Based on the video “A Literature Review: What is it, and Why is it Important?” here’s my understanding of a literature review and how it differs from an annotated bibliography:

Literature Review:

• A comprehensive analysis of existing research on a specific topic.
• Synthesizes information from various sources (books, articles, studies) to identify patterns, trends, and gaps in knowledge.
• Evaluates the credibility and quality of the sources.
• Presents a critical analysis, highlighting different perspectives and arguments within the research.
• Positions your own research question or project within the context of existing knowledge.

Annotated Bibliography:

• A list of sources relevant to a research topic.
• Each entry includes a bibliographic citation and a brief summary of the source’s content.
• May also include a brief evaluation of the source’s relevance or credibility.

Key Differences:

• Scope: A literature review goes beyond summarizing sources to analyze and synthesize them. An annotated bibliography focuses on individual sources.
• Analysis: A literature review critically analyzes the research, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and relationships between sources. An annotated bibliography provides a basic summary.
• Purpose: A literature review establishes the foundation for your research and positions your work within the existing body of knowledge. An annotated bibliography helps you organize your sources.

My Literature Review Buckets

Thinking about my research topic (replace with your own topic), here are some potential “buckets” where I might categorize my sources:

• Bucket 1: Core Concepts: Sources that define and explain the key concepts central to my research topic.
• Bucket 2: Theoretical Frameworks: Sources that explore different theoretical perspectives relevant to my topic.
• Bucket 3: Empirical Research: Studies and data-driven analyses that investigate aspects of my research question.
• Bucket 4: Methodological Approaches: Sources that discuss research methods relevant to my topic, potentially informing my own research design.
• Bucket 5: Debates and Controversies: Sources that highlight different viewpoints or ongoing discussions within the field.

The number of buckets will depend on the specific topic and the research questions being explored.