Content Research Writer

Overview

Produce well-researched, authoritative long-form content with proper source attribution, structured argumentation, and evidence-based claims. This skill covers research methodology, source evaluation, citation management, outline construction, drafting workflows, fact-checking protocols, and publishing-ready formatting for articles, whitepapers, reports, and educational content.

Apply this skill whenever content must be backed by evidence, cited properly, and structured for credibility with expert audiences.

Multi-Phase Process

Phase 1: Research Planning

1. Define the topic scope and target audience
2. Identify key questions the content must answer
3. Determine content type (article, whitepaper, case study, guide)
4. Set word count target and depth level
5. Establish credibility requirements (peer-reviewed, industry reports, primary data)
6. Create a research timeline with milestones

STOP — Do NOT begin source discovery until the research plan is documented and scope is agreed upon.

Phase 2: Source Discovery and Evaluation

1. Search academic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, JSTOR, arXiv)
2. Identify industry reports and authoritative publications
3. Find primary sources (official documentation, datasets, specifications)
4. Evaluate source credibility using the CRAAP test (see table below)
5. Organize sources in a reference manager or structured format
6. Extract key findings, statistics, and quotable passages

STOP — Do NOT begin outlining until you have sufficient Tier 1-2 sources for every core claim.

Phase 3: Outline and Structure

1. Create a thesis statement or central argument
2. Build hierarchical outline with main sections and subsections
3. Map evidence to each section (which sources support which claims)
4. Identify gaps requiring additional research
5. Define transitions between sections for narrative flow
6. Plan visual elements (tables, charts, diagrams, callouts)

STOP — Do NOT begin drafting until the outline is reviewed and evidence gaps are filled.

Phase 4: Drafting

1. Write section by section following the outline
2. Integrate citations as you write (never retrofit)
3. Balance original analysis with supporting evidence
4. Use topic sentences and clear paragraph structure
5. Include concrete examples, data points, and case studies
6. Write introduction last (after body is complete)

STOP — Do NOT move to review until all sections are drafted and all citations are in place.

Phase 5: Review and Fact-Check

1. Verify every factual claim against its source
2. Check all statistics for accuracy and context
3. Ensure citations are complete and correctly formatted
4. Review for logical consistency and argument strength
5. Proofread for clarity, grammar, and style
6. Have subject matter expert review if possible

Content Type Decision Table

Source Evaluation Framework (CRAAP Test)

Source Tier System

Citation Formats

Inline Citation Styles

# Parenthetical (APA-style)
Research shows that 73% of enterprises have adopted cloud-native architectures
(Smith & Johnson, 2025).

# Narrative
According to Smith and Johnson (2025), 73% of enterprises have adopted
cloud-native architectures.

# Footnote-style (Chicago)
Research shows significant cloud adoption.[^1]

[^1]: Smith, J., & Johnson, R. (2025). Cloud adoption trends.
*Journal of Cloud Computing*, 12(3), 45-62.

# Numbered (IEEE-style)
Research shows significant cloud adoption [1].

## References
[1] J. Smith and R. Johnson, "Cloud adoption trends," *J. Cloud Computing*,
    vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 45-62, 2025.

Reference Format Templates

# Journal Article
Author, A. B., & Author, C. D. (Year). Title of article. *Journal Name*,
Volume(Issue), Pages. https://doi.org/xxxxx

# Book
Author, A. B. (Year). *Title of book* (Edition). Publisher.

# Website
Author or Organization. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name.
https://www.example.com/page

# Report
Organization. (Year). *Title of report* (Report No. XXX).
https://www.example.com/report.pdf

Content Structure Templates

Long-Form Article (2000-5000 words)

1. Hook / Opening Anecdote (100-200 words)
2. Context and Problem Statement (200-300 words)
3. Thesis / Key Insight (50-100 words)
4. Section 1: Background (400-600 words)
   - Historical context
   - Current state
   - Key definitions
5. Section 2: Core Analysis (600-1000 words)
   - Main argument with evidence
   - Data and statistics
   - Expert perspectives
6. Section 3: Implications (400-600 words)
   - Practical applications
   - Case studies
   - Future outlook
7. Section 4: Counterarguments (200-400 words)
   - Acknowledge limitations
   - Address objections
8. Conclusion (200-300 words)
   - Synthesize key findings
   - Call to action or forward-looking statement
9. References

Whitepaper (3000-8000 words)

1. Executive Summary (300-500 words)
2. Introduction and Problem Statement (500-800 words)
3. Methodology (300-500 words)
4. Findings / Analysis (1500-3000 words)
   - Section with data visualization
   - Comparative analysis
   - Case studies
5. Recommendations (500-1000 words)
6. Conclusion (300-500 words)
7. Appendices
8. References

Case Study (1000-2500 words)

1. Executive Summary (100-200 words)
2. Challenge / Problem (200-400 words)
3. Approach / Solution (300-600 words)
4. Implementation (300-500 words)
5. Results and Metrics (200-400 words)
6. Lessons Learned (200-300 words)
7. About [Company/Subject]

Writing Quality Checklist

Paragraph Level

• Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence
• Paragraphs are 3-6 sentences (avoid walls of text)
• Transitions connect paragraphs logically
• Evidence follows claims immediately

Sentence Level

• Vary sentence length (mix short and long)
• Active voice preferred over passive
• Avoid jargon without definition
• Concrete language over abstract

Document Level

• Introduction establishes the "so what" clearly
• Each section advances the central argument
• No unsupported claims
• Conclusion adds value (doesn't just repeat)
• Consistent tone and reading level throughout

Fact-Checking Protocol

Verification Steps

1. Primary source check: Trace every claim back to its original source
2. Cross-reference: Verify key facts with at least 2 independent sources
3. Statistical validation: Check that numbers are current and in context
4. Quote accuracy: Verify exact wording of all direct quotes
5. Date verification: Confirm all dates and timelines
6. Name and title check: Verify correct spelling and current titles

Common Fact-Checking Pitfalls

Research Tools

Anti-Patterns / Common Mistakes

Anti-Rationalization Guards

• Do NOT skip the CRAAP test because "the source looks reputable" -- evaluate it formally.
• Do NOT use Tier 4-5 sources for core claims, regardless of convenience.
• Do NOT begin drafting without a completed outline with evidence mapped to sections.
• Do NOT publish without running the fact-checking protocol on every statistic and quote.
• Do NOT retrofit citations after writing -- integrate them as you draft.

Integration Points

Skill Type

FLEXIBLE — Adapt research depth, citation formality, and structure to the content type and audience. Academic whitepapers demand Tier 1 sources and formal citations; blog posts may use a lighter approach. The fact-checking protocol and source evaluation framework are always recommended.