In the case of many students at IGNOU studying literature becomes the most confusing aspect of the work. This is especially true for students working on an ignou mcom project, where academic rigor is expected. However, instruction often isn't as clear. Students generally ask whether they have to write a summary of books, refret journal articles or simply gather quotes. The reality is somewhere between, and understanding this distinction can alter the quality of the entire project.
A review of literature is not a report of how much information you've read. It's written to demonstrate how well you have grasped the literature that is relevant to your topic and how your proposal fits within it. IGNOU assessors scrutinize this chapter because it reflects your ability to link the research directions with your theory.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before completing any work, it is essential to know why this chapter exists in an ignou MCOM project. The literature review serves three main goals.
First, it shows that the subject you picked has been researched before and has a scholarly significance. Additionally, it can help you recognize gaps or limitations in prior research. Thirdly, it gives you the basis for your research objectives and methodology.
Many students treat this chapter as a formality and take content from other projects or online sources. This is a common practice that results in negative marks or project rejection. IGNOU is looking for original writing even when presenting existing work.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU does not expect students to write on the scale of a PhD thesis. However those who write merely to explain their ideas are discouraged. If you are working on an ignou-mcom project the literature review should reflect postgraduate knowledge.
You're required to read books, research papers journal articles, reports, and even government publications pertaining to your topic. The focus should be on studies related to your area of study.
If, for instance, your task is to study the financial performance of banks the literature review should concentrate on studies that have been conducted previously concerning 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 a lot of unrelated sources. It is the quality that matters more than the quantity. For an ignou mcom project in the range of 15 to 20 powerful sources are generally enough when they're well-chosen.
Some good sources are academic journals highly regarded books by well-known the authors RBI publications, government reports, and university level research papers. Websites with ambiguous authorship should be avoided.
Always prefer recent studies that are from the last ten years. Older studies can be included only if they're foundational in the nature.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well-organized chapter can improve understanding and perception. Instead of composing random summaries and essays, you should divide this literature summary into sensible sections.
You could organize the chapter using themes, period methods, or variables studied. For instance, one chapter may discuss studies related to profitability, another may focus on liquidity, while another concerning operational efficiency.
This format helps evaluaters understand that you're not simply copying content but analyzing it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The style of writing should be simple and academic. Avoid excessive language and words. IGNOU MCOM project writing services insists on simplicity over clarity.
The study you are discussing should be listed with the author's name, the year of study, the goals, methodology, as well as principal findings. Don't mention them chronologically. Do your best to link one study to another.
For instance, following discussion of your findings from one study, highlight how another author's study supported or contradicted those findings. This approach of comparing studies adds depth to your ignou mcom project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
One of the most frequent mistakes is to write the literature review as an academic chapter. Simply explaining concepts such as definition of accounting or the significance of management isn't appropriate here unless directly linked to previous studies.
Another error is over-quoting. Your literature review should be written by you in your own words. Paraphrasing shows understanding, while using copying can show dependency.
Students are also prone to not linking books to their own research study. Every research you present should have a clear connection to the objectives of your project.
Connecting Literature Review with Research Gap
One of the main result of the study of literature is to identify the gap in research. IGNOU evaluaters want you to be able to demonstrate what prior researchers missed and where further research is required.
After examining a variety of studies, it is possible to observe that the majority research was focused on large companies in contrast to small businesses being overlooked. Some studies have used secondary data but primary data was not enough.
This gap can be the motivation for your Ingou MCOM project. Without this, your project could appear repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
While writing the review of literature, proper citation is essential. IGNOU generally supports APA style, but it is more about consistency than perfection.
Each study mentioned must be listed in the list of references at the end of the study. A lack of references may raise doubts as to the study's authenticity.
Avoid footnotes on literature reviews. Citation in text is more effective and looks cleaner in an ignou mcom project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students frequently ask what the length of the length of their review on literature ought to be. There is no set amount however, for an ignou MCOM project this chapter typically ranges from fifteen hundred and two thousand words.
The length of the discussion should be based on what the topic's difficulty. The more expansive topic requires more research while a focussed topic requires less but more extensive discussions.
The need to write lengthy reviews that do not include any analysis doesn't increase marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing as this
Author A looked into bank performance and discovered good results
Write in this manner
The author A conducted a research study on banking performance using financial ratios and concluded that profitability improved because of better asset administration. This finding was later supported by Author B who also emphasized the role played by operational efficiency in improving bank profits.
This is an approach that demonstrates understanding and analysis, which is valued in an ignou mcom project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU takes plagiarism seriously. Many projects are blocked or rejected because of duplicated literature reviews. Even if the reference is to earlier studies, the language must be your own.
Check for plagiarism using tools if possible and rewrite content until it sounds natural. A slightly imperfect sentence is better than perfect copied.
Final Review Before Submission
Before submitting your ignou mcom research, read through the review of literature carefully. Find out if the study you are reviewing is relevant, whether you can follow the logic of the review and if the chapter is logically linked to your research goals.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter make clear the reason why my research is important. If the answer is yes then it's on the right track.
Closing Thoughts
Writing a review of literature for an ignou-mcom project isn't easy at first particularly for students who are returning to college after a long absence. But once you understand that it's about analysis and connections rather than memorization, it becomes easier to manage.
Do your best to read, consider, and write in your unique voice. Your effort is evident on the final piece and can make the difference between one that is average and a strong one.
