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Research Synthesis

Opus's large context window lets it hold all sources simultaneously and find cross-cutting patterns. Explicitly asking for thematic synthesis instead of source-by-source summaries produces genuinely useful research output. The evidence strength table forces rigorous evaluation.

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Prompt
I'm researching {{researchTopic}}. Below are {{sourceCount}} sources I've gathered. Synthesize them into a comprehensive analysis.

**Research question:** {{researchQuestion}}

**Sources:**
{{sources}}

**Synthesis requirements:**
1. Identify the key themes and findings that appear across multiple sources
2. Map where sources agree, where they disagree, and where they cover different aspects
3. Evaluate the strength of evidence — which claims are well-supported vs. speculative?
4. Identify gaps: what questions remain unanswered by these sources?
5. Flag any methodological concerns or potential biases in the sources

**Output:**
- Synthesis narrative (not a source-by-source summary — weave insights together thematically)
- Evidence strength table: claim | supporting sources | confidence level
- Recommended next steps for further research
- Key takeaway in one paragraph

Variables to customize

{{researchTopic}}{{sourceCount}}{{researchQuestion}}{{sources}}

Why this prompt works

Opus's large context window lets it hold all sources simultaneously and find cross-cutting patterns. Explicitly asking for thematic synthesis instead of source-by-source summaries produces genuinely useful research output. The evidence strength table forces rigorous evaluation.

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