How to Conduct a Literature Review in Notion (Step-by-Step Guide + Free Template)

---

✨ Introduction

A literature review is a critical part of any academic writing process. It allows researchers to evaluate what has already been studied, identify gaps in the field, and build a strong foundation for their research question. However, managing dozens (or even hundreds) of sources can be overwhelming.

That's where Notion comes in. With flexible databases and customizable templates, Notion can transform your literature review from a chaotic pile of PDFs into an organized, searchable system.

In this post, I’ll explain how I conduct my literature reviews using Notion and share a free template you can duplicate and start using immediately.

---

🔍 Step-by-Step Guide to Using Notion for Literature Reviews

✏️ Step 1: Set Up Your Literature Review Tracker

Start by duplicating the free Literature Review Tracker template (link below). The table includes:

Column	Description
✅ Reviewed	A checkbox to track what you've read
📘 Title	Title of the article or book
✍️ Author(s)	Author(s) of the source
📅 Year	Year of publication
🎯 Key Argument	Main argument in 1–2 lines
🧠 Insight Summary	Your full notes or summary
🏷️ Theme	Choose from Theory, Method, Gap, Findings
📌 Citation	Ready-to-use citation (APA, MLA, Harvard)

📚 Step 2: Add and Tag Your Sources

Whenever you find a new source:

• Add it to the table

• Fill in the year, author, and key argument

• Choose a theme from the dropdown (or create your own)

• Paste your formatted citation

Use filters or sorts to easily group your sources by theme or publication year.

📈 Step 3: Analyze Your Notes

Over time, patterns will emerge:

• Are most sources focused on theory?

• Is there a clear gap in methodology?

Use these insights to craft your literature review section logically.

📆 Step 4: Link to Your Research Dashboard

If you’re already using the Research Paper Dashboard (from my previous post), you can embed your Literature Tracker directly into your project page.

---

📅 FREE Notion Template

Click here to duplicate the Literature Review Tracker into your workspace:

Literature Review Tracker

---

✨ Bonus Tips:

• Use the "Review" checkbox to mark completed readings.

• Add comments or color tags for priority sources.

• Export your table into a .csv or PDF for offline backup.

---

📖 Conclusion

Notion helps transform the messy, time-consuming task of literature reviewing into a streamlined, enjoyable process. With just one free template, you can keep everything organized, searchable, and easy to reference when writing your final paper.

Let me know in the comments: What other academic tools would you like me to create in Notion?

🔥 How I Use Templates to Speed Up My Research Writing in Notion🔥

The simple system that keeps me focused, organized, and productive — even on tight deadlines.

---

🎯 Why Templates Matter for Student Research

Let’s face it — research writing can get messy fast. Between reading dozens of sources, trying to keep your thesis on track, and organizing all those scattered notes, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and stuck.

That was me during my second semester. I had ideas but no system. I kept jumping between Google Docs, PDF downloads, notebooks, and sticky notes. The result? Wasted time, duplicated effort, and stress.

Then I discovered Notion, and everything changed.

Notion didn’t just give me a place to write. It gave me a system — a customizable workspace where I could build my own templates for managing every part of the research process.

With just a few clicks, I could:

• Track my readings and summaries

• Organize literature reviews clearly

• Plan my writing step-by-step

• Never lose a quote or key idea again

And today, I want to share those templates with you.

---

📝 My Top 3 Notion Templates (That I Actually Use Every Week)

These are the exact templates I use to write academic papers, thesis chapters, and even blog articles like this one.

You don’t need to be a Notion expert to use them — just click, duplicate, and go.

---

1. 📑 Research Paper Organizer

Think of this as your research HQ — a single page that holds everything related to a specific research project.

What’s inside:

• A place to define your topic and research question

• Sections for breaking down each chapter (Intro, Lit Review, Methodology, etc.)

• A mini writing calendar to help you set deadlines

• A progress tracker (because checking boxes feels amazing)

How I use it:

I open this every Monday morning to check where I’m at. It helps me stay focused and avoid the “what should I work on today?” spiral.

