There are many students who enroll in IGNOU reviews of literature becomes the most confusing portion of their work. This is especially true for those who are working on IGNOU's mcom projects, where academic depth is expected but guidance often feels a bit limited. Students are often asked if they must write summaries of books, modify journal articles, or simply gather quotes. The reality lies somewhere in between, and understanding that the difference can impact the overall quality of the project.

Literature reviews are not written to reveal how much information you've read. It is written to show how well you have grasped the existing work related to the topic you're researching and how your proposal fits within it. IGNOU examiners are particularly interested in this chapter, as it illustrates your ability to connect the theory and research direction.
Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature
Before you write anything, it important to be aware of the reason this section is part of an ignou mcom project. Literature reviews serve three principal purposes.
It first shows that the topic you chose was studied before as well as having a relevance for academic studies. The second is that it assists you to identify gaps or limitations in earlier research. It also provides a base for your research goals and your methodology.
Many students see this chapter as a formality and copy content from previous projects or sources on the internet. This typically results in very low marks or projects being rejected. IGNOU is looking for original writing even when addressing existing research.
What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review
IGNOU does not expect students to write at the level of an PhD thesis. On the other hand those who write merely to explain their ideas are not permitted. When a ignou mcom project is being developed, the review of literature must reflect the postgraduate understanding.
You'll be expected to read books, research papers and reports, as well as journals or even publications from the government that relate with your field. The concentration should be on the studies closely related to your research field.
For example, if your project focuses on the performance of financials of banks and banks, then your literature search should concentrate on studies that have been conducted previously regarding financial ratios performances of banks, profitability studies, and risk evaluation.
Selecting Relevant Literature Sources
The most frequent mistake that students make is selecting too many non-related sources. Quality is more important than quantity. For an ignou MCOM project work IGNOU , click the up coming website, project it is recommended that you use between 15 and 20 high-quality sources are often enough If they're chosen with care.
These are good sources for academic journals, reputed books by known writers, RBI publishing, state reports and university research papers. Websites that lack clarity on the author should be avoided.
Always choose studies that are recent at least from the last ten years. More recent studies can be added only if the studies are fundamental in their nature.
Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter
A well-organized chapter increases perception and readability. Instead of composing random summaries, break up all the reviews of books into clear sections.
You can arrange the chapter by themes, time period method, variables, or methodologies investigated. For instance, one chapter could discuss research related to profitability, whereas another might focus on liquidity, while another one on operational efficiency.
This structure helps evaluators understand that you're not simply copying content, but actually analyzing it.
Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review
The style of writing should be straightforward but academic. Avoid dense language and excessive vocabulary. IGNOU insists on simplicity over clarity.
Each study you analyze should include the author's name, year of study, goals, methodology, as well as major findings. Don't mention the findings in a way that is purely mechanical. Try to connect one research with another.
For example, after analyzing your findings from one study, discuss how a different author's findings supported and/or refuted the findings. This approach of comparing studies adds an additional dimension to your ignou mcom project.
Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes
A common error is writing the literature review like an academic chapter. Simply explaining concepts such as the definition of accounting and the meaning of management is not appropriate in this article unless they are directly linked with previous research.
Another error is quoting too much. Your literature review should be written by you in individual words. Writing in a paraphrase shows comprehension, whereas the copying of your review shows dependency.
Students also forget to link study findings to their own area. The research you refer to should be clearly linked to your project objectives.
The Linkage Literature Review with Research Gap
One of the most important result of reviewing literature is identifying the gap in research. IGNOU evaluaters want you to reveal what previous researchers did not know or where more research is needed.
After reviewing a number of studies, you'll realize that most research focused on large organizations but small companies were overlooked. It is also possible that previous studies used secondary data, however primary data was scarce.
This is a reason for your project in the ignou mcom. Without this, your project could appear repetitive.
Use of Citations and Referencing
While writing a review for literature the proper citation is crucial. IGNOU generally supports APA style, however consistency is more important than perfect.
All studies discussed must be included in the reference list at the end of the study. Lack of references could raise doubts over authenticity.
Don't use footnotes to review literature. In text citation works better and appears more professional 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 run. There is no set amount and for an ignou to do an MCOM project the chapter generally spans from fifteen to in length to 2500 words.
The length should depend on topic complexity. A bigger topic will require more research. A concentrated topic will require less but more in-depth discussions.
Writing lengthy reviews that are not needed without analysis will not help improve marks.
Example of Literature Review Writing Approach
Instead of writing as this
Author A studied the bank's performance and got good results
Write as this
Author A performed a study examining bank performance using financial ratios and concluded that profitability improved due to better asset management. This conclusion was later affirmed by Author B who pointed out the role played by operational efficiency in improving returns to banks.
This is an approach that demonstrates understanding and analysis, which is essential to an mcom project.
Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity
IGNOU takes plagiarism very seriously. Many projects get cancelled or delayed due review of literature that has been copied. However, even if you use prior studies, the language has to be distinctly yours.
Make use of plagiarism checking tools whenever you can and then rewrite the content to make it sound natural. A sentence that is slightly flawed will be more appealing than perfect copying.
Final Review Before Submission
Before submitting your ignou MCOM project, go through the entire literature review. Be sure to check if each study is relevant, if you can follow the logic of the review, and whether the chapter leads naturally to your research goals.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter give a rationale for why my study is needed. If yes, then your review on literature will be in the best track.
Closing Thoughts
Writing a review of literature for an ignou mcom project is not easy at first, especially for students returning to university after a gap. However, once you realize that it's about analysis and connection rather that memorization, the work becomes manageable.
Do your best to read, consider, and write in your unique voice. This is reflected in your final work and often can be the difference in an average submission and a powerful one.