Reference Generator Skill
!!! prompt Please use the skill creator for creating a new skill that creates high-quality references for a textbook. The references should all be verified links. Use the format
- [Link Title](testing URL) - publication_date - publication_name - description of resource and relevancy to the textbook.
When you generate the references, look at the /docs/course-description.md file for the information such as grade-level, target-audience or prerequisites to gage the level of reader for the references. For example a text for junior-high students should have fun and engaging references.
Generate 10 references for junior-high level texts, 20 for senior-high students, 30 for colleges level students and 40 for grad-school level textbooks.
Use more authoritative peer-reviewed papers for college level references. Place the results of the references in the file /docs/references.md.
Note that some users might want to only add reference to the end of a chapter. If you find chapter content, ask them if they want book-level or chapter-level references.
Claude Code Response
I'll use the skill-creator to help you create a new skill for generating high-quality textbook references.
The "skill-creator" skill is running
The "skill-creator" skill is running
⏺ I'll help you create a high-quality reference generator skill for textbooks. Let me start by understanding the requirements and then create the skill.
⏺ Now let me initialize the skill:
⏺ Bash(python3 $HOME/.claude/skills/skill-creator/scripts/init_skill.py reference-generator --path $HOME/.claude/skills/) ⎿ 🚀 Initializing skill: reference-generator Location: $HOME/.claude/skills/ … +12 lines (ctrl+o to expand)
⏺ Now let me read the generated SKILL.md and update it:
⏺ Read(~/.claude/skills/reference-generator/SKILL.md) ⎿ Read 86 lines
⏺ Now let me create the comprehensive SKILL.md file:
⏺ Write(~/.claude/skills/reference-generator/SKILL.md)
⎿ Updated ../../../.claude/skills/reference-generator/SKILL.md with 173 additions and 52 removals
1 ---
2 name: reference-generator
3 - description: [TODO: Complete and informative explanation of what the skill does and when to use it. Include WHEN to use this
- skill - specific scenarios, file types, or tasks that trigger it.]
3 + description: This skill generates curated, verified reference lists for textbooks with level-appropriate resources (10 for
+ junior-high, 20 for senior-high, 30 for college, 40 for graduate). References are formatted with links, publication details, and
+ relevance descriptions. Use