What sources should I include in a literature review PPT?

You’ll want to pull in both the big‑picture theories that frame your topic and the recent empirical studies that test or extend those ideas, because a literature‑review slide deck is meant to show you understand the conversation that already exists and where your own contribution might fit. In practice that means starting with a handful of foundational, often‑cited theoretical papers—those are the anchors that give your audience a quick sense of the concepts and terminology you’ll be using. Then layer on a selection of primary research articles, preferably from the last five to ten years, that illustrate how scholars have applied, challenged, or refined those theories in concrete settings. Mixing the two lets you demonstrate depth (you know the classics) and relevance (you’re up to date with current findings). A common misconception is that a literature review slide deck should be a laundry list of every article you’ve read. In reality, you’re curating, not cataloguing. Pick sources that are directly tied to the specific angle you’re taking in the presentation. If you’re discussing how social capital influences immigrant integration, for example, you might include Bourdieu’s original work on capital as a theoretical cornerstone, a recent meta‑analysis that quantifies its effects across contexts, and a primary study that looks at a particular immigrant community you’re interested in. That way each slide tells a story: the theory, the evidence, and the gap you’re highlighting. Trade‑offs come up when you’re pressed for time. Primary studies are great for showing concrete data, but they can be dense and require more explanation on a slide. Theoretical papers are usually more concise, but they can feel abstract if you don’t pair them with empirical examples. A useful strategy is to allocate one slide to a “conceptual framework” that cites the key theorists, then follow with a series of “evidence” slides that each feature one recent study, summarizing its methods, main finding, and how it relates back to the framework. If you find a particularly influential article that’s both theoretical and empirical (many sociological pieces blend the two), you can treat it as a bridge and give it a bit more screen time. Edge cases depend on your exact assignment prompt. If the professor explicitly wants you to focus on policy implications, you might also pull in government reports or reputable NGO publications, treating them as “gray literature” that still counts if they’re credible and properly cited in APA 7. Conversely, if the rubric stresses “peer‑reviewed scholarship,” you’d stick strictly to journal articles and books. In any case, make sure each source appears in your reference list with the correct APA format—author(s), year, title, journal or publisher, and DOI or URL if available. A quick tip: when you export citations from the library database, they often come pre‑formatted in APA 7, which saves you a lot of hassle. By balancing classic theory with fresh empirical work, you’ll give your audience a clear, compelling map of the field and set the stage for whatever argument you plan to make.