What was the purpose of the Durand line in 1893, and what is its impact on security and identity of people on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan?
The aim of the Preliminary Literature Review is to help you make a first step towards building the literature review section of your actual dissertation: it is a mandatory component of the dissertation and one you can start working on now! It is called ‘preliminary’ because you will probably engage with further texts as you progress and modify slightly the framing, once you have a clearer vision of your dissertation.
What your literature review does is engage critically with some of the core foundational literature in your chosen area, identify some of the central approaches, arguments, and theories, and position yourself within the key debates.
You should select 2-3 texts to read. Depending on your reading group, your supervisor may tell you which texts to read or provide you with a list of texts from which to choose, should you find it difficult to identify suitable texts yourself. These texts may be articles in peer-reviewed journals, books, or book chapters (but note these must be substantial chapters from peer-reviewed edited volumes or significant chapters in key texts). You could focus on works that engage with a particular topic, examine pieces written from a specific perspective, or look at works that cut across topics and perspectives.
Beside the chosen 2-3 texts to review, you need to make reference to other sources and have a clear bibliography listing those. This will help you demonstrate you have some familiarity with the literature on your topic and have engaged with independent preliminary research.
In 2,000 words you should:
Introduce the texts that you are examining;
Explain their significance and situate them within the context of existing debates and literature;
Identify the central claims, arguments, theories, methods, and/or concepts in each text;
Evaluate the arguments and claims put forward: how convincing are they and why;
Compare and contrast the different texts: are there similarities or significant differences between the texts.
The precise structure of the Preliminary Literature Review may vary and your supervisor will be able to offer you further guidance, should you need it.
The Preliminary Literature Review will be marked according to the grading criteria below.
Prelim Lit Review Marking Criteria
Structure
Paper must be logically structured with a clear overall plan that allows readers to follow the argument.
Analysis
Paper must show strong critical skills in the analysis of relevant literature (e.g. strengths and weaknesses of the literature).
Knowledge
Demonstrate a good knowledge of the specific texts being examined and their place in the wider body of knowledge on the topic.
This criterion is linked to a learning outcome Written expression
Paper should be clearly written, without errors of punctuation, grammar, or syntax, and should show proper use of academic citation and bibliographical practices, using the Harvard system of referencing.
