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Reference Generator

Overview

The reference-generator skill generates curated, verified reference lists for educational textbooks with level-appropriate resources. It creates 10-40 references depending on target audience (junior-high to graduate level), with links, publication details, and relevance descriptions.

Purpose

This skill automates the creation of high-quality, academically appropriate reference lists that enhance textbook credibility and provide students with pathways for deeper learning at their comprehension level.

Key Features

  • Level-Appropriate Quantity: 10 (junior-high), 20 (senior-high), 30 (college), 40 (graduate)
  • Verified URLs: Every link tested with WebFetch before inclusion
  • Publication Details: Dates, sources, and relevance descriptions
  • Quality Filtering: Age-appropriate content and academic rigor
  • Two Modes: Book-level or chapter-level references
  • ISO Format Dates: Consistent YYYY-MM-DD formatting

When to Use

Use this skill when: - Creating a new intelligent textbook that needs comprehensive references - Adding references to existing textbook - Updating or expanding reference sections - A user explicitly requests reference generation

Reference Quantity by Level

Junior-High (Middle School) - 10 References

  • Educational websites with interactive content
  • Videos from reputable educational channels
  • Visual resources, infographics, and animations
  • Age-appropriate articles from educational publishers
  • Museums, science centers, and educational organizations

Senior-High (High School) - 20 References

  • Mix of educational websites and academic sources
  • Reputable news organizations and science journalism
  • Educational videos and documentaries
  • Introduction to academic journals (accessible papers)
  • Government and NGO educational resources

College (Undergraduate) - 30 References

  • Peer-reviewed journal articles (50%+ of references)
  • Academic textbooks and monographs
  • University course materials and lectures
  • Research institution publications
  • Industry white papers and technical reports

Graduate (Masters/PhD) - 40 References

  • Heavily weighted toward peer-reviewed journals (70%+ of references)
  • Seminal papers in the field
  • Recent research (last 5 years) showing current state
  • Meta-analyses and systematic reviews
  • Academic books from university presses

Workflow Steps

Step 1: Analyze Course Description

Read /docs/course-description.md to determine: - Grade level or target audience - Prerequisites (indicates reader sophistication) - Subject matter (determines reference topics) - Learning objectives (guides reference selection)

Step 2: Check for Chapter-Level Content

Search for chapter content: 

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find /docs/chapters
find /docs -name "chapter*.md" -o -name "*-chapter-*.md"

If chapters exist, ask user: "Book-level or chapter-level references?"

Step 3: Generate References with Verification

For each reference: 1. Search for authoritative sources using WebSearch tool 2. Verify each URL using WebFetch to ensure accessibility 3. Format according to standard template

Step 4: Format Each Reference

Standard format: 

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1. [Link Title](URL) - YYYY-MM-DD - Publication Name - Brief description of resource and specific relevance to the textbook topic.

Format Specifications: - Link Title: Exact title of article/paper/video/resource - URL: Verified, working link - Date: Publication date in YYYY-MM-DD format (or YYYY-MM / YYYY if unavailable) - Publication Name: Journal, website, organization, or publisher - Description: 1-2 sentences explaining content and relevance

Step 5: Write References to File

Book-level references: Create /docs/references.md:

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# References

This textbook draws upon the following high-quality resources:

[Generated numbered list of references]

---
*References last updated: [Current Date]*

Chapter-level references: Append to each chapter file:

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## References

[Generated numbered list of references for this chapter]

Step 6: Validation and Reporting

  1. Count references to ensure correct quantity
  2. Verify all URLs were checked with WebFetch
  3. Report summary to user with any failed verifications

Reference Format Examples

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1. [How Neural Networks Really Work](https://distill.pub/2020/circuits/zoom-in/) - 2020-03-10 - Distill - Interactive visualization explaining the inner workings of neural networks through explorable explanations, perfect for visual learners beginning their ML journey.

