PERSONA: Embody the Ukrainian linguist & historian. See claude_extensions/skills/_shared/persona.md

History & Biography Module Architect Skill

Create or review history (B2) and biography (C1) modules using the appropriate templates.

When to Use This Skill

• •Creating B2 history modules (M71-131): Ukrainian history from Origins to Present
• •Creating B2 synthesis modules (M83, M107, M119, M125, M131): Cross-era analysis
• •Creating C1 biography modules (M36-100): 65 Ukrainian historical & cultural figures
• •Working with primary sources and historical documents
• •Ensuring decolonization perspective and historical accuracy

Template Locations

CRITICAL: Read the AI-optimized template BEFORE creating a module. Full reference provides additional context.

Note: Synthesis modules replace traditional checkpoints in B2.3 History. They test cross-era analysis and historical argumentation, not recall. See GitHub issue #332.

Language Quality: Use grammar-check Skill

All Ukrainian text MUST be validated using the grammar-check skill (Ukrainian Grammar Validator).

Detects: Russianisms, surzhyk, calques, agreement/case errors.

Trusted dictionaries: Словник.UA, Словарь Грінченка, Антоненко-Давидович "Як ми говоримо"

NOT Trusted: Google Translate, Russian-Ukrainian dictionaries

Core Principles

1. Ukrainian Perspective (Decolonization)

2. Historical Terminology

3. Primary Sources

Include authentic historical documents:

• •Quotes from letters and speeches
• •Excerpts from treaties and declarations
• •Literary passages

Era Context

Every historical/biographical module must include:

• •Political situation of the era
• •Cultural movements
• •Language situation (Russification, national revival, etc.)

Reference Materials

Use these internal sources for linguistic grounding and factual data:

Instruction: When creating content, search these files for the subject's name to extract authentic vocabulary and era-appropriate phrasing.

B2 History Focus Areas

Synthesis Modules: M83, M108, M119, M125, M131 — cross-era thematic analysis (NOT quiz-style checkpoints)

CRITICAL: Language Testing, Not Content Recall

The Golden Rule: "Can the learner answer this without reading the Ukrainian text?"

• •If YES → Rewrite (tests history knowledge)
• •If NO → Keep (tests Ukrainian comprehension)

Activity Modes

History/Biography tracks support two activity modes. Check which applies to your track:

Seminar Mode (b2-hist, c1-bio tracks)

Reading-Analysis Pairs Architecture

Every analytical activity MUST link to a reading source:

# 1. Reading activity (INPUT) - MUST have id
- type: reading
  id: reading-mazepa                 # ← REQUIRED: Unique identifier
  title: 'Первинне джерело: Листи Мазепи'
  text: |
    [Historical document excerpt...]

# 2. Analytical activity (OUTPUT) - MUST have source_reading
- type: essay-response
  title: 'Есе: Дипломатія Мазепи'
  source_reading: reading-mazepa     # ← REQUIRED: Links to reading above
  prompt: 'Проаналізуйте...'
  min_words: 150  # b2-hist: 150-250, c1-bio: 300-500

Validation (Audit Enforcement)

All CRITICAL violations fail the audit.

Traditional Mode (b2 history, c1 biography in core levels)

Activity Requirements (10-12 total)

Forbidden Activity Types

Dialogs are inappropriate for academic/seminar content. These tracks focus on reading comprehension, analytical writing, and critical thinking — not conversational practice.

❌ type: dialog — Never use ❌ type: role-play — Never use ❌ Conversational exercises with speakers (А:, Б:, etc.) </critical>

Forbidden Question Patterns

❌ "У якому році [event]?" ❌ "Хто був [person]?" ❌ "Скільки [number]?" ❌ "Що символізує [symbol]?" (without "як автор тлумачить")

Required Patterns

✅ "Згідно з текстом, як автор пояснює причини..."
✅ "У тексті модуля автор характеризує..."
✅ "Яку функцію автор підкреслює..."
✅ "Який аргумент автор наводить..."

Self-Check Before Delivering

For EVERY quiz question:

1. •Can learner answer without reading Ukrainian module text?
2. •If YES → You're testing history. STOP and rewrite.
3. •If NO → You're testing Ukrainian. Proceed.

CRITICAL: NO ESSAYS IN MARKDOWN

Essays (Analytical or Biography) MUST exist ONLY in activities/{slug}.yaml as an essay-response activity.

• •NEVER add ## Есе, ## Есе-аналіз, or ## Порівняльний аналіз headers to the Markdown file.
• •NEVER include the essay prompt or model answer in the Markdown.
• •Why? It causes word count inflation, content redundancy, and fails the audit.

If you find a legacy module with a Markdown essay section, DELETE IT and move the content to the activity YAML. </critical>

Synthesis Module Structure (Different from Regular History)

See b2-history-synthesis-module-template.md for full structure and example essay prompts

C1 Biography Distribution

Gender balance: Minimum 30% women (20+ modules)

Biography Structure

1. •Hook & Context — Why this figure matters (300-400 words)
2. •Біографія — Main narrative (800-1000 words)
   • •Ранні роки (Early years)
   • •Шлях до визнання (Rise to prominence)
   • •Головні досягнення (Major achievements)
   • •Спадщина (Legacy)
3. •Історичний контекст — Era background (300-400 words)
4. •Порівняльний аналіз — Comparison with contemporaries (300-400 words)

Quick Checklist

Before submitting a history/biography module:

• • Template read? — Level-specific template consulted
• • Word count: 2000+ words (biography), 1500+ words (history)
• • Primary sources: Quotes, letters, or speeches included
• • Historical context: Era's political/cultural situation explained
• • Decolonization: Ukrainian perspective, not Russian framing
• • Legacy section: Connection to modern Ukraine
• • Vocabulary: 35+ items for biography, 25+ for history
• • Activities: 12+ with comprehension emphasis
• • Era categorization: Figures correctly placed in historical periods
• • Engagement boxes: Include 📜 Primary Source, ⚠️ Decolonization
• • Immersion: 100% Ukrainian

Common History/Biography Mistakes

1. •Russian framing — Use "Російська імперія", not "Russia" for empire
2. •Missing primary sources — Always include quotes or documents
3. •Ahistorical language — Use period-appropriate terminology
4. •No legacy connection — Always link to modern Ukraine
5. •Gender imbalance — Ensure 30%+ women across biography modules
6. •Victimhood narrative — Emphasize Ukrainian agency and resistance

Validation

.venv/bin/python scripts/audit_module.py curriculum/l2-uk-en/{level}/{module-file}.md

Related Documents

• •claude_extensions/quick-ref/{level}.md — Level constraints
• •curriculum/l2-uk-en/plans/{level}/{slug}.yaml — Module plans
• •docs/l2-uk-en/MODULE-RICHNESS-GUIDELINES-v2.md — Quality standards