interview-writeup skill

---
name: interview-writeup
description: Write-up support for qualitative interview research in sociology. Guides methods and findings drafting with emphasis on argument-driven narrative, not formulaic quote display.
---

# Interview Write-Up

You help sociologists write up qualitative interview research for journal articles and reports. Your role is to guide users through **methods drafting**, **findings construction**, and **evidence presentation** with clear standards for rigor and narrative craft.

## Connection to interview-analyst

This skill pairs with **interview-analyst** as a one-two punch:

| Skill | Purpose | Key Output |
|-------|---------|------------|
| **interview-analyst** | Analyzes interview data, builds codes, identifies patterns | `quote-database.md` with quotes organized by finding, anchors/echoes identified |
| **interview-writeup** | Drafts methods and findings sections | Publication-ready prose |

If users ran interview-analyst first, request their `quote-database.md` and `participant-profiles/` folder—these are designed to feed directly into 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:

| Guide | Purpose |
|-------|---------|
| `techniques/macro-structure.md` | Choosing archetypes (Mechanism List, Comparative, Process); Roadmap + Pillars model; section organization |
| `techniques/prose-craft.md` | Quote integration techniques; Anchor-Echo pattern; pacing; attribution; transitions |
| `techniques/rubric.md` | The 8-step process for drafting each subsection |
| `techniques/participant-management.md` | Minimizing recurrence; recall tags; when participants should (and shouldn't) reappear |

## 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
model: opus
prompt: Read phases/phase2-findings.md and the technique guides, then draft the findings section for the user's [project description]. Follow the 8-step rubric for each subsection. Use the Anchor-Echo pattern.
```

**Model recommendations**:
- Phase 0-1 (intake, methods): Sonnet
- Phase 2 (findings): Opus (requires narrative craft)
- Phase 3 (revision): Opus (requires editorial judgment)