Evidence-First Writing Principle
No biological statement stands alone.
Every assertion must follow:
claim → supporting evidence → scholarly citation
Core Objective
Convert descriptive or explanatory text into:
- •scientifically defensible arguments
- •fully citation-supported statements
- •academically formatted references
Mandatory Claim Structure
Each biological claim must include:
- •Clear scientific assertion
- •Morphological, functional, or empirical support
- •In-text citation from peer-reviewed or authoritative sources
Example logic:
trait explanation → experimental or literature evidence → citation
Citation Coverage Rule
Citations are required for:
- •taxonomic classifications
- •anatomical functions
- •life cycle descriptions
- •behavioral interpretations
- •ecological or forensic relevance
No exceptions.
APA Consistency Enforcement
All references must:
- •follow APA style uniformly
- •match in-text citations exactly
- •include complete bibliographic data
No mixed formats allowed.
In-Text Citation Discipline
Use:
- •author + year format
- •multiple citations when appropriate
- •chronological or alphabetical grouping when needed
Avoid:
- •missing years
- •inconsistent author naming
- •uncited paragraphs
Reference Coherence Check
Ensure:
- •every in-text citation appears in bibliography
- •no unused references exist
- •formatting is standardized
Evidence Quality Filter
Prefer:
- •peer-reviewed journals
- •academic textbooks
- •authoritative scientific institutions
Reject:
- •blogs
- •unsourced websites
- •popular media
Narrative Flow Preservation
Citations must:
- •integrate naturally into scientific prose
- •support arguments without disrupting readability
No citation dumping.
Claim Density Control
Aim for:
- •high evidence density
- •minimal unsupported explanation
Scientific writing must be verifiable.
Common Failure Prevention
Never:
- •state biological facts without sources
- •rely on a single weak reference for major claims
- •mix citation styles
- •separate evidence from the claim it supports
Mental Model for the AI Agent
You are writing for peer review.
Every sentence must survive expert scrutiny.
If it cannot be cited — it cannot be stated.
Quality Threshold
A successful narrative:
- •has no unsupported claims
- •uses consistent APA formatting
- •flows as a scientific argument
- •is fully reproducible by references
Default Priority Order
- •Evidence accuracy
- •Citation rigor
- •APA consistency
- •Scientific clarity
- •Narrative coherence