# tech-paper-template

Builds a complete paper logic skeleton using a thinking template and tests argument consistency before drafting begins.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 700 installs · ★ 10652
- Author: HKUSTDial
- License: CC-BY-4.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/HKUSTDial/Supervisor-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tech-paper-template/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-16
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/tech-paper-template

## What it does

This skill plans technical research papers before any prose writing starts. It categorizes the manuscript as either a Technique or a New Problem/Setting paper, then maps the core argument across seven template cells: background, up to three prior limitations, the core goal, engineering challenges, methodology components, and claimed contributions mapped to sections.

After populating the template, the skill executes four self-consistency checks. It validates whether the key idea resolves the stated limitations, whether challenges stem directly from implementation, whether methodology modules map one-to-one to challenges, and whether claimed contributions cover the methodology. It also derives a methodology outline with section titles and summaries.

The skill intentionally avoids drafting prose paragraphs and rejects benchmark papers, which require `benchmark-paper-template`. Writing an introduction requires `intro-drafter` after this skeleton passes all four checks.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add HKUSTDial/Supervisor-Skills --skill tech-paper-template -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/tech-paper-template/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/tech-paper-template/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add HKUSTDial/Supervisor-Skills --skill tech-paper-template -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/tech-paper-template/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add HKUSTDial/Supervisor-Skills --skill tech-paper-template -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/tech-paper-template/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install HKUSTDial/Supervisor-Skills tech-paper-template
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/tech-paper-template/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add HKUSTDial/Supervisor-Skills --skill tech-paper-template -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/HKUSTDial/Supervisor-Skills --path skills/tech-paper-template
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/tech-paper-template/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add HKUSTDial/Supervisor-Skills --skill tech-paper-template -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/HKUSTDial/Supervisor-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tech-paper-template/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- structure paper arguments before drafting full prose
- audit logic breaks between research limitations and technical solutions
- categorize manuscript positioning between technique and new problem
- map methodology subsections one-to-one against engineering challenges

## Example prompts
- Structure our distributed training project into a logic chain using tech-paper-template
- Run tech-paper-template to check if our methodology modules address each stated challenge
- Fill the thinking template for a new graph pruning paper before my advisor meeting

## Source text · SKILL.md · CC-BY-4.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 596f0ac95e015308.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 596f0ac95e015308
```text
---
name: tech-paper-template
description: >-
  Structures a technical paper's full logical skeleton using a
  thinking-template table (research background, limitations, key idea
  or goal, challenges, methodology modules, contributions), positions
  the paper as Technique or New Problem/Setting, and runs a four-point
  self-consistency check. Use when the user is brainstorming a paper,
  discussing progress with an advisor, or planning the paper before
  drafting. Also use for 'paper skeleton', 'paper logic chain',
  'thinking template', 'paper-structure planning'.
license: CC-BY-4.0
---

# Tech Paper Template

## Overview

Before drafting any prose, a technical paper needs a full logical
skeleton: the research background, the specific limitations of prior
work, the key idea or research goal, the technical challenges that
prevent a naive solution, the methodology modules that address each
challenge, and the contributions that the paper will claim. This
skill fills in that skeleton via a standardised thinking-template
table, positions the paper type, and runs four self-consistency
checks on the logic chain.

The output is a filled-in thinking template plus a consistency
report. It is suitable for advisor-student brainstorming sessions,
weekly progress meetings, and the final planning step before writing
begins. It does not draft Introduction prose (use `intro-drafter` for
that); it operates at the logical-skeleton layer.

## When to use this skill

- Early brainstorming of a paper project.
- Weekly progress meeting with an advisor or collaborator.
- Pre-drafting planning after `idea-evaluator` returns Strong Accept.
- The paper's logic chain feels incoherent and needs an audit.
- The user asks for 'paper skeleton', 'paper logic chain', 'thinking
  template', or 'paper-structure planning'.
- The user is unsure whether their paper is Technique or New
  Problem/Setting.

## When NOT to use this skill

- The paper is a benchmark paper. Use `benchmark-paper-template` (separate plugin).
- The user needs an Introduction-specific paragraph outline. Use
  `intro-drafter` (typically run this skill first, then
  `intro-drafter`).
- The user has a written draft and wants review feedback. Use
  `pre-submission-reviewer`.
- The idea itself is not yet vetted. Use `idea-evaluator` first.

## Core procedure

### Step 1: Paper-type positioning

See: references/paper-types.md for the positioning criteria and
worked examples.

Decide Technique versus New Problem/Setting. In Technique, the Key
Idea carries the narrative and Our Goal is a short bridge. In New
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 596f0ac95e015308

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First 2583 of 6975 bytes. © HKUSTDial · CC-BY-4.0 · https://github.com/HKUSTDial/Supervisor-Skills/tree/HEAD/skills/tech-paper-template/SKILL.md

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---
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