Objective: turn messy research into a publish-ready outline in 30–45 minutes—complete with angles, headings and sources.
Deliverables
- A vetted Source Log (10–15 credible items)
- An H2/H3 outline with talking points and internal link targets
- A one-sentence thesis and unique angle
Step 1 — Clarify the Question
Write the exact reader question you’re answering and its search intent. Add your target and secondary keywords plus a must-include list (stats, definitions, objections).
Step 2 — Collect & Vet Sources
Scan top SERP results, government/academic sites, industry reports and credible local sources. Log each item with author, date, claim and confidence. Prefer primary data and current publications.
Step 3 — Summarise & Cluster with AI
Paste your Source Log and ask AI to extract key claims, then cluster them into themes (problems, causes, solutions, risks, examples). Mark contradictory claims for manual review.
Step 4 — Draft the Angle & Thesis
Create a short, opinionated thesis that differentiates your article. Example: “Most AI guides skip the QA step—this one makes quality the constraint.”
Step 5 — Build the H2/H3 Outline
- Map each H2 to a theme cluster.
- Under each H2, add H3s for definitions, steps, examples and risks.
- Attach at least 2 sources to every H2 and note internal links.
Reusable Prompts
Source Table Prompt
From the links below, create a table with columns: URL | Title | Author/Org | Date | Key Claim | Evidence Type | Confidence (1–5). Flag outdated or weak sources.
Outline Prompt
Propose an H2/H3 outline that fully answers the query. Use only these sources. Note which claims map to which sources. Include an objections/risks section.
Quality Gates
- Coverage: does the outline answer the whole question?
- Authority: are we leaning on strong, recent sources?
- Uniqueness: do we add a POV or data others lack?
Template (copy/paste)
Title: Thesis: Primary/Secondary Keywords: Target Reader: Internal Links: H2 1: - Point A (Source #) - Point B (Source #) H2 2: - ... Objections/Risks: CTA:
Once approved, hand the outline to the writer with time estimates and asset requests (charts, screenshots, quotes).
Pair this with: Editorial AI Workflow · QA Checklist for AI Content