Synthesizing Literature Reviews

From Summary to Synthesis

In the previous lesson, we built research questions and collected sources. Now let’s build on that foundation.

Most student literature reviews read like this: “Smith (2020) found X. Jones (2021) found Y. Brown (2022) found Z.”

That’s a summary. It tells the reader what each author said, but not how their findings connect, contradict, or build on each other.

A synthesis sounds like this: “While Smith (2020) and Jones (2021) both found positive effects of X on Y, Brown (2022) challenges these findings by demonstrating that the effect disappears when controlling for Z.”

The difference? Synthesis creates an argument. Summary creates a list.

The Synthesis Framework

Transform your collected sources into a synthesized review using this structure:

Step 1: Identify Themes

Using the source matrix from Lesson 2:

AI: Here are 15 sources I've collected for my literature review on [topic].
For each, I've noted the key finding:

[List sources and findings]

Help me:
1. Group these into 3-5 thematic clusters
2. Name each theme clearly
3. Identify which sources agree and which disagree within each theme
4. Suggest a logical order for presenting these themes
5. Flag any gaps where I need additional sources

Step 2: Map Relationships

Within each theme, sources relate to each other in specific ways:

Step 3: Write Thematically, Not Source-by-Source

Bad structure (source-by-source):

• Paragraph 1: What Smith found
• Paragraph 2: What Jones found
• Paragraph 3: What Brown found

Good structure (thematic):

• Paragraph 1: Theme 1 — What the collective research shows
• Paragraph 2: Theme 2 — Where researchers agree and disagree
• Paragraph 3: Theme 3 — The remaining gaps

AI-Assisted Synthesis

Use AI to draft synthesis paragraphs:

I need to synthesize these sources into a thematic paragraph
about [theme].

Sources:
1. Smith (2020) found: [finding]
2. Jones (2021) found: [finding]
3. Brown (2022) found: [finding]
4. Davis (2023) found: [finding]

Write a synthesis paragraph that:
- Opens with a topic sentence stating the theme's main pattern
- Shows where sources agree
- Highlights where they disagree and why
- Ends with what this means for my research question: [question]
- Uses academic tone appropriate for [discipline]
- Properly attributes all claims to specific authors

Critical step: Always verify and rewrite AI-generated synthesis. Check that:

• Citations are attributed correctly
• The relationships described are accurate
• Your interpretation (not AI’s) drives the narrative
• No claims are made that the sources don’t support

Quick Check

Read this paragraph and identify whether it’s summary or synthesis:

“Remote work increases productivity according to Bloom et al. (2015). Yang et al. (2022) studied Microsoft employees during the pandemic. Gibbs et al. (2023) found output per hour increased for remote workers.”

The Literature Review Architecture

Structure your complete review using this architecture:

Introduction

• What’s the scope of the review?
• How is it organized?
• What’s the purpose relative to your research question?

Theme 1: [Foundational Knowledge]

• What’s established and agreed upon?
• Core theories and frameworks

Theme 2: [Key Debates]

• Where do researchers disagree?
• What evidence supports each side?

Theme 3: [Recent Developments]

• What’s new in the field?
• How do recent findings change the conversation?

Theme 4: [Gaps and Opportunities]

• What hasn’t been studied?
• What questions remain unanswered?
• How does your research address these gaps?

Conclusion

• Synthesize the overall state of knowledge
• Articulate the specific gap your research fills
• Transition to your methodology

Common Literature Review Mistakes

Managing Large Source Collections

When you have 30, 50, or 100+ sources, AI helps manage complexity:

I have [X] sources for my literature review. Here are all my theme
assignments and key findings in a table:

[Paste your source matrix]

Help me:
1. Identify any sources that don't fit their current theme and suggest reassignment
2. Find sources that could bridge two themes
3. Highlight which 5-7 sources are most central to my argument
4. Suggest which sources can be cited briefly vs. discussed in depth
5. Check for any thematic gaps that need additional sources

Exercise: Draft a Synthesis Paragraph

Take one theme from your collected sources:

1. List 3-5 sources that relate to this theme
2. Map their relationships (agreement, disagreement, extension)
3. Draft a synthesis paragraph using AI assistance
4. Verify every citation and relationship claim
5. Rewrite in your own voice and interpretation

This is the core skill of literature review writing—and it gets easier with practice.

Key Takeaways

• Synthesis shows relationships between sources; summary describes them individually
• Organize by theme, not by source—each paragraph should discuss multiple sources
• Map relationships (agreement, disagreement, extension, gap) before writing
• AI can draft synthesis paragraphs, but you must verify accuracy and add your interpretation
• Structure the review to build from foundations through debates to gaps your research fills
• Always verify that AI-attributed claims match what the actual papers say

Up next: In the next lesson, we’ll dive into Citations, References, and Academic Integrity.