chicago style literature review format

How to Write a Literature Review: Chicago/Turabian Citation Style

• Writing a Literature Review in APA Format
• Chicago/Turabian Citation Style
• Primary and Secondary Sources
• Basic Research Strategies
• Evaluating Sources
• Using the Library's Ebooks
• Using the Library's Catalog
• Copyright Information
• Contact Information & Feedback

Chicago/Turabian Citation Style Guide

Citation style resources.

Citation Information

Chicago/turabian citation information.

• The Chicago Manual of Style Online
• A Short Guide to Chicago Style A short guide to Chicago Style brought to you by The College of Saint Rose Writing Center

• << Previous: APA/Chicago/Turabian/MLA Citation Style
• Next: Guide to Writing a Research Paper >>
• Last Updated: Sep 25, 2023 2:24 PM
• URL: https://tuskegee.libguides.com/c.php?g=692585

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Please note that although these resources reflect the most recent updates in the The Chicago Manual of Style  (17 th  edition) concerning documentation practices, you can review a full list of updates concerning usage, technology, professional practice, etc. at  The Chicago Manual of Style Online .

Introduction

The Chicago Manual of Style  (CMOS) covers a variety of topics from manuscript preparation and publication to grammar, usage, and documentation, and as such, it has been lovingly dubbed the “editor's bible.”

The material on this page focuses primarily on one of the two CMOS documentation styles: the Notes-Bibliography System (NB) , which is used by those working in literature, history, and the arts. The other documentation style, the Author-Date System, is nearly identical in content but slightly different in form and is preferred by those working in the social sciences.

Though the two systems both convey all of the important information about each source, they differ not only in terms of the way they direct readers to these sources, but also in terms of their formatting (e.g., the position of dates in citation entries). For examples of how these citation styles work in research papers, consult our sample papers: 

Author-Date Sample Paper

NB Sample Paper

In addition to consulting  The Chicago Manual of Style  (17th edition) for more information, students may also find it useful to consult Kate L. Turabian's  Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations  (8th edition). This manual, which presents what is commonly known as the "Turabian" citation style, follows the two CMOS patterns of documentation but offers slight modifications suited to student texts.

Notes and Bibliography (NB) in Chicago style

The Chicago Notes and Bibliography (NB) system is often used in the humanities to provide writers with a system for referencing their sources through the use of footnotes, endnotes, and through the use of a bibliography. This offers writers a flexible option for citation and provides   an outlet for commenting on those sources, if needed. Proper use of the Notes and Bibliography system builds a writer’s credibility by demonstrating their accountability to source material. In addition, it can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism, which is the intentional or accidental uncredited use of source material created by others.

Introduction to Notes

In the Notes and Bibliography system, you should include a note (endnote or footnote) each time you use a source, whether through a direct quote, paraphrase, or summary. Footnotes are added at the end of the page on which the source is referenced, while endnotes are compiled at the end of each chapter or at the end of the entire document.

In either case, a superscript number corresponding to a note, along with the bibliographic information for that source, should be placed in the text following the end of the sentence or clause in which the source is referenced.

If a work includes a bibliography, which is typically preferred, then it is not necessary to provide full publication details in notes. However, if a bibliography is not included with a work, the first note for each source should include  all  relevant information about the source: author’s full name, source title, and facts of publication. If you cite the same source again, or if a bibliography is included in the work, the note only needs to include the surname of the author, a shortened form of the title (if more than four words), and the page number(s). However, in a work that does not include a bibliography, it is recommended that the full citation be repeated when it is first used in a new chapter.

In contrast to earlier editions of CMOS, if you cite the same source two or more times consecutively, CMOS recommends using shortened citations. In a work with a bibliography, the first reference should use a shortened citation which includes the author’s name, the source title, and the page number(s), and consecutive references to the same work may omit the source title and simply include the author and page number. Although discouraged by CMOS, if you cite the same source and page number(s) from a single source two or more times consecutively, it is also possible to utilize the word “Ibid.,” ( from the Latin ibidem, which means “in the same place,”) as the corresponding note. If you use the same source but a draw from different new page, the corresponding note should use “Ibid.” followed by a comma and the new page number(s).

