--- name: topic-writing description: > Research a topic and write about it: syntheses, literature reviews, perspectives, policy briefs, technical reports, blog posts, or background documents. Triggers: "write a synthesis on", "research and summarize", "write a perspective piece", "draft a policy brief", "write a blog post about", "put together a review of", "what does the literature say about". Not for journal manuscripts from analysis findings (use paper-research) or manuscript review (use expert-review). cost: light --- # Topic Writing: Research Synthesis & General Science Writing A structured skill for researching topics and producing polished written documents across formats. Covers everything from quick blog posts to comprehensive literature syntheses. --- ## Required references: load before drafting - `conventions/voice.template.md`: core writing voice - `conventions/topic-format.template.md`: synthesis/perspective/policy/blog format conventions - `conventions/research.md`: source-faithfulness contract - `conventions/supporting/sentence-patterns.md`: sentence-level construction patterns (if available) Load these before any drafting. Topic writing inherits the manuscript voice with format-specific deltas. --- ## Overview Four phases, scaled to the task: 1. **Scoping**: Define topic, audience, format, depth 2. **Research**: Systematic literature search, evaluation, synthesis 3. **Drafting**: Write in the chosen format following the lab's voice 4. **Review & Polish**: Self-review, refine, deliver Simple tasks (blog post on a familiar topic) compress phases. Complex tasks (20-page synthesis) expand them. --- ## Phase 1: Scoping Establish before writing: **Topic definition:** - Specific question or topic being addressed - Scope boundaries (geographic, taxonomic, temporal, methodological) - Particular angles or framings requested **Format selection: identify early, it shapes everything:** | Format | Length | Audience | Citations | Tone | |--------|--------|----------|-----------|------| | Research synthesis | 5 to 20 pp | Scientists, managers | High | Formal, evidence-based | | Perspective/commentary | 2 to 5 pp | Scientific community | Moderate | Measured, opinionated but balanced | | Policy brief | 2 to 4 pp | Decision-makers | Low (key refs) | Clear, action-oriented | | Technical report | 5 to 30+ pp | Mixed technical | Moderate to high | Detailed, methodical | | Blog post / outreach | 500 to 1500 words | General public | Minimal (links) | Accessible, conversational | | Background document | Variable | Internal | High | Working document | **Depth calibration:** - Quick overview: 1 to 2 pages, main points, limited search - Standard synthesis: 5 to 10 pages, systematic coverage, 20 to 40 references - Comprehensive review: 10 to 20+ pages, exhaustive search, 50+ references Ask the user if format/depth aren't obvious from context. --- ## Phase 2: Research Follow the principles in `conventions/research.md` for all literature work. Core rules: never hallucinate references, verify claim-citation alignment, prioritize relevance over prestige. ### Research Strategy by Citation Density **High density (syntheses, reports):** 1. Break topic into 3 to 6 narrative themes needing literature support 2. Search systematically: PubMed, Google Scholar. Specific terms, not broad ones. 3. Forward/backward citation chaining from key papers 4. Verify every citation: authors, year, title, journal, volume/pages. Flag anything unverifiable. 5. Evaluate quality: peer-reviewed empirical work for facts, reviews for framing, government or agency reports for regulatory context 6. Balance eras: foundational papers + recent work (last 5 to 10 years) 7. Document contradictions: mixed evidence is valuable information **Moderate density (perspectives, commentaries):** - Curate the most relevant and impactful references - A few well-chosen citations beat exhaustive lists - Include references that illustrate the argument **Low density (policy briefs, blog posts):** - 5 to 10 most important sources - Prioritize synthesis papers, meta-analyses, authoritative reports - Open-access sources are more useful for general audiences ### Organize Before Writing For high-citation documents, organize research by theme: key claims with supporting citations, confidence levels, contradictions, and connections to the broader narrative. --- ## Phase 3: Drafting ### Voice Read `conventions/voice.template.md` for the full voice profile. Core fingerprint applies across all formats: - **Measured confidence.** Facts decisively; interpretations hedged. - **Practical framing.** Gaps are practical problems. Connect to applications. - **No superlatives.** Never "unprecedented," "revolutionary," "groundbreaking." - **Precision.** Actual values and specifics where possible. - **Active voice.** ~95% across all formats. - **Uncertainty woven in.** Limitations and alternatives throughout, not afterthoughts. - **Concrete verbs.** "examine," "characterize," "quantify," "estimate," "explore," "assess." ### Format-Specific Structure #### Research Synthesis Thematic, not chronological. Organize around ideas, not papers. - Open: scope and significance - Body: themes, each building on the last (established to advances to gaps to implications) - Conclude: synthesis across themes, key takeaways, specific research needs - If systematic search: brief methods note (databases, date range, criteria) #### Perspective / Commentary Argument-driven. Take a position, build the case. - Clear thesis up front - Evidence curated to support the argument - Acknowledge counterarguments - Suggest specific actions or paradigm shifts - Measured but more direct than a synthesis #### Policy Brief Problem to Evidence to Recommendations - Executive summary (2 to 3 sentences) - The problem in plain language - Key evidence distilled to practical meaning - Specific, actionable recommendations - Short reference list with links - 4 pages max. Clear language, no hedge words in recommendations. #### Technical Report Like a synthesis but with more methodological detail. - Detailed methodology for any original analysis - Subsections, figures/tables, clear headings - Appendices for supplementary material - Follows agency or institutional formatting when applicable #### Blog Post / Outreach Hook to Story to Takeaway - Engaging opening (finding, question, scene) - Short paragraphs, conversational but accurate - Translate without dumbing down - "We found" / "Our research shows": personal connection - Hyperlink sources, no formal citations - Target: college-educated, non-specialist audience #### Background Document Whatever serves the purpose. - Rough notes, open questions, tentative ideas all fine - Flag uncertainties explicitly - Thinking tool, not deliverable ### Citation Integration by Format - **Formal** (synthesis, report, perspective): Author-date in-text, reference list at end - **Policy brief**: Numbered footnotes/endnotes or inline hyperlinks - **Blog post**: Hyperlinks, no formal format - **Background**: Whatever's fastest - In all cases: every reference connects to an argument. No orphan citations. --- ## Phase 4: Review & Polish ### Self-Review Checklist **Content:** - [ ] Scope covered adequately for chosen depth - [ ] Key claims supported by evidence - [ ] Alternative viewpoints acknowledged - [ ] Practical implications explicit - [ ] No hallucinated references **Voice:** - [ ] Active voice (~95%) - [ ] No superlatives - [ ] Measured confidence: facts direct, interpretations hedged - [ ] Concrete verbs and specific language - [ ] Accessible to target audience **Structure:** - [ ] Logical section flow - [ ] Transitions connect ideas - [ ] Conclusion synthesizes, doesn't just summarize - [ ] Length appropriate for format **For formal documents:** - [ ] Citation density appropriate - [ ] Mix of foundational and recent literature - [ ] Reference list complete and accurate --- ## Output Default: markdown (.md). For formal deliverables, ask whether user wants markdown, .docx, or .pdf. Name files: `[topic]_[format].md` (e.g., `regulatory_logic_synthesis.md`) --- ## Relationship to Other Skills ``` Conversation -> topic-writing -> paper-research -> expert-review -> manuscript-builder ^ THIS SKILL "Tell me about X" "Research and write "Turn these findings -> conversation about X for me" into a paper" -> this skill -> manuscript pipeline ``` A topic-writing output can feed into the manuscript pipeline later: the synthesis or background document provides a head start on Phase 1 (theme extraction) of paper-research.