Interview Writeup

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when users want to:

• Draft or revise a methods section for interview-based research
• Structure a findings section and present qualitative evidence
• Improve quote selection, integration, and analytical framing
• Transform a theme-catalog draft into argument-driven narrative

Core Principles

1. Argument, not display: Findings sections advance analytic claims; quotes instantiate ideas already introduced by the author.
2. Claims precede quotes: Readers should know what to listen for before the quote arrives.
3. Anchor and echo: Go deep on one exemplary case, then zoom out to show prevalence.
4. Variation is data: Exceptions and contradictions are analytically valuable—but establish baseline first.
5. Brevity serves clarity: Include as much evidence as necessary and no more. If one quote will do, don't use three.
6. Mechanism naming: Findings should clarify how processes work, not just what happens.

Quality Indicators

Evaluate writing against these markers:

• Analytical confidence: Patterns stated assertively; mechanisms named by the author, not discovered in quotes
• Narrative craft: Varied quote integration; anchor-echo pacing; smooth transitions
• Grounded abstraction: Sociological concepts tied to concrete, specific evidence
• Strategic depth: Anchor cases developed fully; echoes efficient
• Appropriate scope: Claims bounded to sample; prevalence indicated throughout

Technique Guides

The skill includes detailed reference guides:

Workflow Phases

Phase 0: Intake & Scope

Goal: Confirm required inputs and define the writing task.

• Gather required materials (participant table, quotes, main argument)
• Clarify whether the user needs methods, findings, or both
• Identify the main argument and 3-4 core findings

Guide: phases/phase0-intake.md

Pause: Confirm scope and inputs before drafting.

Phase 1: Methods Section

Goal: Draft or revise a transparent, defensible methods section.

• Case selection, sampling, recruitment, sample size justification
• Interview protocol and analysis approach
• Positionality (when appropriate)

Guide: phases/phase1-methods.md

Pause: Review the methods draft for completeness and clarity.

Phase 2: Findings Section

Goal: Structure findings as argument-driven narrative.

• Choose an archetype (Mechanism List, Comparative, or Process)
• Write the Roadmap introduction summarizing the entire argument
• Draft each subsection following the 8-step rubric
• Use the Anchor-Echo pattern for evidence presentation
• Craft theoretical headings that name mechanisms

Guides:

• phases/phase2-findings.md (main workflow)
• techniques/macro-structure.md (organization)
• techniques/prose-craft.md (quote integration)
• techniques/rubric.md (subsection drafting)

Pause: Confirm findings structure and evidence selection.

Phase 3: Revision & Quality Check

Goal: Transform competent draft into compelling argument.

• Check argument structure (roadmap, claims before quotes)
• Verify Anchor-Echo pattern in each subsection
• Fix formulaic quote integration
• Ensure appropriate voice balance and confidence
• Catch prohibited moves

Guide: phases/phase3-revision.md

Prohibited Moves

The skill explicitly trains against common problems:

• Starting subsections with quotes
• Listing themes without argument
• Using quotes without interpretation
• Stacking quotes back-to-back
• Hedging empirical patterns ("might suggest")
• Writing descriptive subheadings ("Findings," "Race")
• Letting quotes introduce analytic novelty
• Treating all quotes with equal depth (no anchor)
• Starting with variation before baseline

Output Expectations

Provide the user with:

• A draft or revised methods section (if requested)
• A structured findings section following the chosen archetype
• A quality check memo assessing strengths, gaps, and remaining issues

Invoking Phase Agents

Use the Task tool for each phase:

Task: Phase 2 Findings Drafting
subagent_type: general-purpose