Collect the useful material
Write the reader’s problem, what they need to know and what they should be able to do afterward. Add source-backed points from your own notes.
Separate evidence from ideas that still need checking. The assistant cannot verify a claim merely because it can place it under a convincing heading.
- Define the reader problem.
- Collect confirmed points.
- Mark unanswered questions.
Request an outline only
Describe the audience and ask for a sequence of headings with the point each section should explain. Label your notes as source material.
Tell the assistant not to invent citations or facts. A suggested section may identify a gap that you need to research yourself.
- State the intended audience.
- Request headings and purpose.
- Prohibit invented evidence.
Check the sequence
Read the outline as a reader moving from question to action. Remove sections that repeat a point or do not help solve the stated problem.
Verify that each factual section has evidence before drafting. Keep the source notes attached to the corresponding part of your plan.
- Check the logical order.
- Remove unnecessary repetition.
- Confirm evidence for each claim.
Worked example
Notes: Readers need to shorten an update while preserving its deadline and next action.
An outline can explain the required facts, a shortening workflow and a final verification checklist.
The illustrative outline follows the supplied problem without adding unsupported research.
Before you finish
- One clear reader problem.
- Sections have distinct purposes.
- Evidence gaps are visible.
- No fabricated citations.
Questions and answers
Should I request a full article immediately?
An outline can help you check coverage and evidence first, especially for an unfamiliar subject.
What if the outline adds a factual claim?
Verify it independently or remove it before drafting.