
For a lot of students studying at IGNOU review, reviewing research becomes the most confusing aspect of their project. This is particularly true for students working on an ignou mcom assignment, where academic rigor is expected, but the guidance feels limited. Students usually inquire if they should write down their book chapters, refret journal articles or simply gather quotations. The truth lies somewhere between, and knowing that differences can affect the quality of the entire project.
A review of literature is not a document that demonstrates how much you've read. It is written to show that you are knowledgeable about the current research related to your topic and how your idea fits in with it. IGNOU evaluators look closely at this chapter because it reflects your ability to link theoretical concepts to research direction.

Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before composing anything, it is crucial to consider the reasons this chapter is needed in an ignou mcom project. Literature review serves three primary purposes.
It first shows it is clear that the topic you've chosen has been studied earlier and is of academic importance. Second, it helps you identify gaps or limitations in prior research. Thirdly it helps you establish the basis for your research objectives as well as your method of study.
Students often view this chapter as a formality and take content from other assignments or other online sources. This typically results in the project being rejected or not getting marks. IGNOU insists on original writing, even in discussions of studies already completed.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU doesn't expect students to write at the level of the PhD thesis. However extremely basic explanations are as well discouraged. For a project involving ignou MCOM, the review of literature should reflect an understanding of postgraduate levels.
You'll be expected to read books, research papers Journals, reports, as well as government publications that are related to your area of study. The attention should be focused on studies that directly connect with your research topic.
If, for instance, your research focuses on the financial performance of banks Your literature review should include earlier studies regarding financial ratios performances of banks, profitability studies, and risk assessment.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
A common mistake that students make is deciding to use too many disparate sources. Quality matters more than quantity. For an ignou MCOM project work IGNOU [Quantumvarsity post to a company blog] project between 15 and 20 reliable sources will suffice as long as they're carefully chosen.
Academic journals are a good option popular books written by well-known the authors RBI documents, Government reports as well as university research papers. Websites that do not have clear authorship requirements should be avoided.
Always choose studies that are recent at least from the last 10 years. Studies from the past can be considered but only if it is foundational in study.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well-organized and organized chapter enhances readability and impression. Instead of composing random summaries and essays, you should divide chapters of a literature analysis into logical sections.
You can organize the chapter around themes, a time period methodologies, or the variables investigated. For example, one section may focus on research studies related to profitability, whereas another might focus on liquidity, and another regarding operational efficiency.
This structure makes it easier for evaluators to see that you're more than just copying content, but rather analyzing it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The style of writing is to be professional but easy. Avoid a lot of language and words. IGNOU prefers simplicity over clarity.
Each study you analyze should include the author's name, the year of study, the goals, methodology, as well as important findings. Be careful not to list the findings in a way that is purely mechanical. Make an effort to link one study with another.
If you're discussing an article, you can refer to how an author's findings were supported or contradicted those findings. The comparative approach adds more richness to your ignou project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
A common error is to write the literature review as the kind of chapter in a textbook. Simply explaining concepts such as understanding of accounting's definition or of management is not appropriate here unless directly linked to previous studies.
Another error is over-quoting. Your review of literature should be written by you in an individual way. This shows your understanding. copying shows dependency.
Students also forget to link publications to their personal research topics. Each study you reference should have a clear connection the objectives of your project.
The Linkage Literature Review with Research Gap
One of the major results of a review of literature is to identify the gap in research. IGNOU evaluations expect you to be able to demonstrate what prior researchers missed or where more research is required.
In a discussion of multiple studies you may observe that most research focused on large organizations however small companies were overlooked. Or that earlier studies used secondary data while primary data was not as extensive.
This is why it's the main reason for your Ingou MCOM project. Without it, your project will seem repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
When you write a review of literature, proper citation is essential. IGNOU generally supports APA style, however it is more about consistency than perfection.
Each research study should be included in the list of references at the end of the project. The absence of references can raise doubts regarding authenticity.
Don't use footnotes to review literature. A citation in text works better and looks cleaner in an ignou mcom project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students often inquire about how long the writing review must last. There isn't a set rule to follow, but for an MCOM project, the chapter typically spans from fifteen hundred or two thousand words.
The length should be determined by how complex the topic is. A broader topic requires greater research, whereas a targeted topic requires fewer, but more extensive discussions.
Reviewing unnecessarily long without an analysis won't help marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing like this
Author A did a thorough study of the bank's performance, and found positive results
Write this in the same way as
This author conducted an investigation on banking performance by using financial ratios. He found that profitability improved through better asset management. This was later validated by Author B who highlighted the role of operational efficiency in enhancing bank profitability.
This strategy demonstrates an understanding and analysis that can be valued in an mcom project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU takes plagiarism very seriously. Many projects are cancelled or delayed due duplicated literature reviews. If you do refer to prior studies, the language must be your own.
Make use of plagiarism-checking tools if possible, and modify content to make it sound natural. A slightly imperfect sentence is more effective than perfect copying.
Final Review Before Submission
Before you submit your ignou project, make sure you read the literature review attentively. You should determine whether the research is relevant, if it flows in a logical manner and if the chapters naturally connect to your research objectives.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter provide a reason the reason for why I need to study it. If the answer is yes this review of literature is definitely on the right track.
Closing Thoughts
Reviewing literature for an ignou project isn't easy at first particularly for students returning to school after a long hiatus. But once you understand that it is about analysis and connections rather than memorization, the project is a lot easier.
Spend time reading, think and write with your own voice. This is reflected in the final draft and can make the difference between the average submission and a solid one.