How to Write the Synthesis of Literature

Not sure how to write the Synthesis of Literature in your research paper? It’s more than just combining sources; it’s where you make sense of the conversation happening in your field.

This guide will walk you through how to write a clear, thematic, and research-aligned synthesis. You’ll learn what to include, how to structure it, and how to connect it directly to your research questions, frameworks, and the gap your study fills.

What Is the Synthesis of Literature?

The Synthesis of Literature is a section in Chapter 2 where you merge ideas from multiple studies to create a clear and focused narrative around your research topic. It’s not about listing what each author said—it’s about organizing the research in a way that builds a cohesive argument and reveals what’s already known, what’s missing, and what’s next.

Here’s what the synthesis does:

• Organizes existing studies into themes or trends
• Connects related ideas from different sources
• Shows how research findings support, contradict, or expand each other
• Highlights research gaps, inconsistencies, or debates
• Builds a strong foundation for your study’s direction
• Helps justify your research questions and methodology

In short, the synthesis turns scattered studies into a structured, critical overview. It proves you’re not just repeating what’s been done, you understand the field, and you’re moving it forward.

How to Write the Synthesis of Literature: Step-by-Step

Here’s how you can do it: gather studies related to your topic, group them by themes, compare findings, spot gaps, and explain how your research connects.

PRE-WRITING STAGE: Before You Write

Step 1: Revisit Your Research Problem and Questions

Start by clearly identifying your research problem and research questions. These guide what to include in your synthesis. Every theme, source, and point must relate to these.

Ask:

• What am I investigating?
• Why is it important?
• What key concepts or variables am I focusing on?

Example:
This study explores the impact of online learning on student engagement in higher education during the post-pandemic transition.

Step 2: Choose Relevant Literature

Select only those studies that directly relate to your research topic, variables, or theoretical framework. Focus on peer-reviewed, scholarly sources, preferably published within the last 5 to 10 years, unless they’re foundational.

Recommended sources:

• Journal articles
• Academic books
• Dissertations or theses
• Research reports from credible institutions

Use databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, Scopus, and your academic library.

Step 3: Read and Organize the Sources

As you read each study, annotate key points, especially findings, methods, theoretical approaches, and limitations. Start grouping the sources by major themes or ideas instead of individual authors.

Possible categories:

• Theoretical frameworks
• Common findings
• Contradictions or debates
• Research methods
• Population or context

Step 4: Identify Key Themes and Patterns

Once the studies are grouped, look for overlapping ideas, trends, or recurring issues. Also identify disagreements, gaps in the literature, or questions that remain unanswered.

Helpful technique:
Use a synthesis matrix or table to track the main ideas, methods, and conclusions across studies. This helps in spotting relationships and organizing your structure.

WRITING STAGE: Writing the Review

Step 5: Summarize and Combine Insights

Write paragraphs organized around themes, not authors. Each paragraph should discuss a single topic or idea and include multiple studies that address it. Start with a clear topic sentence.

Structure:

• Topic sentence (what the paragraph is about)
• Summary of key findings (from multiple studies)
• Comparison or contrast (agreements, contradictions)
• Your insight or analysis

Example:
Several studies agree that interactive content increases student motivation in online classes (Smith, 2020; Reyes, 2021; Lin, 2022). However, Chen and Lee (2023) found that excessive interactivity can lead to cognitive overload, especially among younger learners.

Step 6: Define Important Concepts and Debates

Clarify the meaning of terms or concepts that are central to your topic, especially if they are used differently across sources. Also, address any conflicting theories or definitions.

Example:
While “student engagement” is commonly measured through attendance and participation (Jones, 2019), Torres (2020) argues for a broader definition that includes emotional and cognitive involvement.

Step 7: Evaluate and Critique the Literature

This step strengthens your credibility. Don’t just list findings—critically assess the quality of each study. Consider sample size, scope, methods, and relevance.

Questions to consider:

• Is the sample representative?
• Are the findings still relevant?
• Were methods appropriate?
• Are there biases or limitations?

Example:
Although Ramirez (2018) provides valuable insights, the study focused only on one private university, limiting its generalizability to a wider population.

Step 8: Create a Visual Map (Optional)

If the relationships between themes are complex, a concept map or diagram can help. You can visualize how the research areas connect and where your study fits in. This is especially helpful for your writing structure or inclusion in your paper, if allowed.

Step 9: Link the Synthesis to Your Research Focus

As you close your synthesis, create a smooth transition to your study. Point out the gap, contradiction, or under-researched area that your research will address.

Example:
Despite extensive work on online engagement, few studies explore how students from low-income areas adapt to digital learning environments. This study addresses that gap by examining engagement in tech-limited contexts.

Step 10: Write the Final Synthesis

Now put everything together into clear, well-organized paragraphs. Use academic language and logical transitions to connect ideas. Avoid listing authors one after another. Blend ideas and let the themes lead the discussion.

Use transitions like:

• In contrast
• Similarly
• However
• On the other hand
• Building on this
• While some researchers argue…

Sample Final Output: Synthesis of Literature

Theme: Student Engagement in Online Learning

In recent years, student engagement has become a central focus in online education research. Multiple studies suggest that the level of interaction and instructional design significantly influence how students participate in digital classrooms. Smith (2020) and Reyes (2021) emphasize that interactive learning platforms—such as video-based discussions and real-time quizzes—positively impact student motivation and focus. Lin (2022) supports this, noting increased participation in synchronous online classes that use gamified elements. However, Chen and Lee (2023) present a counterpoint, warning that overly interactive platforms may lead to cognitive overload, particularly for students with low digital literacy.