Pro tip: Add a “Quick Thoughts” section where you can brain-dump spontaneous ideas before they vanish.

---

2. 📚 Literature Review Tracker

If you’ve ever lost track of where you read a quote (or worse — used the same article twice), this template is for you.

What it includes:

• Author, title, journal, year

• Summary of the article in your own words

• Key quotes and page numbers

• Tags like “Supports Hypothesis” or “Contradicts Theory”

• A rating system (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) so you know how useful each source is

How I use it:

Whenever I finish reading an article, I take 5–10 minutes to fill this out. Later, when I’m writing the literature review, I can easily search for keywords or authors and find the best quotes to use.

Pro tip: If you use a reference manager like Zotero or Mendeley, link to the full PDF in the template.

---

3. 📝 Reading Summary Card

This one’s perfect for when you need to read fast but still retain the important stuff.

What it covers:

• What’s the main idea?

• What method did they use (if it’s a study)?

• What did I agree or disagree with?

• Any connections to my current research?

How I use it:

I use this card during weekly readings — especially when I’m not ready to do a full literature review entry. It's like a journal for quick reflections, and it keeps my thinking active.

Pro tip: Use it during class or group discussions to spark talking points and ideas.

---

💡 How I Use These Templates Each Week (Real Example)

Let me give you a peek into a typical research week:

• Monday: I check my Research Paper Organizer to see what section I’m in and set goals like “finish 2 pages of literature review.”

• Tuesday to Thursday: I read 1–2 new sources daily, filling out my Literature Review Tracker or Summary Cards depending on the depth.

• Friday: I sit down to write. Instead of starting from scratch, I just pull from my summaries and organize them into paragraphs.

No stress. No mess. Just progress.

---

🔗 Free Template Links (Click and Use)

I’ve made all three of my template's public, and they’re totally free. Just click the links below and hit “Duplicate” in the top right to add them to your own Notion workspace.

• Research Project Dashboard
  
• Literature Review Tracker
• Reading Summary Card Template

Whether you’re a bachelor’s student, a master’s researcher, or deep into a Ph.D., these templates are flexible enough to adapt to your subject.

---

🚀 Bonus Tips: How to Customize Templates for YOUR Research

Every field is different. Here's how you can make these templates your own:

• Linguistics student? Add a field for “Examples of metaphor or discourse strategy.”

• Science major? Add columns for hypothesis, experiment method, results, and limitations.

• Social sciences? Track theoretical frameworks or authors you reference often.

Notion is flexible. Don’t be afraid to tweak layouts, add new databases, or connect templates using backlinks.

---

💌 Want the Full Research Template Pack?

I’m working on a full Notion Research Toolkit, including:

• A thesis planner

• Data collection tracker

• Study schedule board

• Citation checklist

• Academic writing prompts

If that sounds helpful, let me know in the comments or send me a message. I’ll be happy to share the full pack as soon as it’s ready — and maybe even offer a short video walkthrough!

---

P.S. You don’t need to be a “Notion pro” to get started. These templates are beginner-friendly and easy to customize. Once you try them, you’ll wonder how you ever managed research without them.

Happy writing! ✍️💡

Thank you for reading. 👀

Professor (Dr.) P. M. Malek 

     
✅ Notion vs Obsidian: Which Note-Taking App Is Best for Your Learning Style?

Note-taking is no longer just about remembering.

In a digital world, it’s about managing information, making connections, and turning ideas into action.

If you’re choosing between Notion and Obsidian, you’re already ahead — both are powerful tools. But the key to maximizing them lies not just in features, but in how your brain works.

In this article, we’ll walk through a side-by-side comparison of Notion and Obsidian — not just as tools, but as extensions of different learning styles. You’ll discover which one fits your academic workflow, creative process, or daily planning needs — and whether using both together could be your game-changer.

---

🎯 What Kind of Learner Are You?