In the NB system, the footnote or endnote itself begins with the appropriate full-sized number, followed by a period and then a space.

Introduction to Bibliographies

In the NB system, the bibliography provides an alphabetical list of all sources used in a given work. This page, most often titled Bibliography, is usually placed at the end of the work preceding the index. It should include all sources cited within the work and may sometimes include other relevant sources that were not cited but provide further reading.

Although bibliographic entries for various sources may be formatted differently, all included sources (books, articles, websites, etc.) are arranged alphabetically by author’s last name. If no author or editor is listed, the title or, as a last resort, a descriptive phrase may be used.

Though useful, a bibliography is not required in works that provide full bibliographic information in the notes.

Common Elements

All entries in the bibliography will include the author (or editor, compiler, translator), title, and publication information.

Author Names

The author’s name is inverted in the bibliography, placing the last name first and separating the last name and first name with a comma; for example, John Smith becomes Smith, John.

Titles of books and journals are italicized. Titles of articles, chapters, poems, etc. are placed in quotation marks .

Publication Information

The year of publication is listed after the publisher or journal name .

Punctuation

In a bibliography, all major elements are separated by periods.

For more information and specific examples, see the sections on  Books  and  Periodicals .

Please note that this OWL resource provides basic information regarding the formatting of entries used in the bibliography. For more information about Selected Bibliographies, Annotated Bibliographies, and Bibliographic Essays, please consult Chapter 14.61 of  The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition).

Chicago Citation Guide (17th Edition): Book Reviews

• What Kind of Source Is This?
• Advertisements
• Books, eBooks & Pamphlets
• Book Reviews
• Class Handouts, Presentations, and Readings
• Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
• Government Documents
• Images, Artwork, and Maps
• Interviews and Emails (Personal Communications)
• Journal Articles
• Magazine Articles
• Newspaper Articles
• Primary Sources
• Religious Texts
• Social Media
• Videos & DVDs
• Works Quoted in Another Source
• No Author, No Date etc.
• Sample Paper, Bibliography, & Annotated Bibliography
• Powerpoint Presentations

On This Page

Book review - in a journal, book review - in a magazine, book review - on a website, books with editors in place of authors.

Some books have an editor or editors in place of an author. For editors, include the abbreviation ed. following the editor's name (or eds. for more than one editor). However, this abbreviation is not included in shortened footnotes.

Henry Findell, ed. 

Findell, Henry, ed. 

Eric Small and Will Rhodes, eds. 

Small, Eric, and Will Rhodes, eds.

1. Reviewer's First Name Last Name, "Title of Review [if any]," review of  Title of Book: Subtitle if Any,  by Book Author/Editor's First Name Last Name, Name of  Journal in which review appears  Volume Number, no. Issue Number (Date of Publication): Page Number of Exact Citation, https://doi.org/DOI Number or Name of Database.

Bibliography Entry:

Reviewer's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Review [if any]." Review of  Title of Book: Subtitle if Any,  by Book Author/Editor's First Name Last Name.  Name of Journal in which review appears  Volume Number, no. Issue Number (Date of Publication): First Page Number of Article-Last Page Number of Article. https://doi.org/DOI Number or Name of Database.

This citation format is for book reviews found in a journal from a library database. For other types of journals (e.g. in print or from a website), begin the citation as shown above, up to and including the book author's name. Then complete the citation starting at  Name of Journal using the appropriate citation format as shown on the Journal Articles section of the Chicago Citation Guide.

1. Reviewer's First Name Last Name, "Title of Review [if any]," review of  Title of Book: Subtitle if Any,  by Book Author/Editor's First Name Last Name, Name of Magazine,  Date of Publication, Page Number of Exact Citation, https://doi.org/DOI Number or Name of Database.

Reviewer's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Review [if any]." Review of  Title of Book: Subtitle if Any,  by Book Author/Editor's First Name Last Name.  Name of Magazine,  Date of Publication. https://doi.org/DOI Number or Name of Database.

