Q: How to start writing an RRL

A review of the related literature (RRL) is an excellent way to provide an overview of current knowledge on the specific topic of your work. It brings to the fore the gaps in the knowledge of the topic you are addressing, allowing you to highlight how your study sets out to fill them. Your question is an interesting one. The opening paragraphs should ideally provide an informative background. It could begin with an opinion or even a historical perspective. The important thing to remember, however, is to start with a broad background or context, narrowing down the focus to the specific objectives as you approach the end of the section.

Note that the type of opening statement would be determined by the topic, research question, field of study, and type of study, among various other factors. In other words, there are no defined rules for this. We recommend that you go with what flows naturally when you begin writing. As prompts, consider the answers to the following questions:

1. Why is the study needed and/or why is it needed now?
2. What is the most important theme or argument in the study?
3. What is the major knowledge gap/long-standing question that has failed to be answered in the past?

The answers to these questions can serve as opening lines of your RRL.

Another useful tip to keep in mind is to include the important keywords and key phrases related to the topic in the first few sentences for search engine optimization.

Questions similar to yours have been answered here (with some examples):

• How do I do a review of related literature (RRL)?
• Can you give examples of 10 difficulties of writing a review of related literature (RRL)?

A strong RRL is based on a thorough review of the literature. Be sure that you stay up to date and do not miss an important paper pertinent to your study. Apps like R Discovery can help you stay on top of the latest in your field.