ideate

name: ideate description: "Guided research ideation — brainstorm research questions using 5W1H, gap analysis, and structured framing. Outputs a research brief that feeds into /academic-writer:write. Use when you have a vague topic and need help framing a research question." user-invocable: true allowedTools: [Bash, Read, Write, Glob, Grep, AskUserQuestion] metadata: {author: "Yotam Fromm", version: "0.2.23"}

Academic Writer — Research Ideation

Guided ideation flow that helps researchers formulate strong research questions before writing.

Load Profile

cat .academic-helper/profile.md

If no profile, tell the researcher to run /academic-writer:init first.

Extract fieldOfStudy, targetLanguage, and tools configuration.

Step 1: Topic Exploration

Ask the researcher:

AskUserQuestion(questions=[{
  "question": "What topic or area are you thinking about exploring? This can be vague — we'll sharpen it together.",
  "header": "Step 1 — Topic Exploration",
  "options": []
}])

Show examples relevant to their fieldOfStudy:

"Examples:

• A specific text or passage you've been thinking about
• A debate in your field you want to contribute to
• A concept that seems under-explored
• Something you noticed in your sources that doesn't fit existing explanations"

Step 2: 5W1H Brainstorming

Apply the 5W1H framework to the topic. Generate questions in targetLanguage:

Present the brainstorm:

"Here's a 5W1H exploration of your topic:

What: [...] Who: [...] When: [...] Where: [...] Why: [...] How: [...]

Which angles interest you most?"

Step 3: Gap Analysis

If Candlekeep is enabled, scan the researcher's library:

ck items list --json

For each source, check its metadata against the topic:

• What has been written about this topic in the researcher's sources?
• What perspectives or arguments are represented?
• What's missing — which angles are NOT covered?

Present the gap analysis:

"Based on your source library:

Covered ground:

• [Source A] addresses [aspect X]
• [Source B] discusses [aspect Y]

Gaps I identified:

• No source addresses [aspect Z]
• The relationship between [X] and [Y] is unexplored
• [Historical period / figure / concept] is mentioned but never analyzed

These gaps could be fertile ground for a research question."

Log:

Step 4: Approach Framing

Present Humanities-appropriate research approaches:

AskUserQuestion(questions=[{
  "question": "What kind of study fits your topic best?",
  "header": "Step 4 — Research Approach",
  "options": [
    {
      "label": "Textual Analysis",
      "description": "Close reading of a specific text or corpus",
      "markdown": "```\nTextual Analysis\n────────────────\nFocus: One or more primary texts\nMethod: Close reading, literary/philological analysis\nOutput: New interpretation or reading\nBest for: Discovering meaning in texts\n```"
    },
    {
      "label": "Comparative Study",
      "description": "Comparing two or more texts, figures, or traditions",
      "markdown": "```\nComparative Study\n─────────────────\nFocus: Two+ texts, thinkers, or traditions\nMethod: Systematic comparison on defined axes\nOutput: Reveals connections or tensions\nBest for: Cross-cultural or cross-period analysis\n```"
    },
    {
      "label": "Historical Survey",
      "description": "Tracing the development of an idea, practice, or text over time",
      "markdown": "```\nHistorical Survey\n─────────────────\nFocus: An idea or practice across time\nMethod: Chronological analysis with sources\nOutput: Developmental narrative\nBest for: Showing change over time\n```"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conceptual Analysis",
      "description": "Analyzing a philosophical, theological, or cultural concept",
      "markdown": "```\nConceptual Analysis\n───────────────────\nFocus: A concept or term\nMethod: Definition, usage mapping, critical analysis\nOutput: Clarified or redefined concept\nBest for: Philosophical and theological work\n```"
    },
    {
      "label": "Reception History",
      "description": "How a text or idea was received, interpreted, and transformed",
      "markdown": "```\nReception History\n─────────────────\nFocus: How a text was read across generations\nMethod: Track interpretive traditions\nOutput: Map of readings and their contexts\nBest for: Exegetical and hermeneutical studies\n```"
    },
    {
      "label": "Other",
      "description": "Describe your own approach",
      "markdown": "```\nCustom Approach\n───────────────\n→ Describe your methodology\n→ I'll help frame it\n```"
    }
  ],
  "multiSelect": false
}])

Step 5: Research Question Formulation

Based on the topic, gaps, and approach, propose 3 structured research questions in targetLanguage:

For each question, provide:

1. The question — clear, specific, answerable
2. Thesis direction — what the likely argument would be
3. Key sources — which of the researcher's sources are most relevant
4. Feasibility — can this be answered with available sources?

Present and ask:

AskUserQuestion(questions=[{
  "question": "Here are three research questions I've formulated. Which one excites you?",
  "header": "Research Questions",
  "options": [
    {"label": "Question 1", "description": "SHORT_SUMMARY_1"},
    {"label": "Question 2", "description": "SHORT_SUMMARY_2"},
    {"label": "Question 3", "description": "SHORT_SUMMARY_3"},
    {"label": "I want to refine one", "description": "Tell me which to adjust"},
    {"label": "None — let me describe my own", "description": "Free-text input"}
  ],
  "multiSelect": false
}])

Step 6: Generate Research Brief

Write a research-brief.md file that feeds directly into /academic-writer:write:

mkdir -p .academic-helper

Use the Write tool to create .academic-helper/research-brief.md:

# Research Brief

## Research Question
[The approved question]

## Thesis Direction
[Preliminary thesis statement]

## Approach
[Selected methodology]

## Key Sources
1. [Source with ID] — relevance
2. [Source with ID] — relevance
3. ...

## Gap This Addresses
[What's missing in existing scholarship]

## Scope
- Estimated sections: [N]
- Primary texts: [list]
- Secondary literature: [list]

## 5W1H Summary
- What: [...]
- Who: [...]
- When: [...]
- Where: [...]
- Why: [...]
- How: [...]

---
*Generated by /academic-writer:ideate on [DATE]*
*Feed this into /academic-writer:write to start writing.*

Log completion:

Completion

"Your research brief has been saved to .academic-helper/research-brief.md.

Research question: [question] Approach: [approach] Key sources: [N] identified

To start writing, run /academic-writer:write. The brief will be loaded automatically as a starting point."