Christena Schofield

For many students in IGNOU it is the reviewing of books is the most confusing portion of their work. This is especially true for students working on the ignou mcom course, where academic depth is expected, however guidance often feels limited. Students are often asked if they should write down their book chapters, refret journal articles or simply gather quotations. The truth lies somewhere between, and understanding this distinction can alter the overall quality of the project. A review of literature is NOT written to illustrate the amount of material you've read. It's written to demonstrate how well you comprehend available research on the subject you are researching and how your project is integrated into it. IGNOU evaluaters pay close attention to the chapter since it demonstrates your ability to connect theoretical concepts to research direction. Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature Before you begin writing any article, it is crucial to consider the reasons the section exists in an ignou mcom project. The literature review serves three essential functions. First, it demonstrates that the subject you have chosen has been researched before as well as having a relevance for academic studies. It also helps you identify gaps or limitations in earlier studies. The third is that it creates an overview of your research objectives and methodology. Most students view this section as a formality and duplicate content from previous projects or online sources. This is a common practice that results in very low marks or projects being rejected. IGNOU requires original work even when discussing previous studies. What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review IGNOU doesn't expect students to write on the scale of the PhD thesis. In the same way, very basic explanations are as well discouraged. For an ignou mcom project, the review of literature should reflect an understanding of postgraduate levels. It is expected that you read research papers, books journal articles, reports, and sometimes government publications related to your research area. The concentrate should be on studies which directly relate to your research field. For instance, if your research focuses on the financial performance of banks Then your literature review will focus on prior studies about financial ratios the performance of banks, profitability analysis, and risk evaluation. Selecting Relevant Literature Sources One of the most common mistakes students make is selecting too many unrelated sources. Quality matters more than quantity. For a project in ignou about fifteen to twenty reliable sources will suffice as long as they're carefully chosen. Good sources include academic journals and reputable books written by well-known authors RBI publication, reports from the government, and university level research papers. Websites that lack clarity on the author should be avoided. Always choose studies that are recent that are from the last ten years. More recent studies can be added in the event that they are fundamental in their nature. Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter A well-organized chapter will improve understanding and perception. Instead of composing brief summaries on the fly, separate the literature review into sensible sections. The chapter can be organized based on themes, time period research methodology, or other variables which are being studied. For instance, one chapter may examine studies that pertain to the financial performance, while another may focus on liquidity and another regarding operational efficiency. This structure assists evaluators to understand that you're not copying content, you are actually analysing it. Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review The writing style should be academic but simple. Avoid dense language and excessive language. IGNOU MCOM project submission guide , Read the Full Posting, favors clarity over complexity. The study you are discussing should be accompanied by the name of the author, year of study, objective, methodology, and main findings. However, don't list them in a logical manner. Make an effort to link one study with a different one. When you've discussed an article, you can explain how another author's work supported or refuted these findings. This method of comparison adds greater depth to your project. Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes One frequent error is writing the literature review like an academic chapter. Simply explaining concepts such as how accounting works or the meaning of management doesn't belong here unless directly linked to other studies. Another mistake is to use too many quotes. Your review of literature should be written in yourself. Reading from the source shows understanding, and writing in a copy shows dependency. They are also often unable to link study findings to their own area. Every study you reference must be in line with the goals of your project. Connection of Literature Review with Research Gap One of the main result of reviewing literature is identifying the research gap. IGNOU reviewers expect you to be able to demonstrate what prior researchers missed or if further research is required. When you look over a range of studies you'll find that a lot of studies were focused on large businesses, while small firms were neglected. And earlier studies used secondary data, but primary data was not as extensive. The gap in the picture is the reason for your project ignou mcom. Without it, your project could appear repetitive. Use of Citations and Referencing In writing a review of literature The proper citation of the source is essential. IGNOU generally accepts APA style, but consistent writing is more important than flawlessness. Every study discussed must appear in the list of references at the conclusion of the project. A lack of references may raise doubts as to the study's authenticity. Avoid footnotes when reviewing literature. In text citations work better as it appears cleaner in an ignou MCOM project. Length of Review of Literature Chapter Students often inquire about how long the writing review must be. There's no definitive rule in the case of an ignou MCOM project this chapter generally runs between fifteen hundred in length to 2500 words. The length should be determined by topic complexity. A larger topic demands more research while a focussed topic requires less but more extensive discussions. Inadequately long reviews and no analysis will not help improve marks. Example of Literature Review Writing Approach Instead of writing as this Author A looked into the bank's performance, and found positive results Create this type of writing An author conducted research on banking performance using financial ratios. It concluded that profitability improved because of better asset administration. This was later validated by Author B who highlighted the role played by operational efficiency in enhancing bank profitability. This strategy demonstrates an understanding and analysis that is appreciated in an mcom project. Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity IGNOU takes plagiarism very seriously. Many projects get deferred or even rejected due to review of literature that has been copied. However, even if you use prior studies, the language you use must reflect the original. Make use of plagiarism-checking tools if you can and then rewrite the content to make it sound natural. A sentence that is slightly flawed is better than perfect copied. Final Review Before Submission Prior to submitting your ignou mcom assignment, you should read your literature review carefully. You should determine whether the research is relevant, whether your flow follows logically and whether the chapter is logically linked to your research objectives. Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter clarify the reasons for my research. If yes, then your study's literature reviews are on the right track. Closing Thoughts Writing a literature review for an ignou mcom project isn't easy at first especially for those who return into academics after a time off. But once you recognize that it is about analysis and connections rather than memorization, the task is manageable. It is important to take time to read, think, and write in your unique voice. That effort reflects clearly into the final version of your work. This frequently makes the difference between the average submission and a high-quality one.