Synthesis Prep Skill

Purpose: Create Sol (synthesis guidance) for the-art.

NOT an outline. Outlines → sequential expansion. Synthesis prep → transformation.

Format

Each section contains:

[Section Title]: [Descriptive Movement Name]

What this section does: [One sentence purpose]

How it should feel: [Tone, rhythm, emotional register]

Key material:

• [Evidence, quotes, facts - as library, NOT bullets to expand]

Narrative intent: [What this accomplishes in story arc]

Voice opportunity: [Where authentic voice shines]

Evidence: [Sources with timestamps/references]

Heading for draft: [Clear, natural section heading - not generic labels like "Opening Hook". First section gets no heading (article title serves as heading). Subsequent sections use ## headings.]

Note: Section headings should be evocative and specific (e.g., "The Gap", "Why CS50", "What It Enabled") rather than generic structural labels (e.g., "Introduction", "Background", "Analysis").

Anti-Pattern: Bullet Lists

WRONG:

## Opening Hook
- Childhood memory
- Terminal commands  
- Fascination

This invites: "Childhood memory. Terminal commands. Fascination." (mechanical expansion)

RIGHT:

## Opening Movement: The Seed

**What this does:** Establishes emotional foundation

**How it feels:** Sensory, immediate, not nostalgic

**Key material:** Best friend's dad at terminal, "magical invocations" phrase (load-bearing), walk quote timestamp 3:42

**Narrative intent:** Plant seed without resolving

**Voice opportunity:** Demonstration-before-naming

**Heading for draft:** (none - first section, article title serves)

This enables synthesis.

Quality Gate

Before handing to the-art:

• NO bullet-point structure
• Each section has thematic guidance
• Evidence is library (not template)
• Tone/feel specified
• Narrative intent clear

Get Sol right, synthesis becomes inevitable.