Literature reviews are a type of writing that synthesizes the research (referred to as “the literature” in academic discourse) relevant to the subject matter, which allows the researcher/writer to enter a scholarly conversation from an informed perspective, not to argue an opinion. At the undergraduate level, students are often asked to write literature reviews as standalone assignments to practice synthesizing texts and entering into a scholarly conversation. The style, organization, and purpose of a literature review depend on the discipline for which it is being written.
In academia, scholars write literature reviews as part of larger research projects and scholarly articles (this section is often titled “literature review” or “review of the literature”). This practice demonstrates that the writer/researcher is familiar with the existing body of knowledge, or literature, that exists on any given topic and that guides their thinking in relation to their scholarly project. (See the University Writing Center handout, LITERATURE REVIEW.) (Compare to ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY.)
See the University Writing Center handout, Writing a Literature Review.