How to Write a Literature Review in 30 Minutes or Less STEP 4: Shape the Paragraphs Each body paragraph requires a topic sentences to introduce the source or sources  discussed. When there is more than one source in a paragraph, a transition or thought bridge must be added to connect them. A topic sentence for the Fine study could highlight an historical perspective: Topic Sentence: Body Paragraph 1 Cultural diversity has long been recognized as a potential problem in the workplace that deserves serious attention. As far back as 1996, Fine stated that cultural diversity of the U.S. workforce is perhaps the most pressing challenge of our times. However, research on this issue had produced general overviews on diversity. Missing were research studies of diversity in specific organizations. Research to document different voices in the workforce, especially those that have been marginalized, was needed. Fine challenged academics to demonstrate to the public the worth of their studies on cultural diversity and  multicultural discourses. Now comes a topic sentence for the West African and Australian studies. This topic sentence also should serve as a transition from the first paragraph, so Fine is referenced. In the middle of the paragraph, a transition sentence is added to tie the two sources together: Topic Sentence: Body Paragraph 2 Fine’s call to action was heeded by numerous researchers and resulted in studies of geographically dispersed cultures. For example, Frisoli (2010) uses a series of interviews conducted with a West African man to study communication between two people of culturally diverse backgrounds. Frisoli found that communication on the Internet can be easily distorted due to cross-cultural barriers. Frisoli also found that people of diverse backgrounds often bring different sets of ethical attitudes toward technology,  which can further skew communication. Frisoli highlights the importance of understanding differences in order to improve communication.   Transition Sentence: Body Paragraph 2 Frisoli's findings were replicated on the opposite side of the globe by Icten (2010) who looked at the impact of culture on communication for migrant workers in Australia. The twelve workers had mastered English before moving to Australia. However, they encountered significant communication barriers despite their mastery. Icten suggests that the barriers were based on cultural differences, not language skills. Icten describes an “Innovative Communication in the Workplace” program that helped workers overcome these cultural barriers and to communicate more successfully. The result is a longish paragraph that holds together due to the geographical angle. Also, its length could be edited down in the revision stage. Keeping with the geographical angle, a natural topic sentence for the next body paragraph could begin, "These international findings," which also serves as a transition between the two paragraphs: Topic Sentence: Body Paragraph 3 These international findings were replicated in the U.S. in a 2010 study by Sweeny and Zhu, who observed 14 native speakers of English in intercultural business negotiations to measure how they accommodated 13 nonnative speakers of English. The results suggested that native speakers used a wider range of linguistic devices than nonnative speakers. The majority of the native speakers were challenged to accommodate nonnative speakers and did so with varying degrees of effectiveness. The study concluded that native speakers lacked an understanding of the issues of intercultural communication and were unable to effectively accommodate nonnative speakers. Now come the paragraphs on solutions: two short ones on storytelling and translation followed by the Lopez-Rocha summary about workplace diversity training. Note the weakness in our research so far: not enough specific solutions. Revealing such gaps in research is an important function of writing a lit review. Any gaps or needs should be noted in the conclusion of the lit review.  Here is workable topic sentence for the paragraph containing the two solution summaries as well as a transition sentence to connect them: Topic Sentence: Body Paragraph 4 A variety of specific techniques have been suggested to address the problem of overcoming the impact of cultural diversity on communication in the workplace. For example, Barker and Gower (2010) examine storytelling as a way to increase effective communication in a diverse workplace. The authors present a form of storytelling as an organizational communication tool and discuss how to apply it in the work environment. This approach may not be suitable for all organizations, it  but can be used to develop alternative strategies. When cultural and linguistic differences are at  Transition Sentence: Body Paragraph 4 play, the role of translators can become to maintain effective communication. Teodorescu (2010) addresses the need for translation in culturally diverse communications by highlighting the negative affect that poor translation can have on communications and offering strategies for effectively sharing ideas in culturally diverse environments. The specific solutions discussed in the two short summaries help to set up the best overall solution suggested by Lopez-Rocha in the final body paragraph, introduced with this topic sentence: Topic Sentence: Body Paragraph 5 Regardless of the specific techniques employed, it has become clear that the best outcomes are achieved with a formal program of diversity training that fosters a culture of acceptance and accomodation in the workplace. Lopez-Rocha (2006) addresses communication conflicts through diversity training, providing evidence that increasing cultural awareness in the workplace improves relationships, organizational procedures, and productivity. Managers must be aware of the main factor that causes conflicts: the differences among individuals from different cultural groups. These differences involve discrepancies in language and communication style, values, attitudes towards authority, and time—all of which can be addressed in diversity training. Now that the paragraphs have been shaped into a narrative with topic sentences and internal transitions, the lit review is ready for the last step: adding an introduction and conclusion.