Have you ever heard the myth that Chapter 2 is the easiest chapter because you just have to copy-paste theories from books? Beware of this trap! Many students underestimate this chapter, only to be told to completely overhaul it by their advisors.
This article will discuss why a literature review is rejected and the fatal mistakes you must avoid. To prevent your thesis draft from being constantly revised, make sure you understand the rules of the game.
TL;DR: Chapter 2 is often rejected because students make these fatal mistakes:
- Simply stacking definitions without synthesizing arguments.
- Using outdated references (older than 5 years).
- Including theories that are irrelevant to the problem formulation.
- Forgetting to create a mapping matrix of previous research to explain novelty.
Why Gathering Definitions Is Not Enough for Chapter 2
Because the main function of a Literature Review is not as a dictionary of terms, but as a vessel for synthesis. If you only write a series of quotes without any conclusion, your advisor will consider your thesis to be poor in analysis and lacking an independent researcher's voice.
1. Find the Theoretical Common Thread
After gathering 2 or 3 quotes from various experts, you must blend them into a single concluding paragraph. Show the similarities, differences, or draw a common thread from these experts' opinions using your own words.
2. Avoid Long Block Quotes
Do not be tempted to copy-paste entire paragraphs. Leaving direct quotes piled up (block quotes) not only makes the writing look lazy, but it will also cause your plagiarism detection score (Turnitin) to spike sharply beyond the campus's safe limit.
Why Do Advisors Reject References Older Than 5 Years?
Because science, technology, and social dynamics change very rapidly. References from books or journals printed 15 years ago are definitely considered outdated and highly risk making your framework irrelevant to current conditions.
There are exceptions to this rule, namely:
- Standard textbooks (grand theories) that are fundamentally recognized (e.g., Newton's theory of gravity or Maslow's hierarchy of needs).
- Pure historical literature or literary works.