"The combination of components or elements to form a connected whole"
(OED)
Forming a synthesis between various ideas is the heart of your literature review. As a starting point try:
• finding ideas that are common or controversial
• two or three important trends in the research
• the most influential theories.
As you read keep these questions in mind:
• does the writer make any assumptions not supported by evidence?
• what is the researcher's method? how does she gather data?
• what ideas and which researchers are frequently referred to?
Some writers create a matrix for organizing their research articles for literature reviews.
This requires you to come up with a number of categories which grow out of your reading of the literature. As you read, write down ideas, words or controversies that occur frequently. Ask yourself why? What question are these different papers trying to answer?
You can use these categories to create a table -- see the article below for more.
This is the point at which you write your own narrative of your topic, using the material you are now familiar with for support.
Consider the following organizing principles for your narrative:
