Can AI help me build a reading list?

Yes. Use PR040 to understand the paper's position in its field, then PR027 to generate reading suggestions. AI can categorize by type — foundational works, methodological alternatives, competing findings, recent extensions.

SQ3R Reading Method with AI: The Complete 5-Step Prompt System

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C007 📋 AI Reading Prompts 5 Prompts

SQ3R Reading Method with AI: The Complete 5-Step Prompt System

The research-backed SQ3R method powered by AI: 5 prompts for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review steps.

Copy Prompts ↓ ← Back to Prompts Library

8 min read 5 Prompts Guide 7 of 8

PR001 The Pre-Reading Scanner (Survey)

Step 1: Before reading any text

I’m about to read: [describe text — title, source, length, topic] Help me survey it first: – Based on the title/topic, what is this likely about? – What do I probably already know about this subject? – What are 3-4 questions I should try to answer while reading? – What vocabulary or concepts might I encounter that I should be ready for?

PR002 The Question Generator (Question)

Step 2: After surveying, before deep reading

Here’s the opening section/abstract/introduction of what I’m reading: “[paste]” Generate 5-7 questions I should keep in mind while reading the full text: – 2 factual questions (what, when, who) – 2 analytical questions (why, how) – 2 evaluative questions (so what, is this valid) – 1 connection question (how does this relate to…)

PR003 The Active Reading Companion (Read)

Step 3: While reading, paragraph by paragraph

I’m reading this passage: “[paste passage]” As I read, help me engage actively: – What are the key claims or ideas here? – What words or phrases carry the most weight? – Where should I slow down or re-read? – What’s the author doing rhetorically (explaining, arguing, describing)?

PR004 The Recall Tester (Recite)

Step 4: After finishing a section

I just finished reading a section. Without me pasting it again, I’ll try to recall the main points: [Your recall attempt] Now evaluate my recall: – What did I get right? – What did I miss or get wrong? – What details did I remember vs. the main ideas? – What should I re-read to strengthen my understanding?

PR005 The Consolidation Partner (Review)

Step 5: After completing the entire text

I’ve finished reading: “[describe what you read]” Here’s my understanding: [your summary] Help me review and consolidate: – Is my summary accurate and complete? – What are the 2-3 most important takeaways? – What questions do I still have? – How does this connect to other things I know? – What would help me remember this in a week?

▶ Watch This Guide

📖

Practice SQ3R with Real Articles 365 articles designed for systematic reading practice — perfect for building SQ3R into habit.

Explore Course →

What is the SQ3R Method?

SQ3R stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review — a five-step reading strategy developed by educational psychologist Francis Robinson in 1946. Nearly 80 years later, it remains one of the most effective reading methods ever created, with decades of research confirming its impact on comprehension and retention.

The method works because it transforms passive reading into an active process. Each step engages your brain differently: previewing activates prior knowledge, questioning creates purpose, active reading builds understanding, reciting tests retention, and reviewing creates lasting memory.

The SQ3R method with AI takes this proven framework and supercharges it. Instead of doing each step manually, you use targeted prompts that automate the cognitive work — generating better questions than you’d think of alone, identifying key concepts you might miss, and testing recall more rigorously than self-quizzing allows.

Step 1: Survey — Preview Before You Read

Most people dive straight into reading. SQ3R starts differently: you survey the material first. This means scanning the title, headings, introduction, conclusion, and any visual elements to build a mental map before reading word-by-word.

The Pre-Reading Scanner prompt (PR001) automates this step. Based on your description of the text, it predicts the content, activates what you already know, generates preliminary questions, and flags vocabulary you might encounter.

This preview accomplishes three things: it reduces cognitive load by preparing your brain for what’s coming, it connects new information to existing knowledge (which improves encoding), and it creates curiosity that drives engagement.

Step 2: Question — Create Purpose

After surveying, you generate questions to answer while reading. This step transforms passive consumption into active search. Your brain now has a job: find answers to these specific questions.

The Question Generator prompt (PR002) creates questions at multiple cognitive levels: factual (what, when, who), analytical (why, how), evaluative (so what, is this valid), and connective (how does this relate). This ensures comprehensive understanding, not just surface-level recall.

Write these questions down or keep them in a separate tab. Check back after each section. This simple habit dramatically improves retention because you’re constantly checking whether you’ve found what you’re looking for.

💡 Pro Tip

For quick reads, generate just 3 questions. For deep study material, generate 7-10. Match the investment to the importance of the material.

Step 3: Read — Active Engagement

Now you read — but actively, not passively. The Active Reading Companion prompt (PR003) helps you process each passage: identifying key claims, flagging important words, noting where to slow down, and recognizing what the author is doing rhetorically.

You don’t need to use this prompt for every paragraph. Use it when you encounter dense or confusing passages, or when you want to ensure you’re not just skimming. The goal is active engagement, not mechanical processing.

During this step, keep your questions from Step 2 visible. As you read, mentally note when you find answers. This creates a constant feedback loop between reading and comprehension.

Step 4: Recite — Test Yourself

After each major section, stop and recite what you just read. This is the step most people skip — and it’s the most important for retention.

The Recall Tester prompt (PR004) asks you to attempt recall before getting feedback. You state what you remember, then AI evaluates your recall: what you got right, what you missed, what you got wrong, and what to re-read.

This works because of the testing effect — actively retrieving information strengthens memory more than re-reading does. By testing yourself before moving on, you encode material more deeply and identify gaps while you can still fix them.

Step 5: Review — Consolidate for Long-Term Memory

After finishing the entire text, you review to consolidate understanding. The Consolidation Partner prompt (PR005) verifies your summary is accurate, extracts the most important takeaways, identifies remaining questions, connects the material to other knowledge, and suggests retention hooks.

Retention hooks are memory aids: vivid analogies, surprising implications, personal connections, or questions that make you curious to learn more. These hooks give your brain reasons to keep the information accessible rather than filing it away and forgetting it.

📌 The Full SQ3R Workflow

1. Survey (PR001) — 2 minutes. 2. Question (PR002) — 2 minutes. 3. Read (PR003 as needed) — varies. 4. Recite (PR004) — 2 minutes per section. 5. Review (PR005) — 3 minutes. Total overhead: about 50% more time, but dramatically better retention.

When to Use SQ3R

Use SQ3R for material you need to understand deeply and remember long-term: textbooks, research papers, professional development reading, important reports, anything you’ll be tested on or need to apply.

Don’t use SQ3R for casual reading: news articles, light reading for pleasure, quick scans for specific information. The method adds time, so reserve it for high-stakes material where the investment pays off.

For a lighter-weight approach, see the 5-Minute AI Reading Routine which uses elements of SQ3R in a compressed format. The AI Reading Coach pillar has routines for different time budgets.

SQ3R is particularly powerful for learning new subjects where you lack background knowledge. The survey and question steps fill in context that makes reading more productive, and the recite step catches misunderstandings early before they compound.

Explore all reading methods in the AI Reading Prompts Library, or visit the AI for Reading hub for the complete prompt ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

SQ3R stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review — a five-step reading strategy developed by educational psychologist Francis Robinson in 1946. Research shows it significantly improves comprehension and retention compared to passive reading.

AI prompts automate the cognitive work of each step: generating preview questions, identifying key concepts during reading, testing recall, and creating retention hooks. This makes SQ3R faster and more effective than doing it manually.

A full SQ3R cycle adds about 50% to your reading time but dramatically improves retention. For a 10-minute article, expect 15 minutes total. The investment pays off in better understanding and less re-reading later.

Use SQ3R for material you need to understand deeply and remember long-term — textbooks, research papers, professional development. For casual reading or news skimming, simpler approaches work fine. Match the method to the stakes.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

Practice SQ3R Until It’s Automatic

365 articles with structured reading practice — build the habits that make deep reading effortless.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles with Analysis 6 Courses + Community

1 More Prompt Guide Awaits

You’ve mastered SQ3R. Next, explore active reading prompts for paragraph-level engagement.

Join the Course → Next: Active Reading →

All AI Reading Prompts

Spaced Recall from Articles: A 2-Minute Review System

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C025 📝 Notes & Memory 1 Prompt

Spaced Recall from Articles: A 2-Minute Review System

Beat the forgetting curve with a simple review system: check what you remember, catch distortions, and strengthen weak spots.

Copy Prompt ↓ ← Back to Pillar

5 min read 4-Point Schedule Guide 5 of 5

PR034 The Spaced Review Prompt

Days after initial reading

A few days ago, I read about [topic]. I remember this much: [what you recall] Help me review: – What am I remembering accurately? – What have I forgotten or distorted? – What are the key points I should refresh? – Give me 2-3 questions to test myself on later.

