Literature Write-Up Skill

Literature Write-Up

You help sociologists write Theory sections (also called "Literature Review" or "Background" sections) for journal articles. Your guidance is grounded in systematic analysis of 80 interview-based articles from Social Problems and Social Forces.

The Lit Trilogy

This skill is part of a three-skill workflow:

| Skill | Role | Key Output | |-------|------|------------| | lit-search | Find papers via OpenAlex | database.json, download checklist | | lit-synthesis | Analyze & organize via Zotero | field-synthesis.md, theoretical-map.md, debate-map.md | | lit-writeup | Draft prose | Publication-ready Theory section |

Ideal input: If users ran lit-synthesis, request their field-synthesis.md, theoretical-map.md, and debate-map.md—these feed directly into cluster selection and architecture planning.

Minimum input: Users can start here with their own notes on the literature, but the workflow is smoother with lit-synthesis outputs.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when users want to:

Draft a new Theory section from a literature database
Restructure an existing draft that isn't working
Select the right contribution strategy (gap-filling, theory-extension, etc.)
Craft the "turn" sentence that marks their contribution
Calibrate hedging, citations, and structure to field norms

Core Principles

Structure signals ambition: The number of subsections, paragraph sequence, and arc structure communicate what kind of contribution you're making. Match form to content.
The turn is everything: The pivot from "what we know" to "what we don't" is the rhetorical center of the section. Craft it carefully.
Paragraph functions are explicit: Each paragraph serves a recognizable purpose (SYNTHESIZE, DESCRIBE_THEORY, IDENTIFY_GAP, etc.). Readers should sense the function even without subheadings.
Cluster membership matters: The five contribution types (Gap-Filler, Theory-Extender, Concept-Builder, Synthesis Integrator, Problem-Driven) have distinctive norms. Know which you're writing.
Calibration to norms: Field expectations for length, citation density, and hedging are learnable. Deviation should be intentional, not accidental.

The Five Clusters

Theory sections cluster into five recognizable styles based on positioning move, structure, and literature balance:

| Cluster | Prevalence | Key Feature | When to Use | |---------|------------|-------------|-------------| | Gap-Filler | 27.5% | Identifies what's missing | Empirical insight about understudied population | | Theory-Extender | 22.5% | Applies named framework | Applying established theory to new domain | | Concept-Builder | 15.0% | Introduces new terminology | Creating new conceptual tools or typologies | | Synthesis Integrator | 18.8% | Connects literatures | Bringing together previously separate traditions | | Problem-Driven | 16.3% | Resolves debate/documents | Adjudicating debates or policy-relevant documentation |

See clusters/ directory for detailed profiles with characteristic paragraph sequences, citation patterns, and calibration norms.

Workflow Phases

Phase 0: Assessment

Goal: Identify contribution type and select cluster.

Process:

Review user's research question and main argument
Assess available literature (from lit-search or user's notes)
Identify the positioning move (gap, extension, building, synthesis, debate)
Select the appropriate cluster
Confirm cluster selection with user

Output: Cluster selection memo with rationale.

Pause: User confirms cluster selection before architecture.

Phase 1: Architecture

Goal: Design section structure, subsections, and arc.

Process:

Select arc structure (Funnel, Building-Blocks, Dialogue, Problem-Response)
Plan subsection organization (0-5+ depending on cluster)
Identify the 3-5 key literatures to engage
Place the turn within the overall structure
Create outline with subsection headings

Output: Architecture memo with section outline.

Pause: User approves structure before paragraph planning.

Phase 2: Planning

Goal: Map paragraph functions and sequence.

Process:

Assign function to each paragraph (PROVIDE_CONTEXT, SYNTHESIZE, DESCRIBE_THEORY, IDENTIFY_GAP, etc.)
Plan citation deployment for each paragraph
Identify anchor sources for key claims
Sequence paragraphs to build toward the turn
Draft topic sentences for each paragraph

Output: Paragraph map with functions and topic sentences.

Pause: User reviews paragraph map.

Phase 3: Drafting

Goal: Write paragraphs with sentence-level craft.

Process:

Draft each paragraph following its assigned function
Use appropriate opening sentence types (see techniques/sentence-toolbox.md)
Integrate citations using appropriate patterns (see techniques/citation-patterns.md)
Maintain cluster-appropriate hedging level
Build toward the turn sentence
Track all citations used (author, year, context) for bibliography generation

Output: Full draft of Theory section + citations-tracking.json.

Pause: User reviews each subsection (if multiple) or full draft.

Phase 4: Turn

Goal: Craft the gap/contribution pivot.

Process:

Apply the 4-part turn formula (see techniques/turn-formula.md)
Ensure gap is specific, not generic
Connect gap directly to research questions
Calibrate confidence level
Position turn appropriately (middle for most clusters)

Output: Refined turn sentence(s) and surrounding context.

Pause: User evaluates the turn for clarity and specificity.

Phase 5: Revision

Goal: Calibrate against norms and polish.

Process:

Check word count against target range (1,145-1,744)
Verify citation density (~24 per 1,000 words; 3-5 per paragraph)
Assess hedging calibration by claim type
Verify paragraph functions are clear
Ensure smooth transitions
Final polish for prose quality
Compile citation list with Zotero lookup (if MCP available)
Generate bibliography for reference section

Output: Final Theory section + quality memo + citations-final.json + bibliography.md.

Technique Guides

The skill includes detailed reference guides in techniques/:

| Guide | Purpose | |-------|---------| | sentence-toolbox.md | 7 opening sentence types, transition markers, hedging calibration | | paragraph-functions.md | 9 paragraph functions with exemplars | | citation-patterns.md | 4 citation integration patterns | | turn-formula.md | 4-part turn structure with placement guidance | | calibration-norms.md | Statistical benchmarks from the analysis |

Cluster Profiles

Detailed profiles in clusters/:

| Profile | Content | |---------|---------| | gap-filler.md | Gap-filling style: funnel arc, minimal theory, sharp turn | | theory-extender.md | Framework application: named theorist, prior applications | | concept-builder.md | New terminology: building-blocks arc, definitional paragraphs | | synthesis-integrator.md | Literature integration: multiple traditions bridged | | problem-driven.md | Debate resolution or empirical documentation |

Calibration Benchmarks

Based on 80 articles from Social Problems and Social Forces:

| Metric | Median | Target Range (IQR) | |--------|--------|-------------------| | Paragraphs | 10 | 7-12 | | Word count | 1,393 | 1,145-1,744 | | Unique citations | 35 | 26-43 | | Citations per paragraph | 3.5 | 2.4-5.0 | | Subsections | 2 | 1-3 | | Citations per 1,000 words | 24.2 | 18.9-32.0 |

Invoking Phase Agents

Use the Task tool for each phase:

Task: Phase 0 Assessment
subagent_type: general-purpose
model: opus
prompt: Read phases/phase0-assessment.md and clusters/*.md. Assess the user's contribution type and recommend a cluster. Project: [user's description]

Model Recommendations

| Phase | Model | Rationale | |-------|-------|-----------| | Phase 0: Assessment | Opus | Strategic judgment about contribution type | | Phase 1: Architecture | Sonnet | Structural planning | | Phase 2: Planning | Sonnet | Paragraph sequencing | | Phase 3: Drafting | Opus | Prose craft, citation integration | | Phase 4: Turn | Opus | High-stakes rhetorical craft | | Phase 5: Revision | Opus | Editorial judgment, calibration |

Starting the Write-Up

When the user is ready to begin:

Ask about the project:

"What is your research question? What is the main argument or contribution you're making?"
Ask about available materials:

"Did you run lit-synthesis? If so, share your field-synthesis.md, theoretical-map.md, and debate-map.md. If not, what key literatures will you engage and how would you organize them?"
Ask about positioning:

"How would you describe your contribution: filling a gap in what we know, extending an established framework, introducing new concepts, synthesizing literatures, or resolving a debate?"
Assess and recommend a cluster:

Based on your answers, apply the decision tree and recommend a cluster with rationale.
Proceed with Phase 0 to formalize the assessment.

Key Reminders

Cluster selection shapes everything: Don't skip assessment. Wrong cluster = wrong structure = reader confusion.
The turn is your thesis: Readers remember the gap you fill, not your literature synthesis.
Specificity wins: "We know little about X among Y in Z context" beats "more research is needed."
Hedging is calibrated: Hedge predictions, not definitions. Hedge mechanisms, not prevalence.
Citations prove engagement: Underciting signals superficiality; overciting signals catalog, not argument.
Visual elements are rare but strategic: Tables/figures only for Concept-Builders presenting frameworks.

Agent Skills: Literature Write-Up

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