This citation format is for book reviews found in a magazine from a library database. For other types of magazines (e.g. in print or from a website), begin the citation as shown above, up to and including the book author's name. Then complete the citation starting at Name of Magazine  using the appropriate citation format as shown on the Magazine Articles section of the Chicago Citation Guide.

1. Reviewer's First Name Last Name, "Title of Review [if any]," review of  Title of Book: Subtitle if Any,  by Book Author/Editor's First Name Last Name, Title of Website, Name of Owner or Sponsor of the Website [if different from Title of Website], Date of copyright or modification or access, URL. 

Reviewer's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Review [if any]." Review of  Title of Book: Subtitle if Any,  by Book Author/Editor's First Name Last Name. Title of Website. Name of Owner or Sponsor of the Website [if different from Title of Website]. Date of copyright or modification or access. URL.

• << Previous: Books, eBooks & Pamphlets
• Next: Class Handouts, Presentations, and Readings >>
• Last Updated: Apr 15, 2024 11:30 AM
• URL: https://columbiacollege-ca.libguides.com/chicago

Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide

Chicago-style source citations come in two varieties: (1) notes and bibliography and (2) author-date. If you already know which system to use, follow one of the links above to see sample citations for a variety of common sources. If you are unsure about which system to use, or how the two systems are related, read on.

Notes and Bibliography or Author-Date?

In the notes and bibliography system, sources are cited in numbered footnotes or endnotes. Each note corresponds to a raised (superscript) number in the text. Sources are also usually listed in a separate bibliography. The notes and bibliography system, Chicago’s oldest and most flexible, can accommodate a wide variety of sources, including unusual ones that don’t fit neatly into the author-date system. For this reason, it is preferred by many working in the humanities, including literature, history, and the arts.

In the author-date system, sources are briefly cited in the text, usually in parentheses, by author’s last name and year of publication. Each in-text citation matches up with an entry in a reference list, where full bibliographic information is provided. Because it credits researchers by name directly in the text while at the same time emphasizing the date of each source, the author-date system is preferred by many in the sciences and social sciences.

Aside from the use of numbered notes versus parenthetical references in the text, the two systems share the same style for authors’ names, titles of works, and other cited components. Follow the links at the top of this page to see examples of some of the more common source types cited in both systems.

Most authors choose the system used by others in their field or required by their publisher. Students should check with their instructor before deciding which system to use.

For a more comprehensive overview of Chicago’s two systems of source citation, see chapter 13 of The Chicago Manual of Style . For many more examples organized by type of source, consult chapter 14 .

Generate accurate Chicago citations for free

• Knowledge Base
• Chicago Style

Chicago Style Citation Guide | Templates & Citation Examples

Notes and bibliography is the most common type of Chicago style citation, and the main focus of this article. It is widely used in the humanities. Citations are placed in footnotes or endnotes , with a Chicago style bibliography listing your sources in full at the end.

Author-date style is mainly used in the sciences. It uses parenthetical in-text citations , always accompanied by a reference list at the end.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Citing sources with notes (notes and bibliography), chicago note citation examples (notes and bibliography), creating a chicago style bibliography (notes and bibliography), chicago author-date style, frequently asked questions about chicago style citation.

To cite sources in Chicago notes and bibliography style, place a superscript number at the end of a sentence or clause, after the punctuation mark, corresponding to a numbered footnote or endnote .

Footnotes appear at the bottom of each page, while endnotes appear at the end of the text. Choose one or the other and use it consistently.

Most word-processing programs can automatically link your superscript numbers and notes.

Full notes vs. short notes

Citations can take the form of full notes or short notes. Full notes provide complete source information, while short notes include only the author’s last name, the source title, and the page number(s) of the cited passage. The usual rule is to use a full note for the first citation of each source, and a short note for subsequent citations of the same source.

Guidelines can vary across fields, though; sometimes you might be required to use full notes every time, or conversely to use short notes every time, as long as all your sources are listed in the bibliography. It’s best to check with your instructor if you’re unsure which rule to follow.

Multiple authors in Chicago notes

When a source has multiple authors, list up to three in your note citations. When there are four or more, use “ et al. ” (Latin for “and others”).