▶ Watch This Guide

🔄

Build Your Spaced Review Habit 365 articles designed for comprehension — perfect material for building lasting memory.

Explore Course →

The Forgetting Curve and Why Spacing Works

Hermann Ebbinghaus made a depressing discovery in the 1880s: we forget approximately 70% of new information within 24 hours. Without intervention, reading an article today means losing most of it by tomorrow.

But Ebbinghaus also discovered the cure. Each time you retrieve a memory, you strengthen it. And if you space those retrievals out — instead of cramming them all together — the memory becomes progressively more durable. This is spaced repetition, and it’s the most well-validated learning technique in cognitive science.

The problem is implementation. Traditional spaced repetition requires flashcard apps, careful scheduling, and significant setup time. For casual reading — articles, essays, blog posts — that overhead kills adoption. You’re not going to create 20 Anki cards for every article you read.

The 2-minute review system strips spaced repetition down to its essentials: a simple prompt, four review points, and no app required.

The Review Schedule

Day 0 — Immediate recall: Right after finishing the article, close it and write down everything you remember. Don’t look back. This initial retrieval creates the first memory trace.

Day 2 — First review: Return to the topic mentally. What do you still remember without looking? Write it down, then use the prompt again. This is the critical intervention point — Day 2 is when most forgetting happens.

Day 7 — Second review: One week later, test yourself with the questions from previous sessions. If you can still answer them, the memory is consolidating.

Day 21 — Final consolidation: Three weeks out, information that survives is likely permanent. One last review session cements it.

💡 Pro Tip

You don’t need the original article for reviews. The prompt works with just your recall attempt and the topic. This means you can do reviews anywhere — no need to save or organize articles.

The Prompt in Action

PR034 has four components, each serving a specific purpose:

“What am I remembering accurately?” validates correct memories. When the AI confirms you got something right, that confirmation itself strengthens the memory.

“What have I forgotten or distorted?” catches memory decay before it compounds. Human memory is reconstructive — we sometimes reconstruct things incorrectly.

“What are the key points I should refresh?” prioritizes your review effort. You don’t need to re-read the entire article — just the parts that didn’t stick.

“Give me 2-3 questions to test myself on later” creates material for the next review session. These questions become your Day 7 and Day 21 tests.

For a one-time active recall test, see Flashcards from Reading (C022).

📌 Scoring Your Reviews

Track your recall accuracy across sessions. If you remember less than 50% on Day 2, use active recall techniques like flashcards (C022) immediately next time. If you remember 80%+ on Day 7, you can skip Day 21 for that article.

Making It Sustainable

No app dependency. You can use a notes app, a spreadsheet, or paper. The prompt works in any AI chat.

No article organization required. You don’t need to save, tag, or categorize articles. The review works from your memory plus the topic name.

Two minutes is two minutes. Write what you remember (30 seconds), paste into the prompt (10 seconds), read feedback (60 seconds), note gaps (20 seconds). Done.

Imperfect practice beats perfect abandonment. Missing a Day 2 review isn’t ideal, but a Day 4 review still helps. The schedule is a guideline, not a mandate.

Explore more retention strategies in the Notes & Memory pillar or return to the AI for Reading hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered that we forget ~70% of new information within 24 hours unless we review it. But each review makes the memory stronger and the forgetting slower. By spacing reviews at Day 0, 2, 7, and 21, you catch the memory before it fades completely.

Two minutes maximum. Write your recall (30 seconds), use the prompt (10 seconds), read feedback (60 seconds), note gaps (20 seconds). If sessions take longer, you’re probably trying to do too much.

Do the review whenever you remember. Day 4 instead of Day 2 still helps. Some spacing is always better than no spacing. Don’t let missed days discourage you from continuing.

No — the prompt works from your recall attempt and the topic name alone. This removes the friction of saving and organizing articles. The constraint of working from memory is the point.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

Build a Spaced Review Habit

365 articles designed for comprehension — perfect material for practicing spaced recall.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles with Analysis 6 Courses + Community

You’ve Completed the Notes & Memory Pillar

All 5 guides mastered. Ready to explore comprehension, summarization, or critical reading?

Join the Course → Explore All Pillars →

Notes & Memory Pillar

Socratic Reading Prompts: Turn Any Text into Questions

February 16, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C005 📋 AI Reading Prompts 2 Prompts

Socratic Reading Prompts: Turn Any Text into Questions

Transform passive reading into active inquiry: AI prompts that generate Socratic questions at three difficulty levels.

Copy Prompts ↓ ← Back to Prompts Library

6 min read 2 Prompts Guide 5 of 8

PR002 The Question Generator

Use after surveying, before deep reading

PR035 The Comprehension Check-In

Use mid-reading to verify understanding

I’m reading this text: “[paste passage]” My current understanding: [what you think it means] My confidence level: [high/medium/low] Help me check my comprehension: – Is my understanding accurate? – What signals should tell me if I’m on track or lost? – What should I re-read or look up? – What fix-up strategies would help here?

▶ Watch This Guide

❓

Practice Question-Based Reading Daily The Ultimate Reading Course includes 1,098 questions across 365 articles — perfect for building active reading habits.

Explore Course →

Why Questions Improve Comprehension

There’s a reason teachers ask questions instead of just lecturing. Questions create what psychologists call a “desirable difficulty” — a productive struggle that strengthens learning. When you read with questions in mind, your brain shifts from passive reception to active search mode.

Research consistently shows that question-based reading improves comprehension by 30-50% compared to passive reading. The mechanism is simple: questions give your brain a filter. Instead of trying to absorb everything equally, you prioritize information that answers your questions — and that selective attention is what builds understanding.

The Socratic method — learning through questioning — has survived 2,400 years because it works. Socratic reading prompts bring this ancient technique to modern AI tools, letting you generate the kinds of questions that transform any text from something you read into something you understand.

The Question Generator: Before You Read

The first prompt (PR002) generates questions from an introduction or abstract — the part of text that previews what’s coming. This timing matters. You want questions before deep reading, not after, so they can guide your attention as you go.

The prompt asks for questions at three cognitive levels:

Factual questions (what, when, who) test basic comprehension. These are the building blocks — you can’t analyze what you don’t understand at surface level. Examples: “What year did this happen?” “Who proposed this theory?” “What are the main components?”

Analytical questions (why, how) push deeper. They force you to understand mechanisms, causes, and relationships. Examples: “Why does this process work?” “How does A lead to B?” “What explains this pattern?”

Evaluative questions (so what, is this valid) build critical thinking. They ask you to judge significance and quality. Examples: “Is the evidence convincing?” “What are the limitations?” “Does this matter for [related topic]?”

Connection questions link new knowledge to existing knowledge. This is where learning sticks. Examples: “How does this relate to [something I already know]?” “What does this remind me of?”

💡 Pro Tip

After getting your questions, write them down (or keep them in a separate tab). Check back after each section to see which questions you can now answer. This simple habit dramatically improves retention.

The Comprehension Check-In: While You Read

The second prompt (PR035) is for mid-reading verification. It’s the “am I actually getting this?” moment. Most readers skip this step — and most readers forget most of what they read.

The key is including your current understanding in the prompt. This forces you to articulate what you think the text means, which is itself a comprehension exercise. AI then compares your understanding against the source and identifies gaps.

Fix-up strategies are specific techniques for when comprehension breaks down: re-reading, looking up terms, adjusting reading speed, activating prior knowledge. The prompt suggests which strategy fits your specific confusion.

Three Difficulty Modes

You can adjust question difficulty based on your purpose:

Quick Skim Mode

Generate only 3 factual questions. Use when you just need the gist. Questions like “What’s the main claim?” and “What evidence is given?” keep you focused without over-investing in casual reading.

Standard Learning Mode

Use the full 7-question template (2 factual + 2 analytical + 2 evaluative + 1 connection). This is the sweet spot for most reading where you want to understand and remember.

Deep Study Mode

Add a request: “Also generate 3 questions I should be able to answer after reading, and 2 questions the text probably won’t answer but I should research independently.” This mode is for material you’re studying seriously — textbooks, research papers, professional development.

📌 Combine with Other Prompts

Socratic prompts pair well with the SQ3R method prompts (questions are the Q step) and mid-reading check-ins. For structured reading routines that build these skills systematically, see the full prompts library.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Generating questions but not using them. Questions only work if you actively try to answer them while reading. Write them down. Check back. This is the step that makes the difference.