Researchers have also debated how to define and measure “engagement.” Jones (2019) defines it based on attendance and participation rates, while Torres (2020) argues for a broader interpretation, including emotional connection and self-regulation. These varying definitions reflect a deeper theoretical divide: some studies rely on behavioral models of engagement, while others apply socio-constructivist frameworks to capture internal motivation and identity development.

Despite strong evidence showing the benefits of interactivity, several studies highlight limitations. Ramirez (2018) used a single-case study design limited to a private university, reducing generalizability. Similarly, Ahmed and Cruz (2021) identified barriers to engagement in low-income regions, citing access issues and tech anxiety among learners. These findings reveal that student engagement in online settings is complex and context-dependent.

A noticeable gap in the literature is the lack of studies focusing on how students from low-resource backgrounds engage with digital learning tools. While the current research explores general strategies for boosting motivation, few address structural inequalities or digital readiness. This study aims to fill that gap by examining the digital learning experiences of students in underfunded public universities during the post-pandemic transition to online education.

Do’s and Don’ts in Writing the Synthesis of Literature

A quick-reference guide to help you write a strong, organized, and critical synthesis of literature.

✅ DO	❌ DON’T
Group by Theme, Not by AuthorOrganize content around ideas or categories to show synthesis.	List Authors One-by-OneAvoid reporting what each author said separately. Synthesis isn’t a summary.
Compare and Contrast FindingsShow similarities and differences to highlight patterns or conflicts.	Copy-Paste SummariesDon’t paste research notes or literature reviews word-for-word.
Use Clear Topic SentencesStart each paragraph with a focused idea related to your theme.	Only Describe, Don’t AnalyzeDon’t just say what studies found—explain why it matters.
Evaluate the Quality of the SourcesDiscuss limitations, sample size, or relevance of the studies.	Ignore ContradictionsDon’t skip over conflicting findings—highlight them critically.
Connect to Your Research ProblemLink each theme back to your study’s focus and research questions.	Use Outdated/Weak SourcesAvoid sources older than 10 years unless foundational.
Define Key Terms and ConceptsClarify how concepts are defined across different studies.	Forget TransitionsDon’t jump between points. Use connectors like “however” or “similarly.”
Highlight Gaps in the LiteratureIdentify what hasn’t been addressed—this supports your study’s value.	Leave Gaps UnexplainedAlways show how the studies relate to your research.
Use Proper CitationsFollow correct formatting (APA, MLA, etc.) and cite every source.	Overquote or Paraphrase PoorlyDon’t rely too much on direct quotes or unclear rewording.

Coming Soon: Common Mistakes in Writing the Synthesis of Literature

Common Problems in Writing the Synthesis of Literature

These are the most frequent issues that weaken a literature synthesis. Knowing them helps you avoid common traps and improve the quality of your review.

🚫 Problem	💡 Why It’s a Problem
Too Descriptive, Not Analytical	Just summarizing sources doesn’t show your understanding. You need to compare, critique, and connect ideas.
No Clear Structure	Jumping between topics without grouping by theme confuses the reader and weakens coherence.
Listing Studies Separately	Writing one paragraph per author creates a book report—not a synthesis. Blend ideas from multiple sources.
Overuse of Quotes	Relying too much on direct quotes makes the writing feel copied, not original. Paraphrasing shows deeper understanding.
Outdated or Irrelevant Sources	Using old, non-peer-reviewed, or off-topic literature lowers credibility and relevance.
Unclear or Missing Connections to the Research Problem	Failing to relate the literature to your study makes it seem disconnected and unfocused.
Weak Transitions Between Ideas	Abrupt shifts from one paragraph to another make the review hard to follow. Transitions are key.
Not Identifying Gaps	Missing the opportunity to point out what’s lacking in the current literature weakens your rationale.
Inconsistent Citation Style	Mixing citation formats or missing references makes your paper look careless and unprofessional.
No Thematic Integration	Without combining sources into themes, the synthesis lacks depth and organization.

Coming Soon: Summary Table: Writing the Synthesis of Literature →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Writing the Synthesis of Literature

Quick answers to the most common questions students and researchers ask when working on Chapter 2.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to write the Synthesis of Literature is more than following a step-by-step guide. It’s about showing that you understand the big picture of your research field. A well-crafted synthesis doesn’t just review it, but connects, critiques, and highlights the gap your study will fill.

When done right, it shows you’re not just reading, you’re engaging. You’re building on what’s known and pushing the conversation forward

Continue Learning: Explore Chapter 2

Now that you’ve learned how to write the Synthesis of Literature, it’s time to see how this piece fits into the full structure of Chapter 2: The Review of Related Literature.

The synthesis plays a key role in Chapter 2 by helping you:

• Connect your study with existing knowledge and scholarly themes
• Justify your theoretical and conceptual frameworks
• Identify the research gap your study aims to address
• Build your credibility as a researcher by showing critical thinking

What’s Inside Chapter 2?

1. Overview of the Chapter →
2. Theoretical Framework →
3. Conceptual Framework →
4. Review of Related Literature (RRL) →
5. Review of Related Studies (Local & Foreign) →
6. Synthesis of Literature →
7. Research Gap →
8. Summary/Conclusion →

Explore More Research Chapters:

• Chapter 1 → Introduction and Background of the Study
• Chapter 3 → Research design, methodology, and research instruments
• Chapter 4 → Data presentation, interpretation, and analysis of results
• Chapter 5 → Conclusions, major findings, and practical recommendations

Note: We’re not your school’s official research coordinator, but our guides are designed to support and guide your writing process. Always follow your institution’s specific guidelines and formatting requirements.