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

A Chicago footnote or endnote citation always contains the author’s name and the title of the source. The other elements vary by the type of source you’re citing.

Page number(s) should be included if you are referring to a specific part of the text. The elements of the citation are separated by commas , and the note always ends with a period. The page range is separated by an en dash .

Navigate through the Chicago citation examples using the tabs below.

• Book chapter
• Journal article

When citing a book , if an edition is specified, include it in abbreviated form (e.g., 2nd ed.). If the book was accessed online, add a URL.

When citing a chapter from a multi-authored book, start with details of the chapter, followed by details of the book.

To cite a journal article , you need to specify the volume and issue as well as the date. It’s best to use a DOI instead of a URL.

Web pages often have no author or date specified. If the author is unknown, start with the title in a full note, and use the website name as author in a short note. If the publication date is unknown, include the date you accessed the information (e.g., accessed on March 12, 2022).

The bibliography lists full references for all your sources. It appears at the end of your paper (before any appendices ).

Author names are inverted in the bibliography, and sources are alphabetized by author last name. Each source is listed on a new line, with a hanging indent applied to sources that run over onto multiple lines.

If a source has multiple authors, list up to 10 in the bibliography. If there are 11 or more, list the first seven followed by “et al.”

When to include a bibliography

It is not mandatory to include a bibliography if you have cited your sources with full notes. However, it is recommended to include one in most cases, with the exception of very short texts with few sources.

Check with your instructor if you’re not sure whether to include one.

Chicago style bibliography examples (notes and bibliography)

Bibliography entries vary in format according to source type. Formats and examples for some common source types are shown below.

In the (social) sciences, you may be told to use author-date style instead. In this style, citations appear in parentheses in the text.

Unlike note citations, author-date citations look the same for all source types .

Reference list

Author-date citations are always accompanied by a reference list. The reference list is similar to a bibliography: It appears at the end of your text and lists all your sources in full.

The only difference is that the publication year comes straight after the author name, to match with the in-text citations. For example, the book reference from above looks like this in author-date style.

Chicago Author-Date Quick Guide

Don't submit your assignments before you do this

The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students. Free citation check included.

Try for free

In a Chicago style footnote , list up to three authors. If there are more than three, name only the first author, followed by “ et al. “

In the bibliography , list up to 10 authors. If there are more than 10, list the first seven followed by “et al.”

The same rules apply in Chicago author-date style .

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .

In a Chicago footnote citation , when the author of a source is unknown (as is often the case with websites ), start the citation with the title in a full note. In short notes and bibliography entries, list the organization that published it as the author.

In Chicago author-date style , treat the organization as author in your in-text citations and reference list.

When an online source does not list a publication date, replace it with an access date in your Chicago footnotes and your bibliography :

If you are using author-date in-text citations , or if the source was not accessed online, replace the date with “n.d.”

Page numbers should be included in your Chicago in-text citations when:

• You’re quoting from the text.
• You’re paraphrasing a particular passage.
• You’re referring to information from a specific section.

When you’re referring to the overall argument or general content of a source, it’s unnecessary to include page numbers.

In Chicago notes and bibliography style , the usual standard is to use a full note for the first citation of each source, and short notes for any subsequent citations of the same source.

However, your institution’s guidelines may differ from the standard rule. In some fields, you’re required to use a full note every time, whereas in some other fields you can use short notes every time, as long as all sources are listed in your bibliography . If you’re not sure, check with your instructor.

In Chicago author-date style , your text must include a reference list . It appears at the end of your paper and gives full details of every source you cited.

In notes and bibliography style, you use Chicago style footnotes to cite sources; a bibliography is optional but recommended. If you don’t include one, be sure to use a full note for the first citation of each source.