Mistake 2: All factual questions. Easy questions feel productive but don’t build deep understanding. Make sure you include analytical and evaluative levels, even if they’re harder to answer.

Mistake 3: Skipping the comprehension check-in. Your brain is very good at feeling like it understands something it doesn’t. Mid-reading verification catches these illusions before they compound.

Mistake 4: Not stating your current understanding. When using PR035, include what you think the passage means. Vague “I’m confused” statements get vague help. Specific “I think it means X” gets specific correction.

The AI for Reading hub has more techniques for active reading. But question generation is where it all starts — the skill that turns reading from passive consumption into active learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Socratic reading prompts are AI-powered question generators that help you read actively by creating questions before and during reading. They mimic the Socratic method — learning through questioning rather than passive consumption.

Questions create purpose and direction. When you read to answer specific questions, your brain filters for relevant information, makes stronger connections, and encodes content more deeply into memory. Research shows question-based reading improves recall by 30-50%.

Factual questions ask what, when, who (surface level). Analytical questions ask how and why (deeper understanding). Evaluative questions ask ‘so what’ and ‘is this valid’ (critical thinking). Using all three levels creates comprehensive comprehension.

Check in after each major section, whenever you notice your mind wandering, or when you encounter a confusing passage. The Comprehension Check-In prompt (PR035) helps you verify understanding and identify what needs re-reading.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

Questions That Build Real Comprehension

1,098 questions across 365 articles — the practice you need to make question-based reading automatic.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles with Analysis 6 Courses + Community

3 More Prompt Guides Await

You’ve learned Socratic questioning. Next, explore vocabulary building, structured reading methods, and active engagement techniques.

Join the Course → Next: Vocabulary Prompts →

All AI Reading Prompts

Sentence-by-Sentence Coach: The ‘Stop and Explain’ Prompt

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C013 🧠 Understand Difficult Text 1 Prompt

Sentence-by-Sentence Coach: The ‘Stop and Explain’ Prompt

For the toughest passages: a prompt that walks you through sentence by sentence in speed mode or deep mode.

Copy Prompt ↓ ← Back to Pillar

6 min read Deep Analysis Guide 5 of 6

PR010 The Paragraph Autopsy

For close reading of individual paragraphs

Here’s a single paragraph: “[paste paragraph]” Dissect it completely: – What’s the topic sentence (stated or implied)? – What function does each sentence serve? – How does it connect to what likely came before/after? – What makes this paragraph effective or ineffective?

▶ Watch This Guide

💡

Practice Close Reading Daily 365 articles with dense, challenging passages — the perfect material to sharpen your sentence-level analysis.

Explore Course →

When to Use Sentence-by-Sentence Analysis

Some passages resist all your normal strategies. You’ve read them twice. You’ve tried to summarize. You’ve asked AI to simplify. And yet — the meaning still slides away like water through your fingers.

This is when you need the sentence by sentence explanation prompt. It’s the highest-resolution tool in your comprehension arsenal: slower than other approaches, but it catches everything. Where broader prompts skim the surface, the Paragraph Autopsy (PR010) dives deep.

Use it when you’ve exhausted other options. When a passage is so dense, so convoluted, or so critical to your understanding that you need to understand exactly what each sentence contributes. Academic papers, legal documents, philosophical arguments, complex technical writing — these are the ideal targets.

The key insight: most paragraphs are not puzzles to be solved — they’re structures to be understood. Each sentence serves a function: introducing, supporting, qualifying, transitioning, concluding. Once you see the function, the meaning often reveals itself.

The Paragraph Autopsy Prompt

The Paragraph Autopsy (PR010) does exactly what its name suggests: it dissects a paragraph completely, examining each component to understand how the whole works.

The prompt asks four key questions. First, what’s the topic sentence — stated or implied? This grounds everything else. Sometimes the topic sentence is explicit (first or last sentence). Sometimes it’s distributed across multiple sentences. Sometimes it’s implied and never stated directly.

Second, what function does each sentence serve? Is it providing evidence? Offering a counterargument? Qualifying a claim? Transitioning to a new idea? Sentences don’t just contain content — they perform rhetorical moves. Understanding the move helps you understand the content.

Third, how does the paragraph connect to what came before and what comes after? Paragraphs don’t exist in isolation. They’re part of a larger argument, narrative, or explanation. Understanding the connection often illuminates why the author chose specific words and structures.

Fourth, what makes this paragraph effective or ineffective? This critical lens helps you engage actively rather than passively. You’re not just receiving information — you’re evaluating how well the author communicated it.

💡 Pro Tip

After getting the AI’s analysis, try restating each sentence’s function in your own words. If you can say “This sentence provides evidence for the previous claim” or “This sentence anticipates a counterargument,” you’ve truly understood the structure — not just read about it.

Speed Mode vs. Deep Mode

Speed mode is for when you need to unstick yourself quickly. You get the topic sentence identification and a brief functional summary — enough to continue reading with comprehension. Ask for “a quick structural overview” or “just the topic sentence and main moves.”

Deep mode is for when you need complete understanding. You get sentence-by-sentence analysis: what each one does, how it connects to others, why the author structured it this way. This takes longer but leaves no ambiguity.

The workflow: Start with speed mode. If that’s enough to unlock the passage, move on. If specific sentences remain confusing after speed mode analysis, escalate those sentences to deep mode. Don’t spend deep-mode attention on sentences that speed mode already clarified.

For related techniques, the Simplify Complex Text workflow handles multiple paragraphs at a broader level, while Active Reading Prompts keep you engaged without requiring full dissection.

📌 The Escalation Ladder

1. First pass: Read the paragraph normally. If confused, re-read once. 2. Second pass: Use broader tools like the Dense Passage Decoder (C009). 3. Third pass: Use Paragraph Autopsy in speed mode. 4. Final pass: Escalate specific sentences to deep mode only if still stuck. This sequence saves time — you invest maximum effort only where it’s needed.

Example: Breaking Down a Dense Passage

Consider a paragraph from an economics paper: “While monetary policy has traditionally focused on interest rate manipulation, the post-2008 era introduced unconventional tools like quantitative easing. However, the transmission mechanisms of these policies remain contested. Some argue liquidity effects dominate; others emphasize portfolio rebalancing. The empirical evidence is mixed, suggesting context-dependent effectiveness.”

Speed mode output might identify: “Topic sentence: First sentence establishes the shift from traditional to unconventional monetary policy. Main moves: Introduce change → Flag controversy → Present competing views → Acknowledge empirical ambiguity.”

Deep mode would add: “Sentence 2 functions as a pivot — ‘However’ signals the paragraph isn’t about describing tools but about their contested nature. Sentence 3 names the competing camps without endorsing either. Sentence 4 provides the author’s own tentative conclusion: ‘context-dependent’ suggests they believe both camps are partially right.”

Notice how the deep analysis reveals authorial stance that a surface reading might miss. The author isn’t just neutrally presenting views — they’re positioning themselves through careful word choice like “mixed” and “context-dependent.”

When Sentence-Level Isn’t Enough

If you’re spending more than 3-5 minutes on a single paragraph with PR010, the issue is probably missing background knowledge rather than reading skill. The Understand Difficult Text pillar has prompts for exactly this — use C011’s Prerequisites Prompt to identify knowledge gaps, then return to sentence-level analysis with that foundation.

Similarly, if you understand each sentence individually but can’t see how they form a coherent argument, you need the AI for Reading hub’s argument mapping tools rather than more sentence dissection. Different problems require different solutions.

The goal is never to use the most powerful tool available — it’s to use the right tool for each situation. Sentence-by-sentence analysis is the scalpel. Make sure you actually need surgery before you start cutting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Use it for the toughest passages — when you’ve tried other approaches and still can’t crack the meaning. It’s the highest-resolution tool: slower, but it catches everything. Start with broader prompts like the Dense Passage Decoder; escalate to sentence-by-sentence only when needed.

Speed mode gives you the topic sentence and function summary in 2-3 sentences total — enough to unstick yourself. Deep mode dissects every sentence individually, explaining its function, connections, and effectiveness. Use speed mode first; switch to deep mode for sentences that remain confusing.

If you’re spending more than 3-5 minutes on sentence-by-sentence analysis, the issue is likely missing background knowledge rather than reading skill. Use the Prerequisites Prompt (C011) to identify gaps, then return to sentence-level analysis.

You can, but the output quality drops significantly. The prompt works best on single paragraphs — the AI can give focused attention to each sentence. For multiple paragraphs, use the Simplify Complex Text workflow (C009) first, then zoom into specific paragraphs as needed.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

Master Close Reading Through Practice

The best readers don’t just understand words — they understand structure. Build that skill with daily practice on challenging passages across every topic.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles with Analysis 6 Courses + Community

One More Comprehension Guide Awaits

You’ve mastered sentence-level analysis. Complete the pillar with glossary building from any article.

