Literature Review Outline Template
Use this literature review template to turn a prompt into a working structure before drafting. It gives you a copyable outline, a filled example, and the planning checks that keep the page useful for a real assignment rather than a generic blank form.
Copyable template
Outline structure
Copy the sections first, then replace bracketed text with details from your prompt, sources, or experience.
Introduction
- Hook: Open with a sentence that makes the research conversation and scope feel specific.
- Context: Give the reader the background needed to understand the literature review.
- Review focus: [State the field, themes, and gap your review will organize.]
Major theme or school of thought
- Topic sentence: State the major theme or school of thought point for this literature review.
- Evidence or detail: Add the source, moment, data point, scene, or experience that proves the point.
- Analysis: Explain why this evidence matters instead of letting the example sit on its own.
- Link back: Tie the paragraph to the main claim and prepare the next move.
Methodological pattern or debate
- Topic sentence: State the methodological pattern or debate point for this literature review.
- Evidence or detail: Add the source, moment, data point, scene, or experience that proves the point.
- Analysis: Explain why this evidence matters instead of letting the example sit on its own.
- Link back: Tie the paragraph to the main claim and prepare the next move.
Gap, tension, or future research need
- Topic sentence: State the gap, tension, or future research need point for this literature review.
- Evidence or detail: Add the source, moment, data point, scene, or experience that proves the point.
- Analysis: Explain why this evidence matters instead of letting the example sit on its own.
- Link back: Tie the paragraph to the main claim and prepare the next move.
Conclusion
- Return to the review focus: restate the main point in new language.
- Synthesize: Show how the body sections work together, with emphasis on the gap your project can address.
- Final sentence: Leave the reader with a precise implication, reflection, or next question.
Filled example
Student Belonging in Online Courses
Prompt: Review research on belonging in online college classes.
Working claim: Research on online belonging clusters around instructor presence, peer interaction, and platform design, but fewer studies examine commuter students in hybrid programs.
Introduction
- Hook: Introduce the stakes behind "Student Belonging in Online Courses".
- Context: Narrow the topic so the reader knows the exact angle.
- Review focus: Research on online belonging clusters around instructor presence, peer interaction, and platform design, but fewer studies examine commuter students in hybrid programs.
Instructor presence literature
- Point: Instructor presence literature.
- Evidence: Add the most specific source, event, quotation, or detail available.
- Commentary: Explain the consequence, meaning, or lesson the reader should take from it.
Peer interaction and discussion boards
- Point: Peer interaction and discussion boards.
- Evidence: Add the most specific source, event, quotation, or detail available.
- Commentary: Explain the consequence, meaning, or lesson the reader should take from it.
Gap around hybrid commuter students
- Point: Gap around hybrid commuter students.
- Evidence: Add the most specific source, event, quotation, or detail available.
- Commentary: Explain the consequence, meaning, or lesson the reader should take from it.
Conclusion
- Restated idea: Return to the main claim without copying the same sentence.
- Synthesis: Connect the sections around the gap your project can address.
- Final thought: End with the larger lesson, implication, or academic takeaway.
How to use it
Adapt the structure
- 1Read the prompt and mark the task words before filling in this literature review template.
- 2Draft the review focus first so every body section has a clear job.
- 3Add evidence placeholders before writing paragraphs; replace weak examples before drafting.
- 4Check that each body section does a different kind of work.
- 5Copy the outline into the editor and expand each bullet into complete paragraphs.
Common mistakes
Check before drafting
- Summarizing each article separately instead of organizing by theme.
- Ending without a clear gap or next research question.
- Writing full paragraphs inside the outline before the logic is settled.
- Repeating the same evidence in multiple sections instead of assigning each detail a distinct job.
FAQ
Questions about this template
What should I put in a literature review template?
Start with the prompt, a working review focus, body sections with evidence placeholders, and a conclusion plan. The goal is to make the logic visible before you draft.
Can I change this literature review outline?
Yes. Treat the template as a structure, not a script. Add or remove body sections based on the assignment length, rubric, and available evidence.
Should an outline use complete sentences?
Use complete sentences for the thesis or controlling idea. Bullets can be shorter, but they should be specific enough that you know what evidence and analysis each paragraph needs.
Write from the outline
Start with structure, then draft with sources and citations.
Copy the template into EssayGenius and turn each bullet into a paragraph with source search, revision help, and citation support nearby.