There are many students who enroll in IGNOU it is the reviewing of studies can be the most challenging part of the project work. This is especially the case in the case of the ignou mcom course, where academic rigor is expected, yet guidance frequently can be difficult to find. Students often ask if they should summarize their books, amend journal articles, and simply collect quotations. In reality, there is a place between, and understanding that differences can affect the quality of the entire project.
A review of literature is not intended to demonstrate how much content you've read. It's written to demonstrate how well you comprehend prior work on your topic and how your work fits in. IGNOU assessment experts are attuned to this chapter since it showcases your ability to link the theory and research direction.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before beginning any writing, it is essential to know why this chapter exists in an ignou MCOM IGNOU Project Work project. Literature reviews serve three principal purposes.
First, it shows that the subject you chose is a subject that has been studied previously and has academic significance. In addition, it allows you to detect gaps or deficiencies in prior research. Third, it provides an outline for your research objectives and methodology.
A majority of students view this chapter as a formality and copy content from their previous projects or other sources online. This usually leads to failing marks or even rejection of the project. IGNOU requires original work even when discussing the results of existing studies.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU doesn't expect students to write on the scale of an PhD thesis. But simple explanations are discouraged. If you are working on an ignou-mcom project, the review of literature should reflect postgraduate level understanding.
You are expected to review books, research papers journal articles, reports, and sometimes even government publications related with your field. The concentrate should be on studies which directly relate to the area of your study.
In this case, for example, if your project focuses on the financial health of banks In your literature review, you should examine earlier research about financial ratios financial performance, profitability analysis, and risk evaluation.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
One common mistake students make is to select too many irrelevant sources. It's more about quality than quantity. For a project involving ignou mcom in the range of 15 to 20 reliable sources will suffice if they are well chosen.
Some good sources are academic journals popular books written by well-known creators, RBI publications, government reports, and university research papers. Websites that lack clarity on the author should be avoided.
Always opt for recent studies, ideally from the last 10 years. The older studies may be included but only if it is foundational in study.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
An organized chapter improves comprehension and makes a good impression. Instead of writing random summaries and essays, you should divide this literature summary into logical sections.
It is possible to organize the chapter using themes, period and methodology or even variables to be studied. For instance, one section could focus on studies related the financial performance, while another may focus on liquidity while the other focused on the efficiency of operations.
This structure assists evaluators to understand that you are not just copying content. You are actually studying it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The style of writing should be academic but simple. Avoid a heavy use of language or unnecessary vocabulary. IGNOU seeks simplicity above all else.
Each study you analyze should be accompanied by the name of the author, the year of study, the methodological objective, important findings. Don't mention them in a logical manner. Try connecting one study to another.
In the case of discussing the findings of one study, you could mention how another author supported or opposed those findings. This method of comparison adds richness to your ignou project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
An error that is often made is to write the literature review in the form of it is a textbook chapter. Simply explaining concepts such as definition of accounting or the significance of management is not a good idea in this section unless it is directly connected in previous studies.
Another error is overquoting. Your literature review should be written by you in individual words. Paraphrasing shows understanding, while copying demonstrates dependency.
Students are also prone to not linking sources to their own research topic. Every study you reference must be clearly connected to your research objectives.
Connection of Literature Review with Research Gap
One of the main result of reviewing literature is identifying the gap in research. IGNOU assessment committees expect you show what earlier researchers missed or where further study is required.
In a discussion of multiple studies you'll realize that most research focused on large organizations and small businesses were neglected. It is also possible that previous studies used secondary data, but the primary data was scarce.
This gap is the basis for your ignou mcom project. Without it, your project could seem repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
When writing a review of literature An accurate citation is imperative. IGNOU generally supports APA style, but quality is more important than consistency.
Each study covered must appear in the reference list at the conclusion of the project. References that are not included raise doubts about authenticity.
Avoid footnotes when reviewing literature. Citations in text work better and looks more professional in an ignou MCOM project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students frequently ask what the length of an essay on literature should be. There's no rule of thumb that can be followed, however for an to do an MCOM project the chapter generally spans from fifteen to -two thousand words.
The length should depend on the subject's complexity. A bigger topic will require more research, while a focussed topic requires less but more in-depth discussions.
Writing excessively long reviews without any analysis doesn't increase marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing as this
Author A looked into banking's performance and obtained good results
Write like this
This author carried out a study on bank performance by using financial ratios. The study concluded that profitability increased because of improved asset management. This conclusion was later affirmed by Author B who highlighted the role of operational efficiency in improving bank profitability.
This approach emphasizes the ability to analyze and comprehend, which is valued in an ignou MCOM project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU takes plagiarism very seriously. Many projects get denied or delayed because of the use of copied literature reviews. Even if the reference is to previous studies, the terminology needs to reflect your unique style.
Use plagiarism checking tools if possible. Rewrite content until it sounds natural. A sentence that is slightly flawed is better than copied perfection.
Final Review Before Submission
Before submitting an ignou mcom project, go back through the review carefully. Check whether each study is relevant, if the flow of the study is coherent, and whether the chapter naturally leads to your research goals.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter give a rationale for the reasons why my study is required. If the answer is yes then your review on literature will be in the best path.
Closing Thoughts
Writing a review of literature for an ignou-mcom project may be daunting at first particularly for those returning into academics after a time off. But once you recognize that it is about analysis and connections rather than memorization, the project becomes easier to manage.
You should take the time to read, think, and write in your own voice. The result of your efforts will be apparent in the final work. It often makes the difference between one that is average and a solid one.