Research-to-Essay Skill

Systematic workflow for producing publication-grade essays from research. Handles multi-source synthesis, narrative construction, voice calibration, and citation management.

Core Workflow

1. Intake & Planning

Parse user request to determine:

• •Format target: Substack (1500-3000w), LinkedIn (150-300w), Academic (3000-8000w), or Executive Brief (500-1000w)
• •Topic & angle: What question/claim is central?
• •Essay structure: Which arc fits? (Persuasive, Exploratory, Diagnostic, Narrative-Conceptual, Synthesis)
  • •Consult references/essay-structures.md for detailed arc patterns
• •Voice profile: Which register? (Poetic Rigor, Professional Signal, Scholarly Precision, Surgical Clarity)
  • •Consult references/voice-profiles.md for characteristics and forbidden patterns

Output from this phase: Research plan with target structure and voice

2. Research Execution

Conduct systematic research following source credibility hierarchy:

Search strategy:

• •Start with primary sources (research papers, official data, technical documentation)
• •Layer in expert analysis (domain specialists, academic reviews, investigative journalism)
• •Add informed commentary (practitioner Substacks, conference talks) for applied context
• •Avoid weak sources (social media speculation, content marketing, AI-generated farms)

Source quality requirements:

• •Minimum 5-8 sources for persuasive essays
• •Minimum 8-12 sources for exploratory essays
• •Minimum 6-10 sources for diagnostic essays
• •Always include strongest counter-argument sources
• •Prioritize recent sources for rapidly-changing topics, foundational sources for stable concepts

Citation extraction:

• •Record: title, URL, author, date, credibility tier (1-4), key claims
• •Use web_fetch to read full articles when web_search snippets insufficient
• •For each source, extract 3-5 core claims explicitly
• •Tag sources with themes for clustering

Consult references/research-patterns.md for:

• •Source credibility hierarchy (Tiers 1-4)
• •Research strategy by essay type
• •Quality checks and anti-patterns

3. Synthesis

Organize research into thematic structure using one of two methods:

Method A: Manual thematic clustering (for simpler essays)

• •Group claims by theme, not by source
• •Identify convergent claims (multiple sources agree) → high confidence
• •Identify divergent claims (sources disagree) → flag as tension
• •Map claim dependencies (which claims require which others)

Method B: Script-assisted synthesis (for complex multi-source essays)

• •Create JSON file with sources in required format (see script usage below)
• •Run scripts/synthesize_sources.py <sources.json> <output.md>
• •Review generated synthesis report showing themes, convergence, tensions

Script format:

[
  {
    "title": "Source Title",
    "url": "https://example.com",
    "source_type": "primary",
    "claims": ["Claim 1", "Claim 2"],
    "themes": ["theme1", "theme2"],
    "date": "2025-01-15",
    "credibility_tier": 1
  }
]

Synthesis output: Thematic map showing:

• •Core themes with supporting sources
• •Convergent evidence (agreement across sources)
• •Divergent claims (tensions or debates)
• •Gaps or under-supported areas

4. Drafting

Build essay iteratively using chosen structure template:

Template selection:

• •Use assets/essay-template.md for Substack/long-form
• •Use assets/linkedin-template.md for LinkedIn posts
• •Adapt templates based on selected essay structure from Step 1

Drafting principles:

• •Lead with strongest material: Hook in first paragraph, no throat-clearing
• •Integrate sources naturally: Embed citations in argument flow, don't list separately
• •Section logic: Each section should build necessarily on the previous
• •Evidence before abstraction: Concrete examples, then pattern extraction
• •Tension acknowledgment: Include counter-arguments and complications honestly
• •Progressive depth: Can write full essay in one pass OR build iteratively:
  • •Pass 1: Outline with section headers
  • •Pass 2: Fill core argument sections
  • •Pass 3: Add evidence and citations
  • •Pass 4: Write intro/conclusion last

Voice application:

