Write Background Section

Draft or update the background/introduction section based on literature in .research/literature/

When to Use

• After completing /deep_research on core concepts
• When literature files exist but background.md is empty
• To update background after additional literature review

Prerequisites

• At least one literature summary in .research/literature/
• Project aims defined in .research/project_telos.md

Execution Steps

1. Gather Context

Read these files:

• .research/project_telos.md - Project aims and mission
• .research/literature/*.md - All literature summaries
• .research/literature/*.bib - All citations
• manuscript/background.md - Existing draft (if any)

2. Identify Structure

A well-structured background follows the funnel model:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│     BROAD: Field context and           │  ← Why does this field matter?
│     importance                          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│   NARROWER: Current approaches and      │  ← What's been done?
│   what's known                          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  SPECIFIC: Gaps, limitations,           │  ← What's missing?
│  open questions                         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ YOUR STUDY: How you address the gap     │  ← What are you doing?
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

3. Background Section Template

# Background

## [Field Context - 1-2 paragraphs]
<!-- Start broad: Why does this area matter? What's the big picture? -->
<!-- Include 2-4 citations to establish context -->

[Field] is critical for [reason]. Recent advances in [area] have enabled 
[capabilities] (Citation1, Year; Citation2, Year). However, significant 
challenges remain in [challenge area].

## [Current Approaches - 2-3 paragraphs]
<!-- What methods/approaches exist? What have others done? -->
<!-- Synthesize literature thematically, don't just list papers -->

Current approaches to [problem] fall into [N] categories. First, [approach 1]
has been widely used because [reason] (Citations). However, this approach
[limitation].

Second, [approach 2] addresses [specific aspect] by [method] (Citations).
While effective for [use case], this method [limitation or gap].

## [Gaps and Limitations - 1-2 paragraphs]
<!-- What's missing? What hasn't been adequately addressed? -->
<!-- This sets up your research question -->

Despite these advances, [gap 1] remains poorly understood. Additionally, 
[gap 2] has received limited attention, particularly in the context of 
[specific application].

## [Your Contribution - 1 paragraph]
<!-- How does your work address these gaps? -->
<!-- State aims clearly without overpromising -->

In this study, we address [gap] by [approach]. Specifically, we [aim 1], 
[aim 2], and [aim 3]. Our approach differs from prior work by [key 
distinction].

Types of Gaps

Identify which type of gap your study addresses:

1. Knowledge gap: "It is unknown whether..."
2. Methodological gap: "Previous studies have not used..."
3. Population gap: "No studies have examined this in..."
4. Theoretical gap: "No framework exists to explain..."
5. Practical gap: "Current approaches fail to address..."

Gap Statement Templates

- "Despite [what's known], [what's unknown]."
- "While previous work has [X], no studies have [Y]."
- "The relationship between [A] and [B] remains unclear."
- "Limited evidence exists regarding..."
- "A critical gap in our understanding is..."

4. Writing Guidelines

DO:

• Synthesize across sources (don't just summarize individual papers)
• Use present tense for established knowledge ("X is known to...")
• Use past tense for specific study findings ("Smith et al. found...")
• Connect ideas with transitions
• Build toward your research question logically
• Include 20-40 citations for a typical paper background

DON'T:

• List papers without connecting them ("Paper A did X. Paper B did Y.")
• Include citations without explanation
• Fabricate citations not in your .bib files
• Make claims without support
• Use jargon without defining it
• Front-load with history that doesn't connect to your work

5. Citation Density Guidelines

6. Generate Draft

Create or update manuscript/background.md:

# Background

<!-- 
Draft generated by Research Assistant on [DATE]
Based on literature in: .research/literature/
Related aims: [list aims from project_telos.md]

⚠️ REVIEW CAREFULLY: 
- Verify all citations against your .bib files
- Add context specific to your project
- Adjust for target journal style
-->

[Generated content following template above]

---

## References Used
[List of .bib files consulted]

## Potential Gaps to Address
[Any areas where more literature may be needed]

7. Post-Draft Checks

Present these checks to the user:

Background draft created. Please review:

✓ Citations verified against .research/literature/*.bib
? Check: Does the funnel flow logically to your aims?
? Check: Are there areas needing additional literature?
? Check: Does this match your target journal's style?

Suggested next steps:
A) Review and edit manuscript/background.md
B) Run /deep_research on [suggested missing topic]
C) Proceed to /write_methods if pipeline is ready

Common Introduction Mistakes

1. Too broad opening

   • ❌ "Since the beginning of time, humans have wondered about..."
   • ✅ "[Specific topic] affects [specific population/process]..."

2. Literature review too detailed

   • Introduction ≠ full literature review
   • Include only what's needed to establish the gap

3. Gap not clearly stated

   • Make it explicit, not implied
   • Should appear before study aims

4. Objectives mismatch methods

   • Every stated objective must be addressed in Methods/Results

5. Excessive length

   • Typical length: 500-1000 words (3-5 paragraphs)
   • Follow journal guidelines

Related Skills

• deep-research - If more literature is needed
• write-methods - Next manuscript section
• next - Get suggestions for next steps