Front Matter Writer (paper shell, high leverage)
Purpose: make the draft feel like a real paper before subsection-level detail.
Front matter is where many "automation tells" originate (method-note spam, slide narration, title narration, cite dumps). This skill encodes how to write it in a paper-like way so C5 does not start from a hollow shell.
Inputs
- •
DECISIONS.md(must includeApprove C2) - •
outline/outline.yml(the paper\x27s section order; determines which H2 are Intro/Related Work) - •
outline/mapping.tsv(for what to cite where; especially for Introduction/Related Work) - •Optional (helps with method note and consistent scope):
- •
papers/retrieval_report.md(candidate pool + time window) - •
papers/core_set.csv(core set size) - •
GOAL.md - •
queries.md(evidence_mode / draft_profile) - •
outline/coverage_report.md(weak coverage flags) - •
outline/writer_context_packs.jsonl(for cross-cutting/global citations)
- •
- •
citations/ref.bib
Outputs (files and heading rules)
- •
sections/abstract.md(MUST start with## Abstractor## 摘要; merger places it right under the paper title) - •
sections/S<sec_id>.mdfor H2 sections that have no H3 subsections (typicallyIntroduction,Related Work)- •body-only (NO headings; merger injects
## <H2 title>already)
- •body-only (NO headings; merger injects
- •
sections/discussion.md(MUST include a## Discussionheading; merger appends the file verbatim) - •
sections/conclusion.md(MUST include a## Conclusionheading; merger appends the file verbatim)
Workflow (keep it paper-like)
- •Approval gate
- •Confirm
DECISIONS.mdcontainsApprove C2.
- •Load scope + structure
- •Read
GOAL.mdto restate the problem boundary in one sentence. - •Read
queries.mdto understandevidence_mode(abstract vs fulltext) anddraft_profile(survey/deep). - •Read
papers/retrieval_report.md(and/or countpapers/core_set.csv) to extract: time window, candidate pool size, core set size. - •Read
outline/outline.ymlto identify the H2 sections that are front matter (Intro/Related Work) and theirS<sec_id>file names.
- •Plan citations (avoid "prior survey" buckets)
- •Use
outline/mapping.tsv+outline/coverage_report.mdto see which themes are well-covered vs thin. - •Use
outline/writer_context_packs.jsonlto pick a small set of cross-cutting/global anchors (surveys, benchmarks, protocol papers) that can appear in Intro/Related Work. - •Validate every citation key against
citations/ref.bibbefore you write.
- •Write the files (see the section-specific contracts below)
Openers-last (front matter)
Front matter is where template voice often originates. To keep it authorial without adding new machinery:
- •Draft the middle paragraphs first (lens paragraphs + gap statement + the single methodology paragraph) with real citations.
- •Rewrite paragraph 1 last so it reflects the file's real claim (avoid "This survey..." / "This section provides an overview..." stems).
- •If later C5 edits change the paper's lens/structure, do one final pass rewriting only the first 1-2 paragraphs of Introduction and Related Work (no new facts/citations).
Role cards (use explicitly)
Positioner (scope + boundary)
Mission: define what counts as an agent here and why the boundary matters for evaluation.
Do:
- •State scope and exclusions in testable language.
- •Commit to a small set of lenses/axes that organize the survey.
Avoid:
- •Outline narration ("we organize as follows") without content.
- •A dedicated "Prior surveys" bucket by default; integrate surveys into lens paragraphs.
Methodologist (methodology note once)
Mission: state the survey methodology exactly once (time window, candidate pool, core set size, evidence mode) in paper voice.
Do:
- •Write one short paragraph (Intro or Related Work) that states: time window, candidate pool size, core set size, and evidence mode (abstract/fulltext), plus a brief reproducibility caveat.
- •Keep the rest of the paper content-focused.
Avoid:
- •Repeating abstract-only disclaimers inside H3 bodies.
Cartographer (related work through your lens)
Mission: position prior work as a map, not a list.
Do:
- •Organize related work by your survey lenses (interfaces, planning/memory, adaptation, evaluation/risks).
- •End with a gap statement tied to your lens (protocol-aware comparisons, threat models, etc.).
Avoid:
- •Citation-dump paragraphs.
Stylist (paper voice)
Mission: remove automation tells before they appear everywhere.
Do:
- •Replace navigation with argument bridges.
- •Keep tone calm and academic; avoid hype and PPT speaker notes.
Avoid:
- •Pipeline jargon and repeated template stems.
Role prompt: Front Matter Author (positioning + methodology)
You are the author of the survey’s front matter (Abstract / Introduction / Related Work / Discussion / Conclusion). Your job is to build the paper shell that makes the rest of the draft readable: - define scope and boundary (what counts as an agent here, what does not) - commit to a small set of lenses/axes that organize the survey - state the survey methodology exactly once (time window, candidate pool, core set size, evidence mode) as a paper paragraph (not as execution logs) - position the work through those lenses (not as a “prior surveys” list) Style: - content-bearing, understated, academic - avoid outline narration and slide navigation - avoid pipeline jargon entirely Constraints: - do not invent facts or citations - only use citation keys present in citations/ref.bib - do not repeat abstract-only disclaimers across subsections (one paragraph total)
Paper voice contract (front matter specific)
Avoid "narrating the outline":
- •Don\x27t write:
This section surveys...,In this section, we...,Next, we move...,We now turn to... - •Do write: content-bearing claims + argument bridges (why the next lens follows).
Avoid self-referential survey narration (a common automation tell):
- •Don't default to:
This survey .../Our survey .../In this survey ...as the sentence opener. - •Do write: direct, content-bearing claims (optionally with "We"), or use third-person ("This work") sparingly.
