// Write accessible, research-backed white papers and guides on complex topics. Target 8th grade readability while citing best-in-class scholarship. Output is 2-5 page PDFs that compete for attention in a TikTok world. NOT for charity narratives.
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| name | content-research-writer |
| description | Write accessible, research-backed white papers and guides on complex topics. Target 8th grade readability while citing best-in-class scholarship. Output is 2-5 page PDFs that compete for attention in a TikTok world. NOT for charity narratives. |
Write white papers and guides that make complex topics accessible to general audiences while maintaining scholarly rigor.
The challenge: 8th grade readability + deep insight + verifiable citations. Like The Atlantic or good Vox explainers—never dumbed down, always clear.
| Constraint | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Reading level | 8th grade (Flesch-Kincaid ~60-70) |
| Length | 2-5 pages (800-2000 words) |
| Citations | Every assertion backed with link |
| Scholarship | Best-in-class sources (not just Islamic) |
| Format | PDF-ready white papers |
| Competition | TikTok attention spans—earn every sentence |
Don't dumb down the idea. Simplify the language.
| Instead of | Write |
|---|---|
| "utilize" | "use" |
| "facilitate" | "help" |
| "methodology" | "method" |
| "implementation" | "how it works" |
| "subsequently" | "then" |
| "approximately" | "about" |
But keep the substance:
Example:
❌ "The implementation of zakat distribution methodologies has historically been predicated upon scholarly interpretations that vary significantly across different madhabs."
✅ "How should zakat be distributed? Scholars have disagreed for centuries. Different schools of Islamic law give different answers."
Readers skim. Put the point first.
Paragraph structure:
Section structure:
No assertion without a source. Format:
"About 3.5 million American Muslims give zakat each year (Pew Research, 2024)."
Source hierarchy:
Avoid:
First 50 words must hook. Options:
Throughout:
# [Clear, Specific Title]
## [Subtitle that previews the insight]
**[50-word hook: surprising fact, question, or story]**
---
## The Big Picture
[150 words: Context. Why this matters. What's at stake.]
## What We Know
[300-400 words: Key findings with citations.
Use subheadings to break up.]
### [Finding 1]
[Evidence + source link]
### [Finding 2]
[Evidence + source link]
## What This Means
[200 words: Implications. So what?]
## What You Can Do
[150 words: Practical application. Clear next steps.]
---
## Sources
[Full citations with links for all sources used]
---
*[Organization name] | [Date] | [Contact/URL]*
Before finalizing, verify:
Research shows that 85% of American Muslims consider zakat obligatory (ISPU Muslim Poll, 2023).
The eight categories of zakat recipients come from a single Quranic verse.¹
¹ Quran 9:60. Translation: Sahih International
## Sources
1. Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. "American Muslim Poll 2023."
https://ispu.org/american-muslim-poll-2023/
2. Pew Research Center. "Muslim Americans: Demographics and Beliefs." 2024.
https://pewresearch.org/...
3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Form 990 Database."
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/
Draw from best-in-class scholarship across fields:
| Topic | Source Types |
|---|---|
| Charity effectiveness | GiveWell, ImpactMatters, academic philanthropy research |
| Nonprofit finance | Urban Institute, Chronicle of Philanthropy |
| Religious giving | Pew, ISPU, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy |
| Islamic law | Classical texts + contemporary scholars + academic Islamic studies |
| Poverty/development | World Bank, J-PAL, academic economics |
When scholars disagree, say so clearly:
"Scholars disagree on whether zakat can fund mosques. The majority view, held by Hanafi and Maliki scholars, says no. Some contemporary scholars argue yes, citing changed circumstances (Yaqeen Institute, 2022)."
Never pretend consensus exists when it doesn't.
Too academic:
"The hermeneutical complexities inherent in the exegesis of Quranic injunctions pertaining to zakat distribution necessitate careful consideration of madhab-specific interpretive frameworks."
Too dumbed-down:
"Zakat is like a charity tax. Muslims have to give it. Simple!"
Just right:
"The Quran names eight groups who can receive zakat. But applying 7th-century categories to 21st-century America isn't simple. Does a student drowning in debt count as 'those in bondage'? Scholars still debate this."