lit-writeup_skill

Overview

This skill drafts publication-ready Theory sections for sociology research, grounded in systematic analysis of 80 interview-based Social Problems and Social Forces articles. It guides selection of contribution type, section architecture, paragraph functions, sentence-level craft, and calibration to field norms to produce a polished, submission-ready Theory/literature-review.

How this skill works

I assess your research question and available literature to select one of five contribution clusters (Gap-Filler, Theory-Extender, Concept-Builder, Synthesis Integrator, Problem-Driven). Then I design the section architecture, map paragraph functions and topic sentences, and draft calibrated paragraphs and a precise ‘turn’ sentence. Final revision checks length, citation density, hedging, and generates a tracked citation list.

When to use it

• Draft a new Theory section from a literature database or notes
• Restructure an existing Theory draft that feels unfocused
• Choose and articulate a clear contribution strategy (gap, extension, concept, synthesis, or debate)
• Craft a tight turn sentence linking gap to research questions
• Calibrate citation density, hedging, and paragraph sequence to field norms

Best practices

• Begin with a Phase 0 assessment to pick the correct cluster; structure follows cluster choice
• Place the turn where it has maximal rhetorical impact (usually mid-section) and make it specific
• Assign an explicit function to every paragraph (e.g., SYNTHESIZE, IDENTIFY_GAP, DESCRIBE_THEORY)
• Match citation density (~24 per 1,000 words) and paragraph count (median ~10) to norms unless intentionally deviating
• Track citations as you draft to produce a complete citations-tracking file for bibliography generation

Example use cases

• You have lit-synthesis outputs (field-synthesis.md, theoretical-map.md) and need a draft Theory section tied to that analysis
• You have a working draft that is long on summary but weak on a clear contribution—restructure toward a focused turn
• You plan to apply a named theoretical framework to a new empirical domain and need a Theory-Extender architecture
• You want to build a new concept or typology and need a building-blocks arc with definitional paragraphs
• You need to bridge two literatures for a synthesis integrator piece and want paragraph sequencing that makes the connection obvious