| name | write-research |
| description | Write substantive research notes — comprehensive reference documents that teach something meaningful about a topic. |
Research Note Writing
Write substantive research notes - comprehensive reference documents that teach something meaningful about a topic.
When to Use
- The user asks to write a research note
- A topic has accumulated enough understanding to warrant its own note
- An existing note needs revision
The Quality Bar
A research note should be a substantive read. Someone should come away understanding something they didn't before.
What Makes a Good Note
It has a point of view. Not just "here's what exists" but "here's how to think about this." Analysis, not inventory.
It synthesizes. Connects ideas across sources. Finding X implies Y for approach Z.
It's specific. Concrete examples, actual numbers, quotes. Vague gestures don't teach.
It's honest about limitations. What don't we know? Where does the approach fall short? What questions remain?
Structure emerges from content. The topic dictates organization, not a template. A methods survey looks different from a paper review looks different from a conceptual analysis.
Research Notes vs Research Logs
| Logs | Notes |
|---|
| What we did | What we know |
| Dated, chronological | Topic-focused, living |
Anti-patterns
- Tool catalog: Listing tools without explaining why or how
- Link dump: URLs without synthesis
- Shallow: Surface descriptions that don't teach
- Template-driven: Forcing content into predetermined structure
- Missing our work: Not integrating our own experiments and findings
- No critical lens: Just reporting without analysis
