Dissertations are commonly divided into a series of chapters, and each dissertation chapter has a specific function to fulfill within the document as a whole. While there may some house style variations, and students should check with their departments for any specific dissertation chapter guidelines, the following dissertation chapters are the most common.

Literature reviews are always included in dissertations and other types of research papers. In essence, literature reviews are surveys and discussions of existing literature, i.e. published research papers and dissertations that cover the same subject matter as the students' own dissertation topics. Before describing their own research in their dissertations, students write literature reviews to provide a context and give an overview of the major trends in research in their fields. Literature reviews are the primary vehicle for this component of the dissertation writing process.

The dissertation literature review is a section of the dissertation in which the student cites and discusses existing research and dissertations that are relevant to his or her topic. The main purposes of the dissertation literature review are to place the student's topic within the context of the ongoing work in the field, and to point out the need that the student's research can help to fill.

As a student begins the process of writing the dissertation, acquiring a number of samples can prove very useful in elucidating the proper style and format of each section. A sample literature review, for instance, will be very helpful in showing the student the characteristics of a successful literature review.

In order to write a successful dissertation, it is important to pay attention to the literature review format. A properly formatted and written literature review will blend seamlessly with the rest of the dissertation and help shape an original and significant document that will speak well of the student's accomplishments in the degree program. Following are some literature review format guidelines to keep in mind.