For many students who are enrolled in IGNOU review, reviewing books is the most confusing section of the work. This is especially the case for those who are working on an ignou-mcom project where academic rigor is expected, however guidance often isn't available. Students usually ask if should summarize their books, revise journal articles, or simply take notes of quotations. The reality is somewhere between, and knowing that a distinction could alter the quality of the entire project.
A literature review is NOT written to illustrate how much information you've read. It is written to show your understanding of the works that are currently being done on your subject and how your project fits in. IGNOU evaluations look at this chapter, as it illustrates your ability to connect theories with research direction.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before you begin writing any article, it is important to understand why this section is part of an ignou MCOM project. The literature review serves three principal purposes.
First, it shows that the topic you selected already has been explored and is of academic importance. Thirdly, it assists you recognize gaps or limitations in previous studies. Thirdly, it serves as an outline for your research objectives and methodology.
A majority of students view this chapter as a formality, and duplicate content from previous projects or sources on the internet. This approach usually results in small marks or project failure. IGNOU does not require original writing when examining existing studies.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU does not require students to write on the scale of a PhD thesis. While doing so explaining in the simplest way is being discouraged. For an ignou MCOM project, the review of literature should reflect postgraduate level understanding.
The expectation is to look over books, research papers journal articles, reports, and sometimes government publications related to the subject you are researching. The study should focus on topics that directly link to the area of your study.
If, for instance, your project focuses on the performance of financials of banks So, your literature reviews should be focused on previous studies related to financial ratios, performances of banks, profitability studies, and risk assessment.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
The most common mistake students make is selecting too many unrelated sources. It's more about quality than quantity. For an ignou mcom project between 15 and 20 solid sources are typically enough for a good selection.
These are good sources for academic journals as well as reputable books by renowned writer, RBI publication, reports from the government, as well as university research papers. Websites that lack clarity on the author should be avoided.
Always prefer recent studies which are typically from the last ten years. Studies from the past can be considered only if they are foundational in nature.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well-organized chapter will improve the readability and impact. Instead of writing random summaries, you can divide an overview of literature into logical sections.
It is possible to organize the chapter by theme, time period and methodology or even variables examined. For example, one section may cover studies related profit, while another could concentrate on liquidity and the third concerning operational efficiency.
This format helps evaluaters understand the difference between copying content, but rather analyzing it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The writing style should be straightforward but academic. Avoid using a lot of words and words. IGNOU insists on simplicity over clarity.
Every study you review should include the name of its author, the year of study, the goals, methodology, as well as most important results. Do not, however, list them in a formal manner. Try to connect one research with a different one.
For instance, when discussing some study, you can highlight how another author's study supported or opposed those findings. The comparative approach adds more an additional dimension to your ignou mcom project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
An error that is often made is to write the literature review like a textbook chapter. In explaining the basics of concepts like definition of accounting or meaning of management are not needed in this section unless it is directly connected to studies that have been done previously.
Another mistake is to use too many quotes. Your review of literature should be written by you in one's own terms. Reading from the source shows understanding, and writing in a copy shows dependency.
Students may also not link studies to their own research topics. Every study you write about should have a clear connection to your goals for the project.
Connecting Literature Review with Research Gap
The most important results of the review of literature is identifying the research gap. IGNOU evaluations expect you to identify what earlier researchers didn't know or indicate areas where further research is required.
In the course of discussing several studies you'll realize that most research focused on large firms smaller firms were not considered. The earlier studies also used secondary data, however primary data was scarce.
This gap serves as the rationale for your initiative with ignou MCOM. Without this, your project could appear to be repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
While writing a review for literature an appropriate citation is required. IGNOU generally follows APA style, but consistent writing is more important than flawlessness.
Every study discussed must appear in the reference list at the end of the study. The absence of references can raise doubts regarding authenticity.
Beware of footnotes when writing a literature review. A citation in text works better and appears better in an ignou mcom project.
Length of Review of Literature Chapter
Students often inquire about how long the review of literature must last. There's no standard rule to follow, but for an assignment in mcom, this chapter generally spans from fifteen to and two thousand words.
The length should be determined by the complexity of the topic. A larger topic demands the most research, whereas a narrowly focused subject requires less but deeper discussions.
Writing unnecessarily long reviews without analysis is not going to improve your marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing as this
Author A researched the bank's performance, and found positive results
Write this in the same way as
For example, author A conducted a research study on bank performance by using financial ratios. He found that profitability improved through better asset management. This conclusion was later confirmed by Author B who stressed the role of operational efficiency in improving the bank's returns.
This approach displays the ability to analyze and comprehend, which is considered important in an ignou mcom project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU MCOM project submission guide (similar internet site) takes plagiarism very seriously. Many projects are denied or delayed because of the use of copied literature reviews. Even if you refer to previously published studies, the style has to be distinctly yours.
Use plagiarism detection tools if feasible and revise content to make it sound natural. A slightly imperfect sentence can be better than perfect copied.
Final Review Before Submission
Before submitting your ignou master of commerce project, reread the literature review thoroughly. You should determine whether the research is relevant, if it flows in a logical manner and if the chapter leads naturally to your research goals.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter provide a reason the reason why my research is important. If yes, then that literature study is in the right path.
Closing Thoughts
Reviewing literature to be used in an ignou mcom assignment is not easy at first particularly for students returning to college after a long absence. However, once you realize that it is all about connection and analysis rather than memorization, the project becomes easier to manage.
You should take the time to read, consider, and write in your personal voice. This is reflected on the final piece and can make the difference between the average submission and a powerful one.