For many students in IGNOU Project MCOM (over here) reviews of literature can be the most elusive part of the assignment. This is especially true for students working on the ignou master's degree project where academic rigor is expected, but the guidance feels a bit limited. Students often ask if they must write summaries of books, revise journal articles, or simply gather quotes. The reality is somewhere between, and understanding that a distinction could alter the quality of the entire project.
A review of literature is not meant to display how much material you have read. It is written to show how well you have grasped the works that are currently being done on the topic you're researching and how your research fits into it. IGNOU examiners are particularly interested in 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 important to understand why the section exists in an ignou MCOM project. Literature reviews serve three main functions.
First, it demonstrates it is clear that the topic you've chosen has been researched before and has relevance to academic research. Second, it helps you detect gaps or deficiencies in earlier studies. Thirdly it helps you establish an overview of your research goals and the methodology.
A majority of students view this chapter as a formality, and take content from other projects or from online sources. This often results in failing marks or even rejection of the project. IGNOU requires original work even when examining existing studies.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU does not require students to write on the scale of the PhD thesis. The same time the use of very basic explanations is not permitted. For an ignou MCOM project, the review of literature should reflect an understanding of postgraduate levels.
You're expected review research papers, books journals, reports, and, sometimes, government publications relevant to your subject. The concentrate should be on studies relevant to your area of study.
For instance, if the project focuses on the financial health of banks If so, your literature analysis will focus on prior studies regarding financial ratios the performance of banks, profitability analysis and risk assessment.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
One common mistake students make is picking too many unrelated sources. More important is quality than quantity. If you are looking to build an ignou mcom business approximately fifteen to twenty strong sources are usually enough in the event that they are carefully selected.
A good source is academic journals reliable books from well-known authors, RBI publications, government reports, and university research papers. Websites that do not have clear authorship requirements should be avoided.
The best studies are those that are current especially those from the past ten years. Studies from the past can be considered but only if it is foundational in their nature.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
An organized chapter improves reading comprehension and creates a positive impression. Instead of writing unstructured summaries, split chapters of a literature analysis into clear sections.
You may organize the chapter depending on the theme, the time period, methodology, or variables the authors have studied. For instance, one section might discuss studies on profitability, whereas another might focus on liquidity, while another is focused on operating efficiency.
This structure helps evaluators understand the difference between copying content, but rather analyzing it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The writing style is academic, but simple. Avoid dense language and excessive terms. IGNOU believes in simplicity over complexity.
The study you are discussing should include the author name, the year of study, the research objectives, methods, and main findings. Be careful not to list them in a formal manner. It is best to connect one study with the other.
If you're discussing some research, you might explain how another author's work supported or challenged those findings. This method of comparison adds the depth of your ignou project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
One of the most frequent mistakes is to write the literature review as the kind of chapter in a textbook. In explaining the basics of concepts like the definition of accounting and the meaning of management does not belong in this section unless it is directly connected to previous research.
Another error is quoting too much. Your review of literature should be written by you in individual words. A phrasing style shows understanding, whereas copying implies dependence.
Students often fail to connect literature with their own research focus. Every study you write about should have a clear connection the research goals.
The Linkage Literature Review with Research Gap
One of the major results of the review of literature is to identify the research gap. IGNOU evaluators expect you to reveal what previous researchers did not know or indicate areas where further research is required.
After examining a variety of studies, you'll find that a lot of studies focused on large corporations smaller firms were unaddressed. And earlier studies used secondary data, while primary data were not sufficient.
The gap in the picture is the reason for your Ingou MCOM project. Without it, your project will appear to be repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
When writing the review of literature A proper citation is necessary. IGNOU generally follows APA style, but being consistent is more important than achieving perfection.
Every study discussed must appear in the reference list at the end of the study. The absence of references can raise doubts regarding authenticity.
Avoid footnotes for literature review. In text citation works better and appears cleaner in an ignou MCOM project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students frequently ask what the length of their literature reviews should last. There's not a standard for length in the case of an ignou MCOM project, this chapter generally runs between fifteen hundred up to two thousand words.
The length of the discussion should be based on what the topic's difficulty. A more broad subject requires greater research, whereas a concentrated topic will require less but more extensive discussions.
Inadequately long reviews and no any analysis doesn't increase marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing like this
Author A did a thorough study of the performance of the banking industry and came to positive results
Create this type of writing
Author A carried out a study on the performance of banks using financial ratios and found that profitability improved due to better asset management. This conclusion was later affirmed by Author B, who emphasized the role of operational efficiency in improving returns to banks.
This type of approach shows the ability to analyze and comprehend, which is highly valued in an mcom project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU is a firm believer in plagiarism. Many projects are denied or delayed because of copied literature reviews. Although you may refer to other studies, your language should be unique to your project.
Check for plagiarism using tools if feasible and revise content until it sounds natural. A sentence that is slightly imperfect is better than perfect copied.
Final Review Before Submission
Before submitting your ignou master of commerce research, read through the entire literature review. You should determine whether the research is relevant, if the flow of information is clear, and whether it is linked naturally to your research objectives.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter provide a reason the reasons why my study is required. If yes then your literature review is on the right path.
Closing Thoughts
Writing a review of literature for an ignou-mcom project may be daunting at first particularly for those returning to university after a gap. But once you recognize that it is all about connection and analysis rather that memorization, the work becomes easy.
It is important to take time to read, think and write in your personal voice. The result of your efforts will be apparent in the final draft and frequently makes the difference between an average essay and a good one.