To choose the right app, you need to know how you process information:

Learning Style	Key Characteristics	What You Need from a Note-Taking App
Visual Learners	Remember through images, layouts, color	Dashboards, visual structure, icons
Read/Write Learners	Learn by reading and writing	Clean text, easy formatting, linear flow
Kinesthetic Learners	Learn by doing, building, organizing	Interactive workflows, custom systems
Reflective/Analytical Learners	Learn through deep thinking and connection-making	Bidirectional linking, non-linear notes, graph views

Knowing your style helps you align the tool with how your brain naturally works — making learning smoother and retention stronger.

---

🧠 Obsidian: For Deep Thinkers, Researchers & Idea Architects

Obsidian is a markdown-based note-taking app that turns your notes into a knowledge graph. Think of it as your second brain — a place where ideas connect, evolve, and take shape over time.

🧩 Who It's For:

• Reflective learners who thrive on making connections.

• Writers, researchers, and thinkers who build knowledge over time.

• Students who prefer local files, privacy, and total customization.

🔍 Key Features:

• Bi-directional linking: Turn notes into a network.

• Graph view: Visualize how concepts relate.

• Markdown format: Lightweight and distraction-free.

• Local storage: Full control over your data.

• Plugins: Make it as simple or complex as you want.

📚 Use It For:

• Literature reviews & academic writing

• Personal knowledge management (PKM)

• Zettelkasten or second-brain systems

• Non-linear ideation (brainstorming, thesis planning)

✍️ Expert Tip:

Use Obsidian if you're the kind of person who loves asking, “How does this connect to everything else I know?”

---

🗂️ Notion: For Planners, Visual Thinkers & Multitaskers

Notion is a visual, block-based workspace that combines notes, tasks, calendars, and databases. It’s ideal for those who like a bit of structure, aesthetics, and all-in-one organization.

🌟 Who It's For:

• Visual learners who thrive on order, hierarchy, and dashboards.

• Students who juggle multiple subjects, schedules, and deliverables.

• Anyone who wants structure and collaboration in one place.

💼 Key Features:

• Drag-and-drop interface: Organize anything, anywhere.

• Databases: Track assignments, lectures, or readings.

• Kanban boards & calendars: Visual task management.

• Toggle lists & templates: Study guides, revision notes, planners.

• Real-time collaboration: Work with peers or tutors.

📚 Use It For:

• Semester planning and goal tracking

• Managing your syllabus and deadlines

• Collaborative group projects

• Study dashboards and spaced repetition notes

🧠 Expert Tip:

Notion is perfect if you think in boxes, blocks, and categories — and need your digital space to look as organized as your physical notebooks.

---

🔄 Real-World Use Case Comparison

Scenario Best Tool Why Writing a thesis or dissertation Obsidian Lets you connect literature, theories, and reflections non-linearly Organizing semester schedule Notion Visual timeline + task list = stress-free student life Deep reading of journal articles Obsidian You can create atomic notes and link ideas across subjects Group project with shared notes Notion Built-in collaboration and permissions make teamwork smoother Creating flashcards & revision tables Notion Great for toggles, checklists, and spaced repetition Building a long-term knowledge base Obsidian Perfect for creating your own encyclopedia of learning

🛠️ When (and How) to Use Both

Many high-performing students, researchers, and creators use both tools together, because each serves a different mental mode:

• Obsidian is your thinking space.

• Notion is your doing space.

Here’s a balanced hybrid workflow:

1. Capture & Connect Ideas in Obsidian
   Take notes during readings, lectures, or research and link them together.

2. Summarize & Plan in Notion
   Create a weekly or monthly study dashboard summarizing key takeaways, tasks, and schedules.

3. Reflect and Revise in Obsidian
   After using Notion for structured outputs, reflect and build knowledge webs again in Obsidian.

---

✅ My Verdict & Personal Workflow

After years of testing, switching, and tweaking, here’s what I’ve learned:

• Obsidian helps me understand and think.

• Notion helps me execute and deliver.

💼 My Current Setup:

• Obsidian for:

  • Thesis planning

  • Daily journaling

  • Research management

• Notion for:

  • Project timelines

  • Weekly goals

  • Group assignments and trackers

Both tools do not compete — they complement each other beautifully when used for what they’re best at.