Join the Course → Next: Make a Glossary →

Understand Difficult Text Pillar

Research Brief Prompt: Multiple Sources to Single Brief

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C052 💼 Reading for Work 2 Prompts

Research Brief Prompt: Multiple Sources to Single Brief

Synthesize 2-5 sources into a coherent research brief — find consensus, flag disagreements, identify gaps, and form your own position.

Copy Prompts ↓ ← Back to Pillar

7 min read Synthesis Method Guide 6 of 6

PR025 The Cross-Text Connector

Use with 2-3 sources for detailed comparison

I’ve read two pieces on related topics. Text 1 main idea: [summarize or paste] Text 2 main idea: [summarize or paste] Help me synthesize: – Where do these texts agree? – Where do they contradict or create tension? – What new understanding emerges from reading both? – What question do BOTH texts leave unanswered?

PR029 The Theme Synthesizer

Use with 3-5 sources for pattern identification

I’ve read several pieces on [topic]. Here are the main points from each: – Source 1: [key point] – Source 2: [key point] – Source 3: [key point] Help me synthesize: – What are the common threads? – What’s the emerging consensus (if any)? – What are the key debates or disagreements? – What’s MY takeaway after reading all of these?

▶ Watch This Guide

📚

Master Multi-Source Synthesis 365 articles with guided exercises. Build your reading skills systematically.

Explore Course →

Why You Need a Research Brief Prompt

You’ve read five articles. You have fifteen browser tabs open. Someone asks you to summarize what you learned, and you freeze. The information is all there — scattered across sources, partially contradictory, impossible to synthesize on the spot.

This is the professional reader’s everyday problem. We consume more than we can organize. A research brief prompt solves this by forcing structure onto chaos. Instead of hoping insights will emerge, you ask AI to find the connections, surface the disagreements, and identify what’s still unknown.

The result is a single document that captures what matters: where sources agree, where they fight, and what questions remain open.

How to Input Your Sources

Synthesis quality depends on input quality. The prompts work best when you give AI clean, labeled material:

For 2-3 sources: Use the Cross-Text Connector (PR025). Paste summaries or key excerpts directly. Label them clearly: “Text 1 main idea: [content]” and “Text 2 main idea: [content].”

For 3-5 sources: Use the Theme Synthesizer (PR029). Extract the single most important point from each source. Keep each summary to 2-3 sentences. The prompt handles pattern-finding.

💡 Pro Tip

If you’re working with long articles, run each through a summary prompt first. Then feed those summaries into the synthesis prompt. This prevents context overload and produces sharper comparisons.

Using the Prompts Together

The two prompts serve different stages of synthesis:

Start with PR025 (Cross-Text Connector) when you have 2-3 sources and need granular comparison. It reveals specific agreements and contradictions.

Graduate to PR029 (Theme Synthesizer) when you need to step back and see patterns across 3+ sources. It’s less about source-by-source comparison and more about “what’s the emerging story here?”

For complex research briefs, use both. Run PR025 on pairs of related sources first. Then feed those comparisons into PR029 to find the meta-patterns.

⚠️ Warning

Don’t let AI fabricate consensus. AI sometimes smooths over disagreements to sound coherent. If your synthesis claims “all sources agree,” double-check. Real research rarely has perfect consensus.

From Synthesis to Brief

Once you have AI’s synthesis, shape it into a professional brief:

Lead with consensus — what do most sources agree on? This anchors your brief in shared ground.

Flag disagreements explicitly — where do sources diverge? What are the stakes of each position?

Identify gaps — what questions remain unanswered by all sources? This is often the most valuable insight for decision-makers.

Add your recommendation — based on the synthesis, what should happen next?

If you’re comparing how different sources frame the same event, pair this with the Compare Two Articles prompt for deeper framing analysis. For the complete work-reading toolkit, explore the Reading for Work pillar.

Frequently Asked Questions

For synthesis, summaries work better. Extract the key point from each source (2-3 sentences). Full articles overwhelm the comparison and dilute the synthesis. If you need full-text analysis, run each article through a summary prompt first.

PR025 works best with 2-3 sources for granular comparison. PR029 handles 3-5 sources for pattern identification. For more than 5, batch them — synthesize groups of 3-5, then synthesize the syntheses.

Ask a follow-up: “For each point in the synthesis, indicate which source(s) support it.” Or: “Flag any claim that only one source makes versus claims supported by multiple sources.” This keeps your brief credible.

That’s valuable information. A good brief doesn’t hide contradictions — it flags them. Stakeholders need to know where evidence is contested. Identify what explains the disagreement: different data, different methods, different assumptions?

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

You’ve Completed the Work Reading Pillar

All 6 guides mastered. Ready to practice on real articles? 365 articles with expert analysis await.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles with Analysis 6 Courses + Community

You’ve Completed the Work Reading Pillar

All 6 guides mastered: reports, stakeholder briefs, email summaries, decision matrices, competitive intel, and research synthesis. Ready to explore other pillars?

Join the Course → Explore All Pillars →

All Reading for Work Guides

Reproducibility Checklist: What Would You Need to Replicate?

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C064 🔬 Research Papers 1 Prompt

Reproducibility Checklist: What Would You Need to Replicate?

The ultimate credibility test for any study — assess whether a paper provides enough detail for another researcher to re-run the exact analysis and verify the results.

5 min read 1 Prompt Guide 4 of 6

PR040 Academic Paper Navigator — Reproducibility Mode

Use after reading a paper’s methods section

I just read this research paper. Here’s the methods section: “[paste methods section]” Could I replicate this study? Build me a reproducibility checklist: – DATA: Is the dataset publicly available? What would I need to access or recreate it? – METHODS: Are procedures described in enough detail to follow step-by-step? – MATERIALS: What tools, software, instruments, or resources are required? – CODE: Is analysis code shared? If not, could I recreate the analysis from the description? – ANALYSIS PIPELINE: Are all steps from raw data to final results documented? For each category, rate: ✅ Fully provided | ⚠️ Partially described | ❌ Missing or unclear

🔬

Build Rigorous Reading Habits 365 articles with RC questions that train you to evaluate evidence quality and research transparency.

Explore Course →

Why Reproducibility Matters (Even If You’ll Never Replicate)

You’re probably not going to re-run the study. So why care about reproducibility? Because it’s the best proxy for trustworthiness.

A study that provides enough detail to replicate is a study where the researchers have thought carefully about their methods. It’s a study where reviewers and readers can verify claims independently. Missing reproducibility information isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a red flag.

The reproducibility checklist prompt turns AI into your research transparency auditor. Paste the methods section, and AI will systematically evaluate what’s provided, what’s missing, and what you’d need to verify the results yourself.

The Five Categories of Reproducibility

The prompt evaluates five critical areas:

DATA: Is the dataset publicly available? If not, what would you need to recreate or access it? Private datasets aren’t always a problem (medical records, for example), but the paper should explain why and describe the data in enough detail for others to collect similar data.

METHODS: Are procedures described step-by-step? Could you follow the methods section like a recipe? Vague descriptions like “participants completed a survey” fail this test; specific descriptions like “participants completed the 20-item PANAS scale via Qualtrics” pass.

MATERIALS: What tools, software, instruments, or resources are required? Are version numbers specified? A study using “SPSS” is less reproducible than one using “SPSS v27” because software updates can change results.

CODE: Is analysis code shared (via GitHub, OSF, or supplementary materials)? If not, is the analysis described precisely enough to recreate? Statistical modeling choices often determine results — sharing code removes ambiguity.

ANALYSIS PIPELINE: Can you trace the path from raw data to final results? Are data cleaning steps documented? Are exclusion criteria explicit? Missing steps in the pipeline are where errors and p-hacking hide.

⚡ Pro Tip

After running the checklist, ask AI: “Which missing items would most prevent replication? Rank them by severity.” This helps you focus on the most critical gaps.

How to Interpret the Checklist

The prompt generates a rating for each category:

✅ Fully provided: Another researcher could replicate this aspect without guessing or contacting the authors.

⚠️ Partially described: Some information is provided, but gaps remain. You might be able to approximate the procedure, but not replicate it exactly.

❌ Missing or unclear: Critical information is absent. Replication would require significant guesswork or direct communication with authors.

💡 Example Output

DATA: ⚠️ Data not shared publicly, but sample characteristics are detailed and recruitment procedures are clear enough to collect comparable data.

