Define the topic and scope
Identify the research question or purpose
Search for relevant scholarly sources
Select high-quality and relevant literature
Read and annotate each source
Group sources by themes, methods, theories, or chronology
Compare and contrast findings across studies
Identify patterns, trends, and gaps
Organize the review into a clear structure
Write an introduction with topic scope and focus
Summarize and synthesize the literature by theme or argument
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the studies
Connect the literature to your research question
Maintain a critical and analytical tone
Cite all sources consistently
Revise for clarity, coherence, and accuracy