Literature Review Markdown Template

Plan and write a true literature review with scope, search method, synthesis matrix, themes, debates, methods, gaps, conclusion, and bibliography.

Markdown

# Literature Review: [Topic]

**Author:** [Name]

**Review date:** YYYY-MM-DD

**Citation style:** [Required style]

## Review question

[Define the focused question this review addresses.]

## Scope and boundaries

- **Included:** [Populations, concepts, source types, languages, or dates]
- **Excluded:** [Explicit exclusions and rationale]
- **Context:** [Discipline, geography, or setting]

## Search and selection method

| Element | Details |
| :--- | :--- |
| Sources searched | [Databases, catalogs, citation chains, or archives] |
| Search date | YYYY-MM-DD |
| Search terms | [Exact query or link to search log] |
| Selection criteria | [Inclusion and exclusion criteria] |
| Appraisal approach | [How relevance and quality were assessed] |

Do not describe the review as systematic unless the method meets the applicable standard.

## Synthesis matrix

| Source | Context and question | Method and sample/material | Main finding | Limitation | Theme |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| [Author, year] | [Scope] | [Design] | [Supported finding] | [Limitation] | [Theme] |

## Thematic synthesis

### Theme 1: [Theme name]

[Synthesize how multiple sources address this theme. Compare evidence rather than listing summaries.]

### Theme 2: [Theme name]

[Synthesis with citations.]

## Agreements and debates

- **Areas of agreement:** [Claims supported across sources and relevant caveats]
- **Debates or contradictions:** [Competing findings, theories, or interpretations]
- **Possible explanations:** [Differences in context, definitions, samples, or methods]

## Methodological patterns

[Compare common designs, measures, source bases, strengths, and recurring limitations.]

## Gaps and future questions

- [Understudied population, context, mechanism, method, or unresolved question]

## Conclusion

[Answer the review question at the strength supported by the literature. State boundaries and remaining uncertainty.]

## Bibliography

- [Complete citation in the required style]

Preview

Literature Review: [Topic]

Author: [Name]

Review date: YYYY-MM-DD

Citation style: [Required style]

Review question

[Define the focused question this review addresses.]

Scope and boundaries

Included: [Populations, concepts, source types, languages, or dates]
Excluded: [Explicit exclusions and rationale]
Context: [Discipline, geography, or setting]

Search and selection method

Element	Details
Sources searched	[Databases, catalogs, citation chains, or archives]
Search date	YYYY-MM-DD
Search terms	[Exact query or link to search log]
Selection criteria	[Inclusion and exclusion criteria]
Appraisal approach	[How relevance and quality were assessed]

Do not describe the review as systematic unless the method meets the applicable standard.

Synthesis matrix

Source	Context and question	Method and sample/material	Main finding	Limitation	Theme
[Author, year]	[Scope]	[Design]	[Supported finding]	[Limitation]	[Theme]

Thematic synthesis

Theme 1: [Theme name]

[Synthesize how multiple sources address this theme. Compare evidence rather than listing summaries.]

Theme 2: [Theme name]

[Synthesis with citations.]

Agreements and debates

Areas of agreement: [Claims supported across sources and relevant caveats]
Debates or contradictions: [Competing findings, theories, or interpretations]
Possible explanations: [Differences in context, definitions, samples, or methods]

Methodological patterns

[Compare common designs, measures, source bases, strengths, and recurring limitations.]

Gaps and future questions

[Understudied population, context, mechanism, method, or unresolved question]

Conclusion

[Answer the review question at the strength supported by the literature. State boundaries and remaining uncertainty.]

Bibliography

[Complete citation in the required style]

When to use this template

Use this to synthesize multiple sources around a defined question for a paper, thesis chapter, or evidence review. Use a separate reading-note format for one source.

Section guide

Question, scope, and search: Make the review boundaries and source-selection process visible.
Matrix and thematic synthesis: Compare sources across findings, methods, limitations, and themes.
Gaps and conclusion: Explain what the body of literature supports, disputes, and leaves unresolved.

How to use this template

1
Copy the Markdown
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2
Paste into your editor
Paste into the mdkit editor, a repository, a notes app, or another Markdown editor. Check tables and task lists in your target renderer because Markdown support varies.
3
Fill in your content
Replace bracketed examples with verified information, adapt fields to your context, and remove sections that do not apply.
4
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Review sensitive information, links, facts, and formatting. Then commit to Git, share the Markdown, or export to HTML or PDF.

Check before you use it

This structure does not by itself make a review systematic; use applicable protocols and reporting standards when claiming a systematic review.
Database access, search syntax, citation style, and appraisal methods depend on the discipline and assignment.

Template details

What it solves

A literature-review structure shifts work from isolated paper summaries to a transparent, question-led synthesis across multiple sources.

Key features

Research question, boundaries, and search method
Multi-source synthesis matrix
Themes, agreements, debates, and methodology comparison
Evidence gaps, conclusion, and bibliography

Pro tips

>Record searches and inclusion decisions while researching, not after writing.
>Organize prose by themes or debates rather than one paragraph per paper.
>Distinguish an absence of evidence from evidence that an effect is absent.

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