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

• Chicago In-text Citations | Styles, Format & Examples
• Creating a Chicago Style Bibliography | Format & Examples
• Chicago Style Footnotes | Citation Format & Examples

More interesting articles

• Chicago Author-Date Style | A Complete Guide to Citing Sources
• Chicago Style Citation Examples | Website, Book, Article, Video
• Chicago Style Format for Papers | Requirements & Examples
• Citing a Journal Article in Chicago Style | Format & Examples
• Citing a Newspaper Article in Chicago Style | Format & Examples
• Citing a Speech in Chicago style | Format & Examples
• Citing a YouTube Video in Chicago Style | Format & Examples
• How to Cite a Book in Chicago Style | Format & Examples
• How to Cite a Movie in Chicago Style | Format & Examples
• How to Cite a Website in Chicago Style | Formats & Examples
• How to Cite an Image in Chicago Style | Format & Examples
• How to Cite an Interview in Chicago Style | Format & Examples
• How to Cite the Bible in Chicago Style | Format & Abbreviations
• How to Format a Turabian/Chicago Style Title Page | Example
• How to Write an Annotated Bibliography in Chicago/Turabian Style
• Introduction to Turabian Style | Citations & Formatting

Get unlimited documents corrected

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

How do I Write a Literature Review?: Citing Your Sources

• Step #1: Choosing a Topic
• Step #2: Finding Information
• Step #3: Evaluating Content
• Step #4: Synthesizing Content
• #5 Writing the Review
• Citing Your Sources

APA 7TH EDITION

THE NEWEST EDITION OF THE APA STYLE GUIDE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED. 

• APA 7th Edition by Chelsea Post Last Updated Feb 14, 2023 6468 views this year

Chicago Notes-Bibliography Guides

This is a great guide to look at when creating a citation in the Chicago style.

• Chicago Style Quick Reference Overview Guide Guidelines and structures for citing common sources in Chicago style.
• Chicago Style Reference Examples Guide Real world examples of common source types in Chicago style.

Refworks with Login link and How to use it

Import citations from research databases

• Organize your citations in folders
• Search within them
• Create citations from scratch
• Compile bibliography/works cited
• Share your citations with other RefWorks users
• Login to RefWorks YOU MUST USE YOUR EASTERN UNIV. EMAIL ADDRESS
• How to Use RefWorks A guide from Proquest on how to navigate through the New Refworks Platform.

Your Librarian

• << Previous: #5 Writing the Review
• Last Updated: Aug 22, 2023 1:35 PM
• URL: https://libguides.eastern.edu/literature_reviews

About the Library

• Collection Development
• Circulation Policies
• Mission Statement
• Staff Directory

Using the Library

• A to Z Journal List
• Library Catalog
• Research Guides

Interlibrary Services

• Research Help

Warner Memorial Library

History: Chicago Style Citations: Chicago Style Citations

• Chicago Style Citations
• Citation Help Research Guide

Books: Chicago Style Citations

Most of the books on writing are located in the 800's. Citation guides can be found in the 808 call number range. A few examples are listed below.For more books on Chicago Style, s earch the Libraries catalog .

Software Citation Tools

Word processing programs can help you insert footnotes or endnotes, and manage your references. See online help:

• Creating Footnotes and Endnotes in World
• Word 2016/ 2013 / Office 365 - footnotes and endnotes
• Word 2016 / 2013 / Office 365 - Create a bibliography
• Word 2016 for MAC - footnotes and endnotes
• Google Drive - footnotes

Citing books accessed on ereaders in Chicago style

The Chicago Manual of Style website provides examples of how to cite ebooks on its website under 'Book published electronically'.

In your citation, include the author, title, editor (if there is one), publication information, and the version of the book you consulted. If you used the book online, include the URL. Include an access date only if required by your publisher or discipline. If no fixed pagination is available, include a section title, chapter or other number.

The Manual website offers examples of how to cite ebooks in both the notes and bibliography style and the author-date style. A couple of our own examples are shown below. Consult the Manual's website to see additional examples:

Notes and Bibliography:

 1. Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried (Boston: Mariner Books, 1990), Kindle edition.

O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. Boston: Mariner Books, 1990. Kindle edition.

Author-Date:

O'Brien, Tim. 1990. The Things They Carried. Boston: Mariner Books. Kindle edition.