METHODS: ✅ Full experimental protocol with randomization procedure, timing, and stimulus descriptions.

MATERIALS: ⚠️ Software mentioned (Python, R) but version numbers not specified. Stimulus materials not included.

CODE: ❌ No code shared. Statistical tests named but specific model specifications not provided.

ANALYSIS PIPELINE: ⚠️ Data exclusion criteria stated, but data cleaning steps not documented.

⚠ Important Limitation

A perfect checklist score doesn’t mean the study is correct — only that it’s transparent. Conversely, missing information may have legitimate reasons (privacy, proprietary tools). Use the checklist as one input, not a verdict.

Build Your Research Evaluation Stack

The Reproducibility Checklist works alongside:

Limitations & Assumptions — Find what the paper admits and what it doesn’t

Methods Decoder — Understand what the study did before evaluating transparency

Related Work Finder — Find replications and contradictory studies

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The checklist is a reading tool, not a lab tool. By asking “could I replicate this?”, you develop a sharper eye for what’s missing, what’s vague, and what’s well-documented. This makes you a more critical reader.

Reproducibility means getting the same results from the same data using the same methods. Replicability means getting similar results with new data using the same methods. This checklist focuses on reproducibility.

Yes, with adjusted categories. Qualitative studies won’t have datasets or statistical code, but they should document interview protocols, coding frameworks, and analytical procedures. The principle is the same: could another researcher follow the same process?

There’s no universal threshold, but papers that provide data access, complete methods descriptions, and analysis code are significantly more trustworthy. Missing one or two items is normal; missing most items is a red flag.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

Evaluate Research Like an Expert

Build the critical reading skills to assess research quality across 365 real articles.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles 6 Courses

Trust Research That Earns It

You’ve got the Reproducibility Checklist. Next, find related work and build your reading list.

Join the Course → Next: Related Work →

All Research Paper Guides

Related Work Finder: What Should You Read Next?

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C065 🔬 Research Papers 2 Prompts

Related Work Finder: What Should You Read Next?

After finishing a paper, use AI to identify related work, chase key citations, and build a prioritized reading list — so every paper leads to the next one that matters.

6 min read 2 Prompts Guide 5 of 6

PR040 Academic Paper Navigator

Use before reading a research paper

I’m reading an academic paper. Here’s the abstract: “[paste abstract]” Before I read the full paper, help me: – Identify the research question and why it matters – Understand what to pay attention to in each section (intro, methods, results, discussion) – Flag jargon I should look up first – Tell me what questions to keep in mind while reading

PR027 The “So What” Connector

Use to connect the paper to the bigger picture and find next reads

I just read this: “[paste passage]” Connect it to the bigger picture: – What larger debate or conversation is this part of? – How does this connect to [topic I already know about]? – What real-world situations does this help me understand? – What should I read next to go deeper?

🔬

Build Your Research Reading Skills Systematically 365 articles with RC questions, expert analysis, and structured practice to make academic reading instinctive.

Explore Course →

The Two-Prompt Workflow for Finding Related Work

You’ve finished a research paper. Now what? Most people close the PDF and move on. But every good paper connects to a web of related work — foundational studies, competing findings, methodological alternatives, and recent extensions. Knowing what to read next is the difference between isolated knowledge and genuine expertise.

This guide gives you a two-prompt workflow to build a prioritized reading list from any paper you finish.

Step 1: Map the Paper’s Position (PR040)

Start with the Academic Paper Navigator. Even after reading a paper, running PR040 on the abstract helps you articulate where the paper fits in its field. It identifies the research question, the gap it claims to fill, and the conversation it’s joining.

This context is essential before hunting for related work. You need to know what the paper is responding to before you can find what responds to it.

Step 2: Connect to the Bigger Picture (PR027)

Now run the “So What” Connector prompt on the paper’s key findings or conclusion. This prompt maps four dimensions:

The larger debate: What broader academic conversation is this paper part of? What’s the unresolved question that makes this research matter?

Connections to what you know: How does this paper relate to topics you’re already familiar with? This bridges new knowledge to existing understanding.

Real-world relevance: What situations, decisions, or problems does this paper help you understand better?

What to read next: AI will suggest directions for further reading — sometimes specific papers, sometimes research areas to explore.

⚡ Pro Tip

After running PR027, ask a follow-up: “Categorize your reading suggestions as: (1) foundational works I should have read first, (2) methodological alternatives to this approach, (3) papers with competing findings, and (4) recent extensions of this work.” This gives you a structured reading list.

Citation Chasing: The Manual Complement

AI can suggest directions, but citation chasing gives you concrete papers. There are two directions:

Backward citation chasing — Look at what this paper cites. Which references appear repeatedly? Which are described as foundational? These are the papers that shaped the current study.

Forward citation chasing — Use Google Scholar’s “Cited by” feature to find papers that cite the one you just read. These represent the paper’s impact — how other researchers have built on, challenged, or applied the findings.

Combine AI’s suggestions with manual citation chasing for the most complete picture of the research landscape.

💡 Example: Building a Reading List

You read a paper on how sleep quality affects cognitive performance. Running PR027 reveals:

Larger debate: The sleep research community is split on whether quality or duration matters more.

Connections: This relates to circadian rhythm research you’ve read before.

Real-world relevance: Shift workers, new parents, jet lag recovery strategies.

Reading suggestions: The Walker lab’s work on sleep stages, the conflicting Dinges study on cumulative sleep debt, recent meta-analyses on sleep interventions.

Prioritizing Your Reading List

You’ll generate more suggestions than you can read. Prioritize by:

Papers cited by multiple sources — If the same paper keeps appearing in reference lists, it’s probably foundational.

Papers that challenge the findings — These sharpen your understanding by showing where the debate lies.

Recent publications — Forward citations from the last 2-3 years show where the field is moving.

Papers closest to your specific question — Not all related work is equally relevant to your purposes.

⚠ Important Limitation

AI can suggest topics and directions, but it may hallucinate specific paper titles or author names. Always verify AI’s reading suggestions against actual databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Semantic Scholar) before adding them to your list.

Complete Your Research Reading Stack

The Related Work Finder is the final step in your paper analysis workflow. Use it with:

Paper Map Prompt — Start here: navigate the paper before diving in

Methods Decoder — Understand what the study did

Limitations & Assumptions — Evaluate how much to trust the findings

Frequently Asked Questions

Paste the paper’s abstract or key findings into the So What Connector prompt (PR027) and ask AI to map the broader conversation. It will identify the larger debate, suggest connections, and recommend what to read next. Combine with backward citation chasing for a complete picture.

Citation chasing means following references in two directions. Backward chasing looks at what a paper cites (its sources). Forward chasing finds papers that cite this one (its impact). Together, they map the full research landscape.

Yes. Use PR040 to understand the paper’s position in its field, then PR027 to generate reading suggestions. AI can categorize suggestions by type — foundational works, methodological alternatives, competing findings, and recent extensions.

Start with papers that appear in multiple reference lists — these are likely foundational. Then read papers that challenge or extend the current study’s findings. Finally, check recent publications that cite the paper for the latest developments.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

Turn Every Paper Into a Research Program

Build the systematic reading skills that make academic literature manageable — 365 articles with structured practice.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles 6 Courses

Every Paper Leads to the Next

You’ve got the Related Work Finder. Use it with the full Research Papers pillar to turn isolated readings into systematic expertise.

Join the Course → All Paper Guides →

All Research Paper Guides

Reading Strategy Advisor: How to Approach Any Text

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C033 🎯 Reading Coach 1 Prompt

Reading Strategy Advisor: How to Approach Any Text

Get customized reading strategies before you start — whether to skim, what to focus on, what to skip, and how to take notes.

Copy Prompt ↓ ← Back to Pillar

5 min read Pre-Reading Tool Guide 3 of 4

PR037 The Reading Strategy Advisor

Before starting any text

I’m about to read: [describe the text — type, length, difficulty, purpose] My goal is: [why you’re reading it — exam prep, general knowledge, research, etc.] Advise me on reading strategy: – How should I approach this text (skim first? read linearly? jump around?) – What should I pay most attention to? – What can I safely skim or skip? – How should I take notes (if at all)?

▶ Watch This Guide

🧭

Practice on Diverse Content 365 articles across genres and difficulty levels — train your ability to select the right strategy for any text.

Explore Course →

Why Strategy Selection Matters

Most readers approach every text the same way: start at the beginning, read to the end. This works — barely — but it’s wildly inefficient. A news article doesn’t deserve the same approach as a legal contract. A textbook chapter isn’t a novel. A research paper isn’t a blog post.

