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Apps and Software for the Engineering Literature Review: Outlining/Mind-mapping Apps

This guide describes software and apps that can help with various stages of writing a graduate level engineering literature review. Most are cost-free, but not all.

Mind Mapping Resources

Apple Mind-mapping and Outlining Apps

XMind
Costs money. Cloud storage for mind maps is available with Pro version.
iThoughts
Has Mac, iPhone and iPad versions. Costs money.

Windows Mindmapping and Outlining Tools

XMind
Costs money. Cloud storage for mind maps is available with Pro version.

IPhone and iPad Apps

iThoughts
Has Mac, iPhone and iPad versions. Costs money.
WorkFlowy
Free, simple outlining app.

Android Apps

WorkFlowy
Free, simple outlining app.

Examples of How Literature Reviews are Organized

TRACE
See literature reviews of dissertations and theses published at UT.

Why Use Mind mapping and Outlining ?

Engineering Literature Review: Synthesize the Literature (Case Western Reserve University, Kelvin Smith Library)
Explains how to use concept mapping and synthesis matrices in organizing ideas for a literature review.
How to Organize Your Thesis (John Chinneck, Carleton University)
Concisely explains how to organize a literature review.
Reverse Outlines (University of Wisconsin Madison Writing Center)
Explains how to use "reverse outlines" to examine the logic of a literature review.