Here's the perfect formula to write a literature review paragraph.
A great literature review paragraph needs exactly 2 components.
Most students think every paper needs its own paragraph.
Completely off the mark.
The secret?
Combine synthesis + evaluation:
β’ Find papers with similar findings
β’ Group them under one theme
β’ Connect everything together
β’ Add critique for each study
Example:
Bad:
"Smith (2020) studied caffeine. Jones (2021) also studied caffeine."
Good:
"Studies show caffeine boosts performance in endurance athletes (Smith, 2020; Jones, 2021), though dosage timing remains debated. While Smith found pre-workout intake optimal, Jones demonstrated mid-workout consumption produced stronger results in elite runners."
See the difference?
One uses contrasting to tell a story.
One just glances over the studies.