• •Apply selected voice profile consistently (from Step 1)
• •Check against forbidden patterns in references/voice-profiles.md
• •Calibrate tone dimensions: warmth, certainty, abstraction, humor

Citation style:

• •Substack/LinkedIn: Inline hyperlinks on key phrases, footnotes for tangential details
• •Academic: Numbered footnotes/endnotes with full bibliography
• •Executive: Minimal citation, only for key data points
• •Always cite: empirical claims, direct quotes, novel frameworks, counter-intuitive findings
• •Never cite: common knowledge, your own synthesis, widely-known facts

5. Refinement

Quality assurance checks before delivery:

Structural review:

• • Hook is genuinely compelling (test: would you click "read more"?)
• • Stakes are established early (why should reader care?)
• • Each section advances the argument necessarily
• • Conclusion reframes rather than summarizes
• • Length appropriate to format (Substack: 1500-3000w, LinkedIn: 150-300w)

Voice & style check:

• • Run prose-polish skill on draft
• • Check for forbidden patterns in selected voice profile
• • Verify tone consistency throughout
• • Confirm readability for target audience

Evidence & citation check:

• • Every major claim has warrant (evidence or citation)
• • Primary sources used for factual claims
• • Counter-arguments acknowledged with credible sources
• • No citation decay (secondary sources when primary available)
• • Links functional, citations complete

Platform-specific polish:

• •LinkedIn: Paragraph breaks every 2-3 sentences, key phrases bolded, CTA included
• •Substack: Section transitions smooth, footnotes formatted, metadata complete
• •Academic: All citations complete, methodology transparent, limitations noted

6. Delivery

Present final essay as artifact with metadata:

Include:

• •Complete essay in appropriate markdown format
• •Word count and target audience notation
• •Source list with tiers noted
• •Key frameworks or concepts referenced
• •Research date and any time-sensitivity notes

Optional additions based on context:

• •Alternative versions for different platforms (e.g., Substack long-form + LinkedIn teaser)
• •"Further Reading" section organized by theme
• •Open questions or research gaps identified
• •Suggested images or visual elements

When to Use References

Load these files as needed:

• •references/voice-profiles.md — When clarifying voice characteristics or checking against forbidden patterns
• •references/essay-structures.md — When uncertain about narrative arc or need structure template
• •references/research-patterns.md — When evaluating source quality, planning research strategy, or checking synthesis methodology

Load scripts when:

• •scripts/synthesize_sources.py — When dealing with 8+ sources requiring systematic thematic clustering

Quality Signals

High-quality output:

• •Opens with genuine insight, not preamble
• •Every paragraph necessary, no filler
• •Sources integrated into argument, not appended
• •Counter-arguments acknowledged, not buried
• •Conclusion offers new lens, not recap
• •Voice consistent and appropriate to format
• •Citations complete and properly tiered
• •Length justified by complexity, not padding

Red flags:

• •Generic opening ("In today's world...")
• •List structure when narrative needed
• •No acknowledgment of complexity or tradeoffs
• •All sources from same perspective
• •Summary conclusion
• •Inconsistent tone or register shifts
• •Weak or missing citations for key claims
• •Excessive length without proportional depth

Iteration Protocol

After delivering draft, typical refinement requests:

• •"Make this more [voice]" → Reload references/voice-profiles.md and adjust tone calibration
• •"Add more evidence for X" → Return to research phase for specific claim
• •"This section feels weak" → Restructure using references/essay-structures.md patterns
• •"Too long / too short" → Audit for filler vs. density, adjust scope
• •"Challenge this argument" → Load strongest counter-sources, revise tensions section

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

• •Don't search once and write—iterate research based on draft gaps
• •Don't list sources separately from argument—integrate naturally
• •Don't write intro first—write it last after you know what you said
• •Don't ignore voice profile constraints—they prevent AI slop
• •Don't cite weak sources when primary available—tier matters
• •Don't pad length artificially—every paragraph must earn its keep
• •Don't summarize in conclusion—reframe or extrapolate instead