Cite-Assist Research Skill

Domain: Academic research and citation retrieval Version: 1.0.0 Last Updated: 2025-12-15

Overview

Cite-assist provides semantic search across a Zotero library with ~224 documents and ~41k text chunks. It uses ModernBERT-large embeddings with MPS GPU acceleration for fast, accurate retrieval of relevant passages and document summaries.

API Endpoint

POST http://localhost:8000/api/v3/search

Request Format

{
  "query": "prosecutorial discretion",
  "library_id": 5673253,
  "max_results": 10,
  "min_score": 0.3,
  "output_mode": "auto",
  "weights": {"chunk": 0.8, "summary": 0.2}
}

Parameters

Output Modes

Mode Selection Guide

Use auto when:

• Starting research on a new topic
• Unsure whether you need passages or document overviews
• Want the system to optimize for relevance

Use chunks when:

• Need specific quotable passages
• Looking for particular arguments or evidence
• Building support for a specific claim

Use summaries when:

• Conducting literature review
• Need to understand what documents cover a topic
• Looking for documents to read in full

Use both when:

• Need comprehensive research results
• Want to see both the specific passage and document context
• Evaluating multiple sources for depth

Response Format

{
  "results": [
    {
      "id": "SCC7P3FV",
      "title": "Progressive Prosecution",
      "result_type": "chunk",
      "score": 0.85,
      "chunk_text": "Prosecutorial discretion allows...",
      "chunk_index": 5,
      "summary": "This article examines...",
      "chunk_score": 0.85,
      "summary_score": 0.60
    }
  ]
}

Response Fields by Mode

Performance Characteristics

Research Workflow

1. Exploratory Search

Start broad with auto mode to understand what's available:

{
  "query": "criminal justice reform",
  "output_mode": "auto",
  "max_results": 15
}

2. Targeted Evidence Search

Narrow to specific passages with chunks mode:

{
  "query": "prosecutorial discretion reduces racial disparities",
  "output_mode": "chunks",
  "min_score": 0.5,
  "max_results": 10
}

3. Literature Review

Use summaries mode to map the field:

{
  "query": "progressive prosecution movement",
  "output_mode": "summaries",
  "max_results": 20
}

4. Comprehensive Research

Use both mode for thorough analysis:

{
  "query": "plea bargaining coercion",
  "output_mode": "both",
  "max_results": 10
}

Adjusting Weights

The weights parameter controls how chunk vs. summary scores contribute to final ranking:

{
  "weights": {"chunk": 0.8, "summary": 0.2}
}

High chunk weight (default): Prioritizes specific passage matches High summary weight: Prioritizes document-level relevance

Adjust for your research needs:

• {"chunk": 1.0, "summary": 0.0} - Pure passage search
• {"chunk": 0.5, "summary": 0.5} - Balanced search
• {"chunk": 0.2, "summary": 0.8} - Document-focused search

Integration with Bluebook

After retrieving sources, format citations using the Academic Bluebook skill:

See `.claude/skills/academic-bluebook/SKILL.md` for citation formatting rules.

Key integration points:

• Use document title for article titles (italicize in academic format)
• Use id (Zotero key) to retrieve full metadata if needed
• Apply appropriate signals based on how source supports your argument

Collections Reference

Error Handling

Available Workflows

• workflows/exploratory-search.md - Initial research on a topic
• workflows/evidence-gathering.md - Finding supporting passages
• workflows/literature-review.md - Mapping sources on a topic

Cite-assist enables semantic research across your academic library.