounts of information. Learn to use them properly.
  
  
• 4). Determine the validity of sources by researching the sources and credentials of authors. It is better to leave a particular source out than to include it and later find that it is not credible or erroneous.
  
  

Write the Review

• 1). Begin the review with an overview of the subject as well as an explanation of the goals (what the research is trying to prove). The overview should convince the reader that you are more than just a researcher. By the time the dissertation is completed, you will probably know more about its specific area than most of your sources.
  
  
• 2). Divide references into categories depending on what their primary subject is. This will make it much easier for the reader to find particular information.
  
  
• 3). Annotate the sources. A literature review is a form of annotated bibliography, meaning that it isn't sufficient to merely list the source. The source information should be followed by a brief paragraph summarizing the contents and its relevancy to the subject.