Writing
Summarize for a decision, not for completeness
Produces a summary organized around what the reader has to decide, not around the document's structure.
Prompt
Summarize the material below for someone who has to decide: {{the_decision}}
Structure:
1. THE ANSWER — what the material suggests, in 2 sentences
2. WHAT SUPPORTS IT — the 3 strongest points
3. WHAT ARGUES AGAINST IT — the strongest counter-evidence in the material
4. WHAT'S MISSING — what they'd need that isn't here
5. IF YOU ONLY READ ONE THING — the single most important passage, quoted
Do not summarize section by section. Organize by what the decision needs.
Material:
{{material}}Fill these in
Replace each highlighted variable before sending. Leaving them in place is the most common reason these prompts under-perform.
| Variable | What to put | Example |
|---|---|---|
{{the_decision}} | The decision to be made | Whether to switch automation platforms |
{{material}} | Document, article or notes | Paste the material |
Tips for better output
- Section-by-section summaries are the default and the least useful. This structure forces relevance.
- Section 3 is the test of a good summary — a summary with no counter-evidence is usually incomplete.