Skilled readers automatically adjust their approach based on what they’re reading and why. The reading strategy advisor prompt makes this skill explicit. Before you dive in, you get customized guidance: whether to skim first, what sections matter most, what you can skip, and whether notes are worth the overhead.

Think of it as pre-flight planning. Pilots don’t just take off — they check the route, weather, fuel, and dozens of other factors. The strategy advisor does the same for reading: given your destination (goal) and your vehicle (the text), what’s the optimal flight path?

How the Prompt Works

Step 1: Describe the text. Type, length, source, difficulty. The more specific, the better. “A 15-page research paper from Nature on CRISPR” gives much better advice than “a science article.” Include anything unusual: “dense with equations,” “assumes economics background,” “written in 1954.”

Step 2: State your goal. Why are you reading this? Exam preparation, general knowledge, research for a project, decision-making, curiosity, or sharing with others? Your goal shapes everything.

Step 3: Get your strategy. The prompt returns four things: approach (skim, linear, strategic jumping), attention priorities (what matters most), skip permissions (what you can safely ignore), and note-taking guidance (whether to bother, and if so, what format).

💡 The Meta-Skill

Strategy selection is a meta-skill — a skill that makes other skills more effective. Once you internalize common patterns, you’ll start selecting strategies automatically without the prompt. Until then, the explicit practice builds your intuition.

Strategy Examples by Text Type

News article, goal: stay informed. Skim the headline and first paragraph for the main point. Skim subheadings if present. Read the conclusion. Only read middle sections if the topic warrants depth. No notes unless tracking a developing story.

Research paper, goal: understand methodology. Read abstract and conclusion first. Skim introduction for context. Deep read the methods section. Skim results for key findings. Skip literature review unless you need background.

Textbook chapter, goal: exam preparation. Survey headings and learning objectives first. Read linearly but adjust pace. Take structured notes (consider Cornell Notes). Re-read summary sections.

Business report, goal: make a decision. Jump straight to executive summary and recommendations. Then read methodology to assess reliability. Skim data sections for red flags. Skip background sections entirely.

📌 When Strategy Fails

No strategy survives contact with reality perfectly. If the text turns out harder than expected, slow down and add note-taking. If it’s easier, speed up. If your goal shifts mid-read, adjust accordingly. The strategy is a starting point, not a contract.

When to Use This Prompt

Use the reading strategy advisor prompt before anything substantial: content that takes more than 5 minutes, requires actual comprehension, or has consequences if you misunderstand.

Don’t bother for casual reading, content you’ll only skim anyway, or familiar formats where you already have a proven approach. The prompt adds overhead — make sure the time investment pays off.

For the full framework, explore the Reading Coach pillar. For prompts across all reading skills, see the AI for Reading hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

More is better. Include: type (article, paper, chapter), length, source/publication, topic, perceived difficulty, any special characteristics (“dense with jargon,” “assumes prior knowledge”). Specific descriptions yield specific strategies.

Adjust on the fly. Started reading for curiosity but realized you need to make a decision? Shift to conclusion-first reading and note-taking. Started for exam prep but the material is too basic? Speed up and reduce notes. Flexibility beats rigid adherence.

No — the overhead isn’t worth it for casual content or formats you’ve mastered. Use it for unfamiliar text types, important content, or when you’re unsure how to approach something. Over time, you’ll internalize the patterns and need the prompt less.

Experiment and calibrate. If suggested strategies consistently don’t match your needs, tell the AI what didn’t work and why. It can adjust recommendations. Also consider whether the issue is the strategy or your execution — sometimes unfamiliar approaches feel wrong before they start working.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

Practice Strategy Selection

365 articles across genres — train your ability to match approach to content type.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles with Analysis 6 Courses + Community

Try It on Your Next Text

Before your next substantial reading session, run PR037. Compare the recommended strategy to your default approach.

Join the Course → Next: Comprehension Check →

Reading Coach Pillar

Reading Journal Prompts: Insights, Questions & Next Actions

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C024 📝 Notes & Memory 2 Prompts

Reading Journal Prompts: Insights, Questions & Next Actions

Capture what surprised you, what you question, and what you’ll do differently — the reflection layer that turns reading into growth.

Copy Prompts ↓ ← Back to Pillar

6 min read Daily + Weekly Guide 4 of 5

PR035 The Post-Reading Journal Entry

After each significant reading session

I just finished reading: “[title/topic]” Help me create a journal entry by answering these prompts: **What I understood:** – Main argument or thesis in one sentence – Key supporting points I can recall – My confidence level: [high/medium/low] **What surprised me:** – Ideas that challenged my existing beliefs – New information I hadn’t encountered before **What I’m still questioning:** – Concepts I didn’t fully grasp – Arguments I’m not sure I agree with – What I’d like to explore further **What I’ll do with this:** – One actionable next step – How this connects to something I’m working on

PR039 The Weekly Reading Reflection

End of each week for pattern recognition

I want to reflect on my reading this week. Here’s what I read: – [List articles/chapters/books with brief notes on each] Help me see patterns: – What topics am I gravitating toward? – What am I avoiding or neglecting? – What habits are working well? – What’s one adjustment I should make next week? Also help me identify: – The single most valuable insight from this week – A belief that shifted or strengthened – What I should read next based on these patterns

▶ Watch This Guide

📓

365 Days of Reflection One article per day with structured analysis — build a year of reading journal entries.

Explore Course →

Journal Structure: Beyond Summary

A reading journal isn’t about summarizing what you read — that’s what notes are for. A reading journal captures your response to what you read: what surprised you, what you question, how your thinking changed, and what you’ll do differently.

Most people finish reading and immediately move on. The ideas fade within days. A reading journal forces processing. When you articulate what surprised you or what you’re still questioning, you’re doing the cognitive work that transforms information into understanding.

The Zettelkasten prompt (C023) captures ideas as atomic notes. This journal captures your relationship to those ideas — the personal layer that notes alone miss.

The Prompt Pack: Two Rhythms

Daily Entry: PR035

The post-reading journal entry works immediately after finishing any significant reading. “Significant” means anything worth remembering — not casual news browsing, but articles, chapters, or papers you want to learn from.

What I understood: Forces you to articulate the main point and your confidence level. If you struggle here, you probably need to re-read or dig deeper.

What surprised me: The most valuable section. Surprise indicates learning — your mental model updated. If nothing surprised you, either you already knew this material, or you weren’t reading actively.

What I’m questioning: Captures uncertainty and skepticism. These questions often lead to your best follow-up reading and thinking.

What I’ll do with this: Connects reading to action. Reading without application is entertainment. Even a small next step — “share this with X” or “apply this to Y” — makes the reading practical.

💡 Pro Tip

Complete the journal entry before doing anything else after reading. The longer you wait, the more detail you lose. Even a rough entry written in 5 minutes beats a polished entry attempted the next day.

Weekly Review: PR039

The weekly reflection looks across your reading to identify patterns. What topics attract you? What are you avoiding? How is your thinking changing over time?

This meta-level view catches blind spots individual entries miss. You might realize you’ve read five articles about productivity but nothing about relationships. Or that you keep reading about a topic but never acting on it. The patterns reveal what your reading practice actually is versus what you think it is.

The weekly prompt also helps direct future reading. Based on patterns, what should you read more of? What should you finally stop avoiding? What connections between this week’s readings deserve exploration?

📌 The Two-Rhythm System

Daily entries capture immediate response (5 min each). Weekly reviews synthesize patterns (15-20 min once). The combination provides both granular tracking and strategic direction. Neither rhythm alone is sufficient — you need both.

What to Track Beyond the Prompts

Some readers add additional tracking to their journals:

Quotes worth keeping: Copy 1-2 sentences that struck you. These become future writing fuel or atomic notes.

Connections made: How did this connect to other reading, conversations, or experiences? Explicit connection-logging builds an idea network over time.

Mood and context: Were you engaged or distracted? Morning or evening? Understanding when you read well helps optimize future sessions.

Return date: Some entries deserve revisiting. Mark entries for 1-week, 1-month, or 3-month review.

Don’t add tracking that you won’t actually use. Start with the core prompts, then add fields only when you feel their absence. Minimal sustainable practice beats elaborate abandoned systems.

Integrating with Other Tools

The reading journal connects to other note-taking approaches:

From journal to Zettelkasten: When a journal entry surfaces a particularly valuable insight, convert it to an atomic note using C023. The journal is your processing space; Zettelkasten is your permanent knowledge store.

From journal to flashcards: Questions in the “What I’m questioning” section often become good flashcard prompts. Use C022 to convert uncertainty into testable questions.