Chicago / Turabian Style​:  Be sure to check your class syllabus, as well as any documents, announcements, or postings from your instructor for specific information about the assignment. If your instructor recommends using Chicago style citations for your essay or research paper, these resources may be helpful:

Online Help with Chicago Style Citations

• Chicago Manual of Style Online: Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide
• Chicago Style (Excelsior College OWL)
• Purdue OWL: Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition Help
• Turabian Quick Guide
• What are Footnotes? from Plagiarism.org

Quick Tips:

• Chicago: Humanities style citations use footnotes or endnotes, not parenthetical references. 
• Write in the 3rd person, not 1st or 2nd. Don't use "I" or "you" or related words in your writing.
• Indent the first line of each note by five spaces.
• Start each note with its corresponding number, a period, and one space.
• For the first footnote or endnote for a source, give the full citation information.
• For subsequent notes, use use the author's name, title, and the page number.
• If you use the same source two or more times in a row, use the abbreviation Ibid., followed by the page number.

To cite books , check the front pages of the book or the record in the library catalog to find the publication information you need to format the citation. Sample Chicago style format for the first footnote or endnote for a print book:

1. Author's Name, Title of Book (Place of Publication: Publisher, Publication Date), Page Numbers.

To cite articles found in our library databases , check the article citation or article information page to find publication information.

Chicago style format 

Sample Chicago style format for the first footnote or endnote for an article from one of our databases:

1. Author's Name, "Title of Article,"  Title of Journal Volume Number, Issue Number (Date of Publication), Page Numbers, Name of Database , Database Vendor ( or persistent/stable URL, accession number or doi).   

The 16th edition does not require the date accessed for articles from library databases. You could generally cite an online database journal article similar to a print journal article, but also add the database information, and an accession number or doi. 

Library databases may allow you export a citation or to save a citation in a particular format. You can then copy and paste the citation text into your footnote or endnote.

For example:

• EBSCO databases, including Academic Search , select the include when saving/sending checkbox and select Chicago/Turabian:Humanities style from drop-down Citation Format list.

Be sure to check with your instructor and follow requirements for your assignment.  Check the formatting and make any necessary corrections. 

Citing Book Reviews

Citing book reviews in Chicago / Turabian:

Sample Chicago style format for the first footnote or endnote for a book review from a journal in one of our library databases using Chicago 15th edition:

1. Reviewer's Name, "Title of Review," Review of Title of Book , by Name of Author, Title of Journal Volume Number, Issue Number (Date of Publication): Page Numbers.  Name of Database , Database vendor . (or persistent URL, accession number or doi). 

Questions: Check with your instructor, the Writing Center, or Ask a Librarian.

• Writing Center
• Ask a Librarian

Subject Guide

History Research Guides

• Next: Citation Help Research Guide >>
• Last Updated: Oct 12, 2023 12:17 PM
• URL: https://libguides.madisoncollege.edu/chicago

1701 Wright Street | Madison, Wisconsin 53704 | Libraries: 608.246.6640 | Student Achievement Centers: 608.246.6125 | College Info: 608.246.6100

Citation Styles

• Chicago Style
• Annotated Bibliographies

What is a Lit Review?

How to write a lit review.

• Video Introduction to Lit Reviews

Main Objectives

Examples of lit reviews, additional resources.

• Zotero (Citation Management)

What is a literature review?

• Either a complete piece of writing unto itself or a section of a larger piece of writing like a book or article
• A thorough and critical look at the information and perspectives that other experts and scholars have written about a specific topic
• A way to give historical perspective on an issue and show how other researchers have addressed a problem
• An analysis of sources based on your own perspective on the topic
• Based on the most pertinent and significant research conducted in the field, both new and old