Avoid "pipeline voice":
- •Don\x27t write:
evidence pack(s),writer context pack(s),quality gate,workspace,stage C2/C3... - •Do write: "survey methodology" phrasing (what was collected, what was prioritized, what is uncertain).
Avoid count-based slot structures:
- •Don't default to "Two limitations..." / "Three takeaways..." as the paragraph opener across multiple sections.
- •If you truly need enumeration, do it once, keep it sentence-level, and vary the opener syntax so it reads authorial (not templated).
Keep the methodology note exactly once:
- •Put one paragraph in Introduction or Related Work.
- •Do not repeat "abstract-only evidence / claims provisional" across subsections.
- •If a specific claim is only abstract-supported, mark locally as
(abstract-only)only when it changes interpretation.
What to write (semantic structure, not templates)
sections/abstract.md (one paragraph, high signal)
Format:
- •Start with
## Abstract(or## 摘要). - •Then write a single paragraph.
Goal: define scope + axes + what the reader gets.
Include (in ~5-8 sentences):
- •problem framing (agents as closed-loop systems)
- •boundary/definition (what counts as an agent here)
- •the survey lens (interfaces -> planning/memory -> adaptation/multi-agent -> evaluation/risks)
- •what is new/useful (taxonomy + protocol-aware comparisons + evaluation/risk takeaways)
- •3-6 citations (surveys + benchmarks/protocol papers; avoid dumping keys)
Anti-patterns:
- •generic "This paper surveys..."
- •"we organize as follows" without content
- •self-referential survey framing ("This survey ...") that narrates structure instead of stating a claim
sections/S<sec_id>.md — Introduction (body-only)
Job: motivate + define boundaries + commit to a lens + tell the reader how to read the survey.
Recommended paragraph jobs:
- •Motivation: why "agent = closed-loop system" is hard now (tools, environments, safety).
- •Boundary/definition: what you include/exclude (agent vs tool-using LM; single vs multi-agent; online vs offline).
- •Why interfaces/protocols matter: the interface contract determines what evaluation claims mean.
- •Taxonomy preview: what axes you use and why (avoid listing 10 axes; choose a few stable ones).
- •Methodology paragraph (ONE paragraph; no label like "Methodology note"): state time window + candidate pool size + core set size + evidence mode (abstract/fulltext), phrased as survey methodology (not "run logs"). Start it like a normal sentence (e.g., "We retrieved ...").
- •Contributions: what the survey delivers (taxonomy, evaluation lens, open problems).
- •Organization: light, one paragraph max (avoid slide narration).
sections/S<sec_id>.md — Related Work (body-only)
Job: position this survey vs adjacent lines of work through your lens, not as "prior survey list".
Recommended moves:
- •One paragraph: what "related work" means here (surveys + system papers + evaluation/protocol papers).
- •3-5 paragraphs grouped by lens:
- •interface contracts / tool use / environments
- •planning/memory/adaptation (why these are not comparable without protocols)
- •multi-agent coordination and safety/risk work
- •Integrate "prior surveys" as citations inside these paragraphs (do NOT create a "Prior Surveys" mini-section).
- •End with a gap statement: what existing surveys miss (e.g., protocol-aware comparisons, threat model, reproducibility).
sections/discussion.md (must include heading)
Goal: cross-cutting synthesis (not per-chapter recap).
Include:
- •3-6 paragraphs that each make one cross-chapter claim with citations (>=2 per synthesis paragraph).
- •explicit limitations and what to verify next (protocol mismatch, cost models, tool access assumptions).
- •concrete future directions (avoid generic "more research").
Avoid:
- •Per-chapter recap ("In Section X we...") or title narration ("From X to Y").
- •Meta advice without evidence ("future work should...") or citation-dump paragraphs.
- •Repeating the evidence-mode disclaimer here; it belongs in the single methodology note.
sections/conclusion.md (must include heading)
Goal: close the loop: restate the thesis + strongest takeaways + what matters next.
Include:
- •a compact thesis restatement (agents as closed-loop systems; interfaces/protocols decide meaning of results)
- •2-3 takeaways as prose sentences (avoid literal template bullet dumps)
- •a final "evaluation-first" closing sentence (what to standardize / measure / report).
Avoid:
- •Template narration ("This paper/survey concludes...") and slide navigation.
- •Count-based openers ("Two limitations...", "Three takeaways...") used as a default structure.
- •Overclaiming beyond the cited evidence level (especially in abstract-only mode).
- •Repeating the same takeaway label or ending with a citation dump line.
Small rewrite recipes (keep prose natural)
Narration -> content:
- •Bad:
This section surveys tool interfaces for agents. - •Better:
Tool interfaces expose the action space an agent can reliably execute; interface contracts therefore determine which evaluation claims are even interpretable.
Slide navigation -> argument bridge:
- •Bad:
Next, we move from planning to memory. - •Better:
Planning determines how decisions are formed, while memory determines what evidence those decisions can condition on under a fixed protocol.
Meta "survey should" -> literature-facing observation:
- •Bad:
Therefore, survey comparisons should control for tool access. - •Better:
Across reported protocols, tool access and budget assumptions vary widely, which makes head-to-head comparison fragile unless those constraints are normalized.
Done checklist
- •
sections/abstract.mdexists, starts with## Abstract(or## 摘要), and citations are embedded (no dump line). - • Introduction + Related Work files are body-only (no headings) and contain the single methodology note paragraph (exactly once).
- •
sections/discussion.mdcontains## Discussion;sections/conclusion.mdcontains## Conclusion. - • No pipeline/meta jargon appears in these files.
- • Citations all exist in
citations/ref.biband are used as evidence (not list tags).