For many students who are enrolled in IGNOU reviewing studies can be the most challenging part of the project work. This is especially true for those working on IGNOU's mcom projects, where academic depth is expected. However, guidance usually isn't as clear. Students usually ask whether they need to summarize books, write journal articles in a different way, or simply gather quotations. In reality, there is a place between, and knowing that the difference can impact the overall quality of the project.

Literature reviews are not intended to demonstrate how much material you have read. It is written to show how much you comprehend current research related to your field and how your idea fits in with it. IGNOU assessment experts are attuned to this chapter because it reflects your ability to connect knowledge with research directions.

Understanding the Purpose of Review of Literature

Before you write anything, it is essential to know why this chapter is essential to an ignou mcom project. Literature review serves three primary functions.

First, it demonstrates that the subject matter you've chosen has been previously studied and is of academic importance. Thirdly, it assists you detect gaps or deficiencies in previous studies. Thirdly it helps you establish the basis for your research goals and methods.

Many students take this chapter as a formality, and copy content from their previous projects or even from online sources. This typically results in poor marks or even project rejection. IGNOU requires original work even when addressing existing research.

What IGNOU Expects in Literature Review

IGNOU doesn't expect students to write on the scale of a PhD thesis. At the same time simple explanations are prohibited. For a project involving ignou MCOM, the review of literature should reflect a postgraduate level of understanding.

You're expected to study research papers, books, journals, reports, and sometimes, government publications related to your field of study. The emphasis should be placed on studies that directly link to your research topic.

As an example, if the project is focusing on the financial performance of banks and banks, then your literature search must focus on earlier research dealing with financial ratios banking performance, profitability analysis and risk evaluation.

Selecting Relevant Literature Sources

The most frequent mistake that students make is combining too many irrelevant sources. It is the quality that matters more than the quantity. For a project involving ignou mcom, around fifteen to twenty quality sources are usually sufficient as long as they're carefully chosen.

Academic journals are a good option and reputable books written by well-known authors, RBI publications, government reports, as well as university research papers. Websites that do not have clear authorship requirements should be avoided.

Always choose studies that are recent most likely from the past 10 years. The older studies may be included in the event that they are fundamental in their nature.

Organizing the Review of Literature Chapter

A well organized chapter improves reading comprehension and creates a positive impression. Instead of composing random summaries, you can divide all the reviews of books into logical sections.

You can organize the chapter by theme, time period method, variables, or methodologies investigated. For example, one section may discuss studies related to profitability, while another could focus on liquidity, and a third regarding operational efficiency.

This structure helps evaluators understand that you're not copying content, but actually analyzing it.

Writing Style for IGNOU Literature Review

The style of writing should be scholarly but straightforward. Avoid a lot of language and words. IGNOU seeks simplicity above all else.

Each study you analyze should contain the name of author, year of study, goals, methodology, as well as main findings. Be careful not to list them in a formal manner. You should try to link one study with a different one.

For example, after analyzing one study, you may describe how another researcher supported or refuted these findings. The comparative approach adds more depth to your ignou MCOM Project IGNOU project.

Avoiding Common Writing Mistakes

A common error is to compose the literature review as a textbook chapter. Discussing fundamental concepts like the definition of accounting and the meaning of management is not a good idea in this section unless it is directly connected to studies that have been done previously.

Another issue is the overuse of quoting. Your literature review should be written in the style of your personal words. The use of paraphrasing indicates understanding, whereas copying shows dependence.

Students often fail to connect publications to their personal research study. Each study you discuss should be in line with the research goals.

Connecting Literature Review with Research Gap

The most important results of the examination of literature is identifying the research gap. IGNOU assessors require you to identify what earlier researchers didn't know or where more research is needed.

When you look over a range of studies it is possible to observe that the majority studies were focused on large businesses however small companies were left out. It is also possible that previous studies used secondary data, but primary data was scarce.

This void is the reason for your Ingou MCOM project. Without it, your plan could appear repetitive.

Use of Citations and Referencing

While writing a review for literature The proper citation of the source is essential. IGNOU generally follows APA style, however the consistency is more important than perfection.

Each study mentioned must be listed in the list of references at the end of the study. Any missing references cast doubt on the authenticity.

Avoid footnotes in literature reviews. A citation in text works better and appears cleaner in an ignou MCOM project.

Length of Review of Literature Chapter

Students often inquire about how long the review of literature must last. There isn't a set rule but, for an ignou MCOM project, the length of this chapter typically ranges from fifteen hundred and two thousand words.

The length of the discussion should be based on how complex the topic is. A larger topic demands more studies, while a more narrowly-focused topic requires fewer but more in-depth discussions.

Writing unnecessarily long reviews without analysis is not going to improve your marks.

Example of Literature Review Writing Approach

Instead of writing this way,
Author A studied the bank's performance, and found positive results

Write as such
This author carried out a study on banking performance with financial ratios. He found that profitability improved by a better management of assets. This conclusion was later confirmed by Author B who also emphasized the role of the efficiency of operations in enhancing return on investment for banks.

This approach reflects the ability to analyze and comprehend, which is appreciated in an MCOM project.

Maintaining Originality and Academic Integrity

IGNOU is a firm believer in plagiarism. Many projects get refused or delayed because of copy-pasted literature reviews. However, even if you use previous research, the language you use must reflect the original.

Utilize plagiarism checking tools when possible. If you are able, modify your content until it sounds natural. A sentence that is slightly imperfect is much better than perfect copying.

Final Review Before Submission

Before submitting your ignou mcom project, read the entire literature review. Be sure to check if each study is relevant, if the flow of the study is coherent and whether your chapter will naturally lead to your research goals.

Ask yourself one simple question. Does this chapter give a rationale for the need for my study. If the answer is yes, your review on literature will be in the best track.

Closing Thoughts

Reviewing literature to complete an ignou mcom research project may be daunting at first especially for those who return to college after a long absence. However, once you realize that it's more about analysis and connecting than memorization, the project becomes easy.

Be sure to read, consider, and write in your personal voice. It is reflected clearly in your final work and often the difference is between the average submission and a good one.