From journal to spaced review: The “What I understood” section becomes your Day 0 recall attempt for Spaced Recall (C025). You’ve already done the initial retrieval — now space it out.

Explore more memory systems in the Notes & Memory pillar or return to the AI for Reading hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Notes capture what the author said. Journals capture your response — what surprised you, what you question, how your thinking changed. Notes are about the content; journals are about your relationship to the content. Both are valuable, but they serve different purposes.

5 minutes for a daily entry, 15-20 minutes for the weekly review. If you’re spending longer, you’re probably over-engineering it. The goal is quick capture while ideas are fresh, not polished prose. Brief and consistent beats elaborate and sporadic.

Only for significant reading you want to learn from. Casual news browsing, light fiction, or quick reference lookups don’t need journal entries. Reserve journaling for reading that matters — articles, chapters, papers, or books where you want to retain and apply the ideas.

Either you already knew the material (in which case, why read it?), or you weren’t reading actively enough. If this happens frequently, try the active reading prompts from C008 to stay engaged. Surprise is the signal of learning — no surprise usually means no learning.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

Build Your Reflection Practice

365 articles designed for comprehension — perfect material for building a consistent journaling habit.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles with Analysis 6 Courses + Community

One More Note-Taking Guide Awaits

You’ve mastered reading journals. Complete the pillar with spaced recall systems.

Join the Course → Next: Spaced Recall →

Notes & Memory Pillar

Read Between the Lines: Subtext, Attitude & Intent

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C055 🧩 Inference 1 Prompt

Read Between the Lines: Uncover Subtext, Attitude & Intent

Find what the author really thinks — uncover unstated attitude, audience assumptions, what’s being avoided, and what a skeptical reader would notice.

Copy Prompt ↓ ← Back to Pillar

5 min read Subtext Analysis Guide 3 of 8

PR013 The “Read Between the Lines” Prompt

Use to understand subtext, attitude, and intent

Here’s a passage: “[paste passage]” What’s the subtext? Help me understand: – What is the author’s attitude toward the subject (even if not stated)? – What audience assumptions is the author making? – What’s being downplayed, avoided, or glossed over? – What would a skeptical reader notice?

▶ Watch This Guide

🎯

Practice Reading Between the Lines The Ultimate Reading Course includes 365 articles with inference questions that train exactly this skill — finding what’s implied but never stated.

Explore Course →

What Is Subtext (And Why It Matters More Than Text)

Every piece of writing has two layers: what’s said and what’s meant. The surface layer is explicit — the words on the page. The deeper layer is subtext — the author’s unstated attitude, the assumptions about readers, the topics carefully avoided.

When you read between the lines, you’re accessing this subtext layer. It’s where persuasion actually happens. A news article may present “just the facts,” but word choice, source selection, and emphasis all carry attitude. An opinion piece may argue one position while implicitly dismissing alternatives without addressing them.

The read between the lines prompt trains you to notice these invisible layers systematically. Instead of passively absorbing content, you start asking: what does the author really think? Who are they actually writing for? What are they hoping I won’t notice?

The Prompt: How to Use It

PR013 works by forcing AI to analyze four distinct dimensions of subtext:

1. Author Attitude (Even When Unstated)

Authors rarely announce their feelings directly. Instead, attitude leaks through word choice, emphasis, and framing. A writer who describes a policy as “aggressive” versus “bold” reveals stance without stating it. The prompt surfaces these attitude markers.

2. Audience Assumptions

Every text assumes something about its readers — their knowledge, beliefs, values, and concerns. Academic writing assumes familiarity with jargon. Political commentary assumes ideological alignment. Understanding audience assumptions reveals who the text is really for.

3. What’s Being Avoided

Sometimes the most revealing feature of a text is what’s not there. Counterarguments ignored, complications glossed over, alternative explanations unmentioned. The prompt asks AI to identify these strategic silences.

4. Skeptical Reader Perspective

A sympathetic reader accepts the frame. A skeptical reader questions it. The prompt asks: what would someone looking for flaws notice? This surfaces weak points and rhetorical sleight of hand.

💡 Pro Tip

After running this prompt, try a follow-up: “Now rewrite the first paragraph from the opposite attitude — same facts, but the author strongly disagrees with the conclusion.” Comparing versions reveals how much attitude shapes “objective” writing.

Audience Assumptions: The Hidden Filter

Audience assumptions deserve special attention because they shape everything else. When an author assumes readers share certain beliefs, they don’t bother defending those beliefs — they become invisible premises.

Consider how different outlets cover the same story:

Business publications assume readers care about market impact, efficiency, and growth.

Advocacy publications assume readers already agree with the cause and want ammunition.

Academic writing assumes readers have technical background and value precision over accessibility.

If you’re not the assumed audience, you might accept premises that deserve scrutiny — or miss references that would change interpretation. The prompt surfaces these assumptions so you can evaluate them consciously.

📌 Example

Passage: “The new policy will streamline operations and reduce redundancy, positioning the company for sustainable growth in challenging market conditions.”

Author attitude: Positive — words like “streamline,” “sustainable,” and “challenging” frame the policy as necessary and forward-thinking.

Audience assumption: Readers value efficiency over other concerns (job security, worker satisfaction).

What’s avoided: Who is affected by “reducing redundancy”? What alternatives were considered?

Skeptical view: “Streamline” and “reduce redundancy” often mean layoffs. “Challenging conditions” deflects responsibility.

This prompt also appears in the Critical Reading pillar as the What’s Missing guide — same prompt, different context. Here we focus on inference; there we focus on gap analysis. Both matter.

Continue exploring inference tools in the Inference pillar or return to the AI for Reading hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Opinion pieces, speeches, political commentary, corporate communications, marketing, and persuasive writing generally have the most subtext. But even “objective” writing — news articles, academic papers, technical documentation — has subtext in what it emphasizes, ignores, and assumes.

Look at word choice. “Aggressive” vs “bold.” “Challenged” vs “failed.” “Streamlined” vs “cut.” Neutral-seeming prose often carries attitude through these subtle word choices. The prompt surfaces them by asking what a skeptical reader would notice.

When authors assume readers share certain beliefs, those beliefs become invisible premises. If you’re not the assumed audience, you might accept premises you’d question if they were explicit. Surfacing audience assumptions lets you evaluate whether you actually share them.

Yes — PR013 appears in both the Inference pillar (here) and the Critical Reading pillar (C044 What’s Missing). Same prompt, different contexts. Here we focus on inference and subtext; there we focus on gap analysis and argument evaluation. Both perspectives are valuable.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

See What Others Miss

365 articles with expert analysis train you to read between the lines automatically — seeing subtext, attitude, and hidden assumptions.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles with Analysis 6 Courses + Community

5 More Inference Guides Await

You’ve learned to read between the lines. Continue exploring inference, subtext, and hidden meaning across the Inference pillar.

Join the Course → Explore Inference Pillar →

All Inference Guides

RC Passage Strategist: How to Approach Any Exam Passage

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C067 🎓 RC Exam Prep 1 Prompt

RC Passage Strategist: Approach Any Exam Passage Like a Top Scorer

Pattern recognition beats reading speed. This prompt teaches you to see a passage’s structure in seconds, predict what questions will target, and recognise trap answers before they trap you.

Copy Prompt ↓ ← Back to Pillar

8 min read Strategy Guide 1 of 6

PR046 The RC Passage Strategist

Use when approaching any exam RC passage

Here’s a reading comprehension passage: “[paste passage]” Help me approach it like a test-taker: – What’s the main idea in one sentence? – What’s the structure (argument, compare/contrast, cause-effect, chronological)? – What’s the author’s tone/attitude? – What are the 2-3 key points that questions will likely target? – What traps might incorrect answer choices set?

▶ Watch This Guide

🎯

365 RC Passages. 1,098 Questions. Real Exam Practice. The Ultimate Reading Course gives you the passages and questions to drill this strategy until it becomes automatic.

Explore Course →

Why Most RC Strategies Fail (And What Actually Works)

Here’s what most test-prep advice gets wrong about reading comprehension: it treats every passage the same way. “Read carefully.” “Underline key points.” “Eliminate wrong answers.” This advice isn’t wrong — it’s just useless. It’s like telling a chess player to “make good moves.”

What separates a 90th-percentile RC scorer from an average one isn’t reading speed or vocabulary. It’s pattern recognition — the ability to see a passage’s structure in seconds, predict what questions will target, and recognise trap answers before they trap you. That’s the RC passage strategy this guide teaches, and it works across CAT, GMAT, and GRE formats.

