사이트 로그인
2026.01.14 14:22
For many students in IGNOU The review of literature can be the most confusing portion of their work. This is especially the case when working on the ignou master's degree project where academic depth is expected. However, guidance often can be difficult to find. Students are often asked if they need to summarize books, refret journal articles or simply collect quotes. The reality is somewhere between, and understanding that differences can affect the quality of the entire project.
A review of literature is not intended to be a record of how much you've read. It is written to show how well you know the prior work on your topic and how your work fits in. IGNOU evaluations look at this chapter as it shows your ability to link the research directions with your theory.
Before writing anything, it is important to understand why this section is part of an ignou mcom project. The review of literature serves three main functions.
First, it shows that the subject you chose is a subject that has been studied previously as well as having a relevance for academic studies. The second is that it assists you to discover gaps or issues in earlier research. It also provides an overview of your research goals and methods.
Many students treat this chapter as a formality and copy content from previous assignments or other online sources. This typically results in negative marks or project rejection. IGNOU requires original work even when discussing previous studies.
IGNOU does not require students to write at the level of an PhD thesis. While doing so it is recommended that students write in a simple way. not permitted. For an ignou mcom project, the review of literature should reflect postgraduate-level understanding.

You're required to read research papers, books, journals, reports, and occasionally, government publications that relate to the subject you are researching. The attention should be focused on studies closely related to your research topic.
As an example, if the task is to study the financial performance of banks the literature review should include earlier studies that dealt with financial ratios, performances of banks, profitability studies and risk assessment.
A common error students make is selecting too many non-related sources. It is the quality that matters more than the quantity. For a project involving ignou mcom approximately fifteen to twenty quality sources are usually sufficient for a good selection.
A good source is academic journals that are reputable, well-known books by famous authors, RBI books, public reports and even university research papers. Websites with ambiguous authorship should be avoided.
Always prefer recent studies and ideally, from the last ten years. Older studies can be included only if they're foundational in study.
A well-organized section improves readership and impression. Instead of composing unstructured summaries, split sections of the review in clear sections.
You may organize the chapter depending on the theme, the time period methods, or variables investigated. For example, one section could focus on studies related profitability, whereas a different section could focus upon liquidity, while another concerning operational efficiency.
This structure helps evaluators understand that you're more than just copying content, but you are analyzing it.
The writing style should be simple but academic. Avoid using a lot of words and terms. IGNOU seeks simplicity above all else.
Each study you present should include the author name, the year of study, the methodological objective, major findings. Don't mention them mechanically. Try connecting one study to another.
When you've discussed one study, you may be able to mention that another author's findings backed or opposed those findings. This way of looking at comparisons adds depth to your ignou MCOM project.
An error that is often made is to write the literature review as the kind of chapter in a textbook. It is important to clarify the basic concepts, such as understanding of accounting's definition or of management do not belong here unless directly linked to studies that have been done previously.
Another error is over-quoting. Your review of literature should be written by you in Your own voice. It is a sign of understanding that you are paraphrasing, while copying indicates dependence.
They are also often unable to link publications to their personal research study. The research you refer to should be in line with your project objectives.
One of the key outcomes of the review of literature is to identify the gap in research. IGNOU assessment committees expect you clarify what research earlier researchers did not or if further research is required.
After discussing multiple studies, you'll realize that most research focuses on large enterprises however small companies were disregarded. Or that earlier studies used secondary data but primary data was not enough.
This is why it's the main reason for your Ingou MCOM project. Without it, your project may appear to be repetitive.
While writing the review of literature an appropriate citation is required. IGNOU generally follows APA style, however coherence is more important than perfection.

Each study that is discussed should be included in the reference list at the end of the study. Without references, there is a chance to doubt the authenticity.
Avoid footnotes on literature reviews. In-text citations are more efficient and is more professional in an ignou MCOM project.
Students frequently ask what the length of the reviews of books should be. There's no definitive rule however, for an IGNOU MCOM project topics (Suggested Internet page) MCOM project, this chapter typically ranges from fifteen hundred or two thousand words.
The length should depend on topic complexity. A broad topic will require additional research while a targeted topic requires fewer, but deeper discussions.
Writing excessively long reviews without any analysis doesn't increase marks.
Instead of writing like this
Author A has studied the performance of the banking industry and came to positive results
Create this type of writing
Autor A performed a study examining the performance of banks based on financial ratios. She concluded that profitability improved by a better management of assets. This finding was later supported by Author B who pointed out the importance of operating efficiency in boosting return on investment for banks.
This approach reflects an understanding and analysis that is considered important in an ignou mcom project.
IGNOU is a firm believer in plagiarism. Many projects get blocked or rejected because of duplicated literature reviews. Even if the reference is to earlier studies, the language must be your own.
Utilize plagiarism checking software if possible. Then, rewrite the content to make it sound natural. A sentence that is slightly flawed is more effective than perfect copying.
Before submitting your ignou mcom project, go back through the literature review thoroughly. Find out if the study you are reviewing is relevant, if the flow is logical, and whether the chapter is logically linked to your research objectives.
Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter clarify why my study is needed. If yes then your review on literature will be in the best track.
Writing a literature review to complete an ignou mcom research project may be daunting at first Particularly for students returning to college after a long absence. But once you know that it's more about connecting and analysis than recitation, the challenge is easy to handle.
You should take the time to read, think, and write in your personal voice. This effort will be evident in the final draft and often is the difference between one that is average and a strong one.