Stage 5: WRITE (15 minutes)

Step 5.1: Outline Generation (3 minutes)

Ask the AI to create a structured outline for the literature review using this prompt:

Prompt Template:

Create an outline for a 2,000-word literature review on my research question:

[YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION]

Structure:
1. Introduction (200 words)
   - Research question and importance
   - Scope of this review

2. Methodology (150 words)
   - Search strategy
   - Inclusion criteria
   - Number of papers reviewed

3. Findings (1,200 words)
   - Theme 1: [AI-identified theme]
   - Theme 2: [AI-identified theme]
   - Theme 3: [AI-identified theme]
   - Points of debate

4. Discussion (300 words)
   - Synthesis across themes
   - Limitations of current research
   - Practical implications

5. Conclusion (150 words)
   - Key takeaways
   - Future research directions

Include specific citations in each section from the papers we've analyzed.

The AI will provide a detailed outline with synthesis themes integrated and citation placeholders positioned throughout each section.

Step 5.2: Section Drafting (10 minutes)

For each section of the outline, use this drafting prompt to generate content:

Prompt Template:

Draft the [SECTION NAME] section of the literature review.

Requirements:
- Use specific findings from the papers we analyzed
- Cite sources in [APA/MLA/Chicago - choose your format] format
- Include quantitative results where available (percentages, effect sizes, etc.)
- Maintain academic tone
- Be concise and clear

Word count: [TARGET]

CRITICAL - Citation Verification: As the AI drafts each section, verify every single citation. Open the actual paper and confirm three things: the finding is actually stated in that paper, the citation format follows the chosen style correctly, and the interpretation accurately represents what the authors said. This is the quality control gate and cannot be skipped.

Common AI Citation Mistakes to Watch For: The AI may cite Paper A for a finding that actually appears in Paper B (source confusion), slightly misrepresent nuances or overstate certainty in the findings, or invent specific page numbers that don't correspond to where the finding appears. Fix these errors immediately when spotted. Every citation must be verifiable.

Step 5.3: Add Your Voice (2 minutes)

The AI draft is comprehensive but generic. Transform it into a personalized synthesis by incorporating unique analytical contributions.

Add the 3-5 critical insights from Stage 4.2 into the appropriate sections—these are the novel observations that elevate the review beyond mere summarization. Rearrange sections if a different flow makes more logical sense for the argument or context. Add a personal introduction explaining why this question matters, or a conclusion connecting findings to the specific application. Highlight what's most important for the particular context, audience, or decision-making needs.

Expected Outcome: A complete 2,000-3,000 word literature review with 20-30 properly formatted and verified citations. The synthesis accurately represents the literature while incorporating original analytical insights.

Time Check: 60 minutes elapsed since Stage 1 began. The journey from vague research interest to rigorous, cited synthesis is complete.