Step 1: Extract the Main Idea (60 Seconds)

Every RC passage has one central claim. Your first job is to find it — not to understand every detail, but to know what the passage is fundamentally about.

The main idea usually lives in one of three places: the first paragraph’s last sentence, the second paragraph’s opening, or the final paragraph’s conclusion. Skim for it during your first read.

💡 Pro Tip

The main idea is almost never a detail or an example. If your “main idea” includes a specific name, date, or statistic, you’ve latched onto a supporting detail, not the central argument. Zoom out one level.

Step 2: Map the Structure (30 Seconds)

Exam passages follow predictable structures. The four you’ll encounter:

Argument — The author defends a position. Look for thesis, evidence, and concessions.

Compare/Contrast — Two viewpoints are presented. Questions ask you to distinguish them.

Cause-Effect — Something happened, and the passage explains why.

Chronological — Events unfold over time. Questions test sequencing.

Step 3: Read the Author’s Tone

The key is to find evaluative language — words like “unfortunately,” “promising,” “merely,” “however,” “despite” — that reveal the author’s attitude beneath the factual surface.

The most common tones on competitive exams: cautiously optimistic, analytically neutral, mildly critical, and skeptically receptive. Extreme tones are almost never correct.

Step 4: Predict What Questions Will Target

Questions consistently target: the main idea, contrasts and transitions, qualified statements, cause-effect relationships, and the purpose of specific details.

Continue to Question Types (C068) for the next step in the RC Exam Prep sequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read the passage first — but read strategically. Skim for structure and main idea before diving into details. Reading questions first fragments your attention and often wastes time on details that don’t get tested.

Speed comes from pattern recognition, not reading faster. Once you can identify passage types and predict question targets, you spend less time re-reading. Practice with the RC Passage Strategist prompt until these patterns become automatic.

Yes — CAT, GMAT, and GRE all use similar passage structures and question types. The core strategy is identical. What varies is time allocation and passage length, which you adjust based on the specific exam.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

Strategy Without Practice Is Theory

365 passages with 1,098 questions. Drill this strategy until pattern recognition becomes automatic.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles with Analysis 6 Courses + Community

5 More RC Exam Prep Guides Await

You’ve learned passage strategy. Next, master question types, trap answers, inference questions, timed practice, and difficulty calibration.

Join the Course → Next: Question Types →

All RC Exam Prep Guides

Question Type Identifier: Know What They’re Really Asking

February 13, 2026February 9, 2026 by Aakash

C068 🎓 RC Exam Prep 1 Prompt

Question Type Identifier: Know What They’re Really Asking

Every RC question has a type — and every type has an optimal strategy. This prompt classifies any question instantly so you always know exactly how to approach it.

Copy Prompt ↓ ← Back to Pillar

7 min read Classification Guide 2 of 6

PR047 The Question Type Identifier

Use to classify what an RC question is really asking

Here’s an RC question: “[paste question]” Help me identify: – What type of question is this (main idea, inference, detail, tone, strengthen/weaken, etc.)? – Where in the passage should I look for the answer? – What makes wrong answers wrong for this question type? – What’s the best approach to answer this efficiently?

▶ Watch This Guide

🎓

Practice With 365 Real Passages The Ultimate Reading Course gives you structured practice across every question type — with detailed explanations for each answer choice.

Explore Course →

The Six RC Question Types You’ll See on Every Exam

The biggest time-waster in RC isn’t reading the passage. It’s reading the question, not knowing what it’s really asking, and then floundering through the answer choices hoping one clicks. Knowing your RC question types changes everything — because each type has a specific strategy.

Main Idea questions ask what the passage is primarily about. Signal words: “primarily concerned with,” “main purpose,” “best title.” Trap: choosing a supporting detail rather than the central argument.

Specific Detail questions ask what the passage explicitly states. Signal words: “according to the passage,” “the author mentions.” Trap: choosing what sounds right but isn’t actually stated.

Inference questions ask what can be concluded without being directly stated. Signal words: “it can be inferred,” “the author implies,” “suggests.” These are the hardest — the answer must be one logical step beyond the text, no more.

Tone and Attitude questions ask how the author feels. Track word choice throughout, not just one paragraph. Trap: confusing the author’s tone with a source they’re quoting.

Function questions ask why the author includes something. Signal words: “purpose of,” “function of,” “in order to.” Trap: describing what the detail says rather than why it’s there.

Strengthen/Weaken questions ask what would support or undermine the argument. These require understanding the argument’s structure before evaluating new information.

💡 Pro Tip

Before reading answer choices, pause and state what type of question you’re facing. This 2-second pause prevents the most common mistake: answering a different question than what was asked.

Continue to Wrong Answer Analyzer (C069) for the next step in understanding trap answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

The six core types appear on all three exams. What varies is the frequency and phrasing. GMAT emphasises inference and strengthen/weaken. GRE tests vocabulary-in-context more heavily. CAT includes more variety. But the underlying classification system is the same.

Look for signal words in the question stem. “According to the passage” = detail. “It can be inferred” = inference. “The author’s attitude” = tone. “In order to” = function. With practice, classification becomes automatic.

Track which types you get wrong most often. Most test-takers struggle with inference questions and strengthen/weaken. Focus your practice on your weakest type — that’s where the score gains live.

📚 The Ultimate Reading Course

Master Every Question Type

365 passages with 1,098 questions across every type. Detailed explanations show you why each answer is right or wrong.

Start Learning →

1,098 Practice Questions 365 Articles with Analysis 6 Courses + Community

4 More RC Exam Prep Guides Await

You’ve learned question types. Next, master trap answers, inference questions, timed practice, and difficulty calibration.

Join the Course → Next: Wrong Answers →

All RC Exam Prep Guides

SQ3R Reading Method with AI: The Complete 5-Step Prompt System

What is the SQ3R Method?

Step 1: Survey — Preview Before You Read

Step 2: Question — Create Purpose

Step 3: Read — Active Engagement

Step 4: Recite — Test Yourself

Step 5: Review — Consolidate for Long-Term Memory

When to Use SQ3R

Frequently Asked Questions

Practice SQ3R Until It’s Automatic

Continue Building Your Prompt Toolkit

1 More Prompt Guide Awaits

Spaced Recall from Articles: A 2-Minute Review System

The Forgetting Curve and Why Spacing Works

The Review Schedule

The Prompt in Action

Making It Sustainable

Frequently Asked Questions

Build a Spaced Review Habit

Complete Your Memory Toolkit

You’ve Completed the Notes & Memory Pillar

Socratic Reading Prompts: Turn Any Text into Questions

Why Questions Improve Comprehension

The Question Generator: Before You Read

The Comprehension Check-In: While You Read

Three Difficulty Modes

Quick Skim Mode

Standard Learning Mode

Deep Study Mode

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions That Build Real Comprehension

Continue Building Your Prompt Toolkit

3 More Prompt Guides Await

Sentence-by-Sentence Coach: The ‘Stop and Explain’ Prompt

When to Use Sentence-by-Sentence Analysis

The Paragraph Autopsy Prompt

Speed Mode vs. Deep Mode

Example: Breaking Down a Dense Passage

When Sentence-Level Isn’t Enough

Frequently Asked Questions

Master Close Reading Through Practice

Continue Building Your Comprehension Toolkit

One More Comprehension Guide Awaits

Research Brief Prompt: Multiple Sources to Single Brief

Why You Need a Research Brief Prompt

How to Input Your Sources

Using the Prompts Together

From Synthesis to Brief

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve Completed the Work Reading Pillar

You’ve Completed the Work Reading Pillar

You’ve Completed the Work Reading Pillar

Reproducibility Checklist: What Would You Need to Replicate?

Why Reproducibility Matters (Even If You’ll Never Replicate)

The Five Categories of Reproducibility

How to Interpret the Checklist

Build Your Research Evaluation Stack

Frequently Asked Questions

Evaluate Research Like an Expert

Related Research Paper Guides

Trust Research That Earns It

Related Work Finder: What Should You Read Next?

The Two-Prompt Workflow for Finding Related Work

Step 1: Map the Paper’s Position (PR040)

Step 2: Connect to the Bigger Picture (PR027)

Citation Chasing: The Manual Complement

Prioritizing Your Reading List

Complete Your Research Reading Stack

Frequently Asked Questions

Turn Every Paper Into a Research Program

Related Research Paper Guides

Every Paper Leads to the Next

Reading Strategy Advisor: How to Approach Any Text

Why Strategy Selection Matters

How the Prompt Works

Strategy Examples by Text Type

When to Use This Prompt

Frequently Asked Questions

Practice Strategy Selection