| name | paper-writing-review |
| description | Use when self-reviewing a paper's writing quality section by section — dispatches a context-free subagent as naive reader or expert reviewer, identifies confusion, wordiness, and digressions, then presents fix options for non-mechanical issues |
Paper Writing Review
Overview
Section-by-section writing review using a context-free subagent. The subagent reads ONLY the paper text (no CLAUDE.md, no project files), simulating a fresh reader. Issues are classified as mechanical (auto-fixed) or substantive (user chooses via interactive selection). Fixes are applied after each section before moving to the next.
When to Use
- Self-reviewing a paper draft for writing quality
- User says "review my paper", "check my writing", "find wordy sections"
- Before submission, after content is stable
Workflow
digraph review {
rankdir=TB;
"Parse paper into sections" -> "User picks reviewer role";
"User picks reviewer role" -> "For each section: dispatch subagent";
"For each section: dispatch subagent" -> "Subagent returns feedback";
"Subagent returns feedback" -> "Classify issues";
"Classify issues" -> "Mechanical: auto-record fix" [label="mechanical"];
"Classify issues" -> "Non-mechanical: AskUserQuestion" [label="substantive"];
"Mechanical: auto-record fix" -> "All issues resolved?";
"Non-mechanical: AskUserQuestion" -> "User picks option";
"User picks option" -> "Record chosen fix";
"Record chosen fix" -> "All issues resolved?";
"All issues resolved?" -> "Non-mechanical: AskUserQuestion" [label="more issues"];
"All issues resolved?" -> "Apply fixes for this section" [label="done"];
"Apply fixes for this section" -> "Next section?";
"Next section?" -> "For each section: dispatch subagent" [label="yes"];
"Next section?" -> "Done" [label="no"];
}
Setup
Step 1: Get Paper Path
Ask the user for the paper file path. Default: paper.tex in the current directory.
Step 2: Parse Sections
Read the paper and split it by \section{...} (or \section*{...}). Each section includes everything from its \section command up to (but not including) the next \section or \end{document}. Also extract the preamble + abstract as a separate "section 0" for context.
Record the section list with line ranges. Present the list to the user and ask which sections to review (default: all).
Step 3: Choose Reviewer Role
Ask the user:
Which reviewer role?
- Naive reader — Simulates someone reading the paper for the first time with no domain knowledge. Catches: undefined terms, unclear motivation, logical jumps, assumed context, confusing structure.
- Expert reviewer — Domain expert who evaluates technical accuracy, argument strength, and scholarly rigor in addition to writing quality. Catches: everything above plus weak claims, missing justification, overclaiming, gaps in reasoning.
Review Loop
For each selected section, dispatch a subagent with the following structure.
Subagent Prompt Template
You are reviewing a section of an academic paper. You have NO prior context about
this project — you are reading the paper text for the first time.
ROLE: {naive_reader | expert_reviewer}
{If naive_reader:}
You simulate a reader encountering this paper fresh. Flag anything that would
confuse, bore, or lose a reader who has general technical literacy but no
specific background in this paper's domain.
{If expert_reviewer:}
You are a domain expert reviewer. In addition to writing quality, evaluate
technical accuracy, argument strength, and scholarly rigor.
CONTEXT FROM EARLIER SECTIONS (summary only):
{Brief summary of what was established in prior sections — key definitions,
main claims, notation introduced. Keep this minimal: just enough so the
reviewer knows what terms have been defined. Do NOT include project-level
context or instructions.}
SECTION TO REVIEW:
---
{Raw LaTeX text of this section}
---
Provide a structured list of issues. For each issue:
1. Quote the problematic text (verbatim, 1-2 sentences)
2. Issue type: one of [confused, wordy, digression, undefined-term,
logical-jump, overclaiming, weak-justification, redundant, unclear-reference,
other]
3. Explanation: Why this is a problem, from the reader's perspective
4. Severity: minor | moderate | major
Order issues by their appearance in the text.
Do NOT suggest fixes — only identify and explain problems.
If the section reads well, say so and note any minor polish opportunities.
Processing Subagent Feedback
For each issue returned by the subagent:
Mechanical issues (auto-fix, no user input needed):
- Typos, grammar errors, obvious word repetition
- Dangling references, broken LaTeX commands
- Record the fix silently
Non-mechanical issues (present to user via AskUserQuestion):
Use AskUserQuestion with multiSelect: false, batching up to 4 issues per call. For each issue:
- question: MUST include: (1) the issue type and severity, (2) a brief explanation, and (3) the entire original paragraph containing the problematic text — not just the quoted snippet. The user needs the full paragraph to judge the issue in context.
- preview: Show the paragraph after each proposed fix is applied, so the user can compare before (in the question) vs after (in the preview).
- options: 2–4 options (the tool's limit). The user can always provide free-form input via the built-in "Other" option.
- Recommend one option: Mark the best option with "(Recommended)" at the end of the label. Place it first in the list.
- "Search & think harder" option: When the issue involves a claim that could be verified, a term that might have an established definition, or a reference that could be checked — include an option like "Search web for prior usage / standard phrasing" so the main agent can do research before proposing a fix.
- Always include "Skip" as the last option.
Example AskUserQuestion option structure:
{
"label": "(a) Cut sentence (Recommended)",
"description": "Remove the sentence entirely — the point is made elsewhere.",
"preview": "The full original paragraph text here,\nwith the problematic sentence in context,\nso the user can judge the edit in situ."
}
Section Transition
After all issues in a section are resolved, summarize what was decided and move to the next section. Update the "context from earlier sections" summary for the next subagent.
Applying Fixes (per section)
After all issues in a section are resolved:
- Present a summary of all recorded fixes for this section (mechanical + user-chosen)
- Apply all edits in reverse line-number order (to preserve line numbers)
- Rebuild the paper to verify no LaTeX errors were introduced
- Move to the next section
Key Rules
- Subagent isolation: The subagent must NOT read CLAUDE.md, project files, or any file other than the section text passed to it. It receives only the section text and a minimal summary of prior sections.
- No unsolicited fixes: The main agent does not add its own opinions. All feedback comes from the subagent; all decisions come from the user.
- Apply per section: Fixes are applied after each section's review is complete, before moving to the next section. This gives the user immediate feedback and keeps the review grounded.
- Context accumulation: Each subagent gets a growing summary of what prior sections established (definitions, notation, claims), but never the raw text of other sections.
Common Mistakes
- Giving the subagent project context (CLAUDE.md, README) — defeats the purpose of fresh-reader simulation
- Proposing two options that are minor wording variants — options must represent different editorial strategies
- Showing only the quoted snippet without the full paragraph — user needs surrounding context to judge the edit
- Presenting issues as plain text instead of using
AskUserQuestion — user cannot efficiently select options
- Skipping the "which sections to review" step — user may want to focus on specific sections
