A literature review is an analysis and critical evaluation of research previously done on your topic.
A literature review helps you:
You will cite articles, standards, books, etc. on your topic that helped you develop your project (ideas, processes, models, useful quotations).
There are some examples of literature reviews in the PDF below. Go through each example and pick the one that is the best out of the four.
Take notes as you read!
Use a Synthesis Matrix--the local version below is adapted from the Synthesis Matrix technique developed by North Carolina State University.
|
Paper 1 |
Paper 2 |
Paper 3 |
Paper 4 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Main Theme/Idea 1: |
Note/information and page number |
cadmium telluride (page 312) |
copper-indium selenide (page 1209) |
polycrystalline silicon (page 54) |
|
Main Theme/Idea 2: Efficiency of solar cell |
Leave blank if a paper does not discuss a main idea |
12% under STP (page 65) |
15% (page 1215) |
22% at 45 degrees Celsius (page 56) |
|
Main Theme/Idea 3: |
Also make a note if an author does not agree with the main idea |
depending on application, can be preferred (page 320) |
cannot be used above 50 degrees Celsius (page 1213) |
not preferred - cost to efficiency of silicon is higher (page 59) |
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