2. [Attention Is All You Need](https://arxiv.org/abs/1706.03762) - 2017-06-12 - arXiv - Seminal paper introducing the Transformer architecture that revolutionized natural language processing and forms the foundation for modern LLMs like GPT and BERT.

3. [Khan Academy: Introduction to Algorithms](https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-science/algorithms) - 2024-01-15 - Khan Academy - Free, interactive course covering fundamental algorithms including sorting and searching, with visualizations and practice exercises suitable for high school students.

URL Verification Process

Critical: Every URL must be verified before inclusion.

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# Use WebFetch for each URL
WebFetch(url=reference_url, prompt="Is this page accessible? Provide the title and a brief description of the content.")

If a URL returns an error or redirect: - Try to find an updated or archived version - Use Internet Archive / Wayback Machine if appropriate - Skip the reference if no valid URL exists - Note in the report any references that couldn't be verified - For academic papers behind paywalls, reference the citation page - For academic textbooks, prefer highly-cited works

Quality Checklist

Before finalizing references, ensure: - [ ] Correct quantity for target level (10/20/30/40) - [ ] All URLs verified and accessible - [ ] Publication dates included - [ ] Mix of resource types (articles, videos, papers) - [ ] Descriptions explain relevance to textbook - [ ] Academic rigor matches target audience - [ ] No duplicate sources - [ ] Proper formatting throughout

Example Usage Scenarios

Scenario 1: New Textbook

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User: "Generate references for my textbook"
→ Read /docs/course-description.md
→ Identify level (e.g., college)
→ Check for chapters (none found)
→ Generate 30 verified references
→ Write to /docs/references.md

Scenario 2: Existing Textbook with Chapters

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User: "Add references to my course"
→ Read /docs/course-description.md
→ Find chapter files exist
→ Ask: "Book-level or chapter-level references?"
→ User selects chapter-level
→ Generate references for each chapter
→ Append to each chapter file

Best Practices

Source Selection

  1. Verify Authority: Use established publishers, recognized experts
  2. Check Recency: Prefer recent sources for rapidly evolving fields
  3. Balance Types: Mix videos, articles, papers, books
  4. Cross-Reference: Include multiple perspectives on key topics
  5. Accessibility: Consider open-access resources when available

Academic Papers

  • For college/graduate levels, prefer Google Scholar citations
  • Include seminal papers (highly cited, foundational work)
  • Balance classic papers with recent research
  • Check if full text is available or just abstract

Educational Websites

  • Verify reputation (edu domains, established organizations)
  • Check for regular updates and maintenance
  • Ensure mobile-friendly, accessible design
  • Prefer interactive or multimedia content
  • Test all links before inclusion
  • Note if archived version used
  • Include DOIs for academic papers when available
  • Consider adding archive.org links as backup

Output Summary

After generation, report: - Number of references generated - Target level identified - File location (book or chapter-level) - Any URLs that failed verification - Suggestion to use citation graph skill for academic papers

Integration with Other Skills

  • course-description-analyzer: Determines appropriate reference level and topics
  • chapter-content-generator: References support chapter content
  • glossary-generator: Reference definitions align with glossary
  • learning-graph-generator: References support concept dependencies

Tools Used

  • WebSearch: Find authoritative sources on topics
  • WebFetch: Verify URLs are accessible and extract metadata
  • AskUserQuestion: Clarify book-level vs chapter-level preference

Advanced Features

Citation Graph Analysis

After generating references, suggest: - Use citation graph skill to find highly-cited papers - Identify influential works in the field - Discover seminal papers that shape the domain

Multiple Formats

Generate references in various formats: - Markdown (default) - BibTeX for LaTeX integration - RIS for reference managers - JSON for programmatic access

References

  • WebSearch and WebFetch: Built-in Claude Code tools
  • Dublin Core: Metadata standards for resources
  • Academic Citation Standards: MLA, APA, Chicago styles