• A descriptive list or collection of summaries of other research without synthesis or analysis
• An annotated bibliography
• A literary review (a brief, critical discussion about the merits and weaknesses of a literary work such as a play, novel or a book of poems)
• Exhaustive; the objective is not to list as many relevant books, articles, reports as possible
• To convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic
• To explain what the strengths and weaknesses of that knowledge and those ideas might be
• To learn how others have defined and measured key concepts    
• To keep the writer/reader up to date with current developments and historical trends in a particular field or discipline
• To establish context for the argument explored in the rest of a paper
• To provide evidence that may be used to support your own findings
• To demonstrate your understanding and your ability to critically evaluate research in the field
• To suggest previously unused or underused methodologies, designs, and quantitative and qualitative strategies
• To identify gaps in previous studies and flawed methodologies and/or theoretical approaches in order to avoid replication of mistakes
• To help the researcher avoid repetition of earlier research
• To suggest unexplored populations
• To determine whether past studies agree or disagree and identify strengths and weaknesses on both sides of a controversy in the literature

• Choose a topic that is interesting to you; this makes the research and writing process more enjoyable and rewarding.
• For a literature review, you'll also want to make sure that the topic you choose is one that other researchers have explored before so that you'll be able to find plenty of relevant sources to review.

• Your research doesn't need to be exhaustive. Pay careful attention to bibliographies. Focus on the most frequently cited literature about your topic and literature from the best known scholars in your field. Ask yourself: "Does this source make a significant contribution to the understanding of my topic?"
• Reading other literature reviews from your field may help you get ideas for themes to look for in your research. You can usually find some of these through the library databases by adding literature review as a keyword in your search.
• Start with the most recent publications and work backwards. This way, you ensure you have the most current information, and it becomes easier to identify the most seminal earlier sources by reviewing the material that current researchers are citing.

The organization of your lit review should be determined based on what you'd like to highlight from your research. Here are a few suggestions:

• Chronology : Discuss literature in chronological order of its writing/publication to demonstrate a change in trends over time or to detail a history of controversy in the field or of developments in the understanding of your topic.  
• Theme: Group your sources by subject or theme to show the variety of angles from which your topic has been studied. This works well if, for example, your goal is to identify an angle or subtopic that has so far been overlooked by researchers.  
• Methodology: Grouping your sources by methodology (for example, dividing the literature into qualitative vs. quantitative studies or grouping sources according to the populations studied) is useful for illustrating an overlooked population, an unused or underused methodology, or a flawed experimental technique.

• Be selective. Highlight only the most important and relevant points from a source in your review.
• Use quotes sparingly. Short quotes can help to emphasize a point, but thorough analysis of language from each source is generally unnecessary in a literature review.
• Synthesize your sources. Your goal is not to make a list of summaries of each source but to show how the sources relate to one another and to your own work.
• Make sure that your own voice and perspective remains front and center. Don't rely too heavily on summary or paraphrasing. For each source, draw a conclusion about how it relates to your own work or to the other literature on your topic.
• Be objective. When you identify a disagreement in the literature, be sure to represent both sides. Don't exclude a source simply on the basis that it does not support your own research hypothesis.
• At the end of your lit review, make suggestions for future research. What subjects, populations, methodologies, or theoretical lenses warrant further exploration? What common flaws or biases did you identify that could be corrected in future studies?

• Double check that you've correctly cited each of the sources you've used in the citation style requested by your professor (APA, MLA, etc.) and that your lit review is formatted according to the guidelines for that style.

Your literature review should:

• Be focused on and organized around your topic.
• Synthesize your research into a summary of what is and is not known about your topic.
• Identify any gaps or areas of controversy in the literature related to your topic.
• Suggest questions that require further research.
• Have your voice and perspective at the forefront rather than merely summarizing others' work.
• Cyberbullying: How Physical Intimidation Influences the Way People are Bullied
• Use of Propofol and Emergence Agitation in Children
• Eternity and Immortality in Spinoza's 'Ethics'
• Literature Review Tutorials and Samples - Wilson Library at University of La Verne
• Literature Reviews: Introduction - University Library at Georgia State
• Literature Reviews - The Writing Center at UNC Chapel Hill
• Writing a Literature Review - Boston College Libraries
• Write a Literature Review - University Library at UC Santa Cruz
• << Previous: Annotated Bibliographies
• Next: Zotero (Citation Management) >>
• Last Updated: Jun 26, 2024 3:01 PM
• URL: https://researchguides.elac.edu/Citation

Literature Review

• Steps for Conducting a Lit Review
• Finding "The Literature"
• Organizing/Writing
• Sample Literature Reviews
• FAMU Writing Center

Internet Resources

• Chicago Quick Guide A Turabian Quick Guide with additional examples, put out by the University of Chicago Press.

Chicago Notes-Bibliography (Turabian) Format

The discipline of History uses  Chicago  style  for citing sources .  Use the format for footnotes/endnotes, not parenthetical citations.  

Use the N format for footnotes/endnotes, and B for a bibliographic entry.  Some of the major differences between the formats are:

• Indentation: The first line of a footnote is indented, while subsequent lines are not.  Conversely, the first line of a bibliographic citation is not indented, while subsequent lines are.
• Name Order: Footnotes list author as first name last name, whereas bibliographic citations list author as last name, first name.
• Punctuation: Footnotes use more commas and bibliographic citations use more periods.  

The following examples of the most commons types of citations are taken/adapted directly from the 16th edition of the Chicago manual.  For additional examples, consult chapter 14 (pages 653-784) or the online  Chicago Quick Guide .

• << Previous: Chicago (Author-Date)
• Next: MLA Style >>
• Last Updated: Oct 20, 2022 11:24 AM
• URL: https://library.famu.edu/literaturereview

Chicago Format & Citation Style: Notes and Bibliography, 17th Edition

Introduction, chicago notes-bibliography (turabian) citation style: a tutorial.

• Why & When to Cite
• General Guidelines
• Primary Sources
• Websites, Blogs, Social Media, & AI
• Audiovisual & Multimedia
• Report an Error / Question

Ask-A-Librarian

Have questions? Need research assistance?

Please ask us!

Telephone: 850-474-2821

SMS/Text: 850-483-0225

Email: Your UWF Librarians

Chicago Manual - 17th Edition

The  Chicago Manual of Style  (17th ed.) provides standardized rules for formatting a paper (margins, line spacing, etc.), as well as a consistent method for citing ideas, quotations, facts, and paraphrases borrowed from other sources.

Chicago style provides two different methods for source citation.

Notes-Bibliography style uses footnotes (or endnotes) for citations within the text and a bibliography at the end. This format is used in History, Art, and other humanities disciplines.

Author-Date style uses parenthetical references for in-text citations and a reference list at the end. This format is used in many science and social science disciplines.

• Chicago Style Citation Quick Guide

Watch this brief video for help with Chicago Notes-Bibliography style:

You may activate the closed-captioning on this video, if desired. A transcript of this video is also provided below.

• Transcript of "Chicago Notes-Bibliography (Turabian) Citation Style" Video Tutorial
• Next: Why & When to Cite >>
• Last Updated: Feb 14, 2024 9:50 AM
• URL: https://libguides.uwf.edu/chicagonotesbib

• Library Home
• Library Guides

Literature Reviews

Writing a literature review, literature review sources.

• What Is a Literature Review? Wesleyan University Library guide
• Find books in the Library Catalog for help with the process. Sample search: Title:literature review AND Subject:research
• Writing Literature Reviews by Jose L. Galvan; Melisa C. Galvan ISBN: 9781138294219 Publication Date: 2017-04-05

• Annual Reviews (Social Sciences Journals)
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses This link opens in a new window Many dissertations will include a review of the relevant literature. & more less... Includes citations for materials from the first U.S. dissertation (1861) to those accepted as recently as last semester. Starting in 1997 full-text is often available. If full-text is not available information about ordering the document is provided.
• Article Databases In some you may limit your results to Literature Review ; in others search for your topic and literature review or review of the literature .
• University of Chicago Library Catalog This link opens in a new window Search for books on your topic with literature review in the title or table of contents. & more less... Find items in all campus libraries, including books, periodicals, sound recordings, videos, DVDs and more.
• HIV/AIDS, Stigma and Children by Harriet Deacon; Inez Stephney ISBN: 9780796921888 Publication Date: 2008-06-01

Subject Specialist

• Updated: Jan 12, 2021 12:27 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.uchicago.edu/litreviews
• Report a problem
• Login to LibApps

Open sourcetools