There are many students who enroll in IGNOU, the review of literature is often the most difficult aspect of the work. This is particularly true when working on an ignou MCOM project work IGNOU (click for more) project in which academic depth is expected. However, the direction often can be difficult to find. Students typically ask if they have to write a summary of books, rewrite journal articles, or simply take notes of quotations. The reality is somewhere between, and understanding that different perspectives can impact the overall quality of the project.
Literature reviews are not intended to demonstrate how much you've read. It's written to demonstrate how much you comprehend literature that is relevant to your field and how your proposal fits within it. IGNOU assessors scrutinize this chapter due to your ability to connect ideas with research direction.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before you begin writing any article, it is crucial to consider the reasons this chapter is necessary in an ignou MCOM project. The review of literature serves three main functions.
In the first place, it indicates that the area you've selected has been extensively studied and has relevance to academic research. Second, it aids you recognize gaps or limitations in prior research. In addition, it can provide an outline for your studies' goals and research methodology.
Students often view this chapter as a formality, and copy content from previous projects or sources on the internet. This can result in lower marks or rejection of projects. IGNOU requires original work even when examining existing studies.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU does not require students to write at the level of a PhD thesis. In the same way explaining in the simplest way is also not recommended. For an ignou mcom project, the review of literature will reflect understanding that is postgraduate.
You're required to read books, research papers journal articles, reports, and, sometimes, government publications relevant to your topic. The study should focus on topics related to your area of study.
In this case, for example, if your project focuses on the performance of financials of banks the literature review should include earlier studies about financial ratios the performance of banks, profitability analysis and risk evaluation.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
One mistake that students often make is choosing too many different sources. The quality of the information is more important than the quantity. If you are looking to build an ignou mcom business in the range of 15 to 20 good sources can be found should they be selected carefully.
Some good sources are academic journals, reputed books by known writers, RBI publications, federal reports and university level research papers. Websites with no authorship confirmation should be avoided.
Always go for the most recent research especially those from the past ten years. It is possible to include older studies only if the studies are fundamental in study.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well-organized section improves readership and impression. Instead of writing random summaries, divide all the reviews of books into logical sections.
You may organize the chapter based on themes, time period techniques, methodologies, or variables the authors have studied. For instance, one chapter may cover studies related the financial performance, while another may focus on liquidity, and another focus on efficiency in operations.
This structure makes it easier for evaluators to see that you are not just copying content, but actually analyzing it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The style of writing must be formal but not abrasive. Avoid overly complicated language and vocabulary. IGNOU favors clarity over complexity.
Every study you review should include the name of the author as well as the year of study, the objective, methodology, and the major findings. Don't mention the findings in a way that is purely mechanical. It is best to connect one study to another.
When you've discussed one study, you may highlight how another author's study supported or opposed those findings. The comparative approach adds more depth to your ignou mcom project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
One of the most frequent mistakes is to write the literature review as a textbook chapter. Explaining basic concepts such as what accounting is and the meaning of management is not appropriate in this section unless it is directly connected with previous research.
Another error is quoting too much. Your review of literature should be written by you in individual words. Paraphrasing shows understanding, while the copying of your review shows dependency.
Students may also not link study findings to their own focus. Any study you discuss must have a clear connection to your objectives for your project.
Interlinking Literature Review with Research Gap
One of the major result of reviewing literature is identifying the gap in research. IGNOU examiners are expecting you to identify what earlier researchers didn't know or if further research is required.
In a discussion of multiple studies you'll see that most research was focused on large companies however small companies were unaddressed. Or that earlier studies used secondary data but primary information was not enough.
This gap can be the motivation for your project ignou mcom. Without it, your program could appear monotonous.
Use of Citations and Referencing
When writing the review of literature the proper citation is crucial. IGNOU generally supports APA style, but quality is more important than consistency.
Each study must be mentioned in the list of references at the end of the project. References that are not included raise doubts about authenticity.
Avoid footnotes on literature reviews. Citation in text is more effective and appears 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 run. There's not a standard for length but, for an ignou MCOM project, the length of this chapter typically runs from fifteen hundred at to two thousand.
The length of the discussion should be based on your topic's complexity. A broad topic will require greater research, whereas a specific topic requires fewer but more in-depth discussions.
A review that is too long and without an analysis won't help marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing as this
Author A looked into the performance of banks and came up with positive results
Write this in the same way as
For example, author A conducted a study about banking performance using financial ratios, and concluded that profitability increased by a better management of assets. This conclusion was later affirmed by Author B in his study, who focused on the importance of operational efficiency in boosting bank returns.
This type of approach shows the ability to analyze and comprehend, which is what counts in an mcom project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU is a firm believer in plagiarism. Many projects are cancelled or delayed due copied literature reviews. Although you may refer to other studies, your language ought to be uniquely yours.
Make use of plagiarism checking tools whenever you can and then rewrite the content until it sounds natural. A sentence that is slightly imperfect is superior to copied perfection.
Final Review Before Submission
Before you submit your ignou mcom project, make sure you read your literature review carefully. Check whether each study is relevant, if the flow of information is clear and whether the chapter leads naturally to your research objectives.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this section explain the need for my study. If yes your study's literature reviews are on the right track.
Closing Thoughts
Reviewing literature to complete an ignou mcom research project may be daunting at first particularly for students returning to academics following a gap. But once you recognize that it is more about analysis and connecting than memorization, the project becomes doable.
Do your best to read, think, and write in your own voice. The result of your efforts will be apparent in the final project and often makes the difference between one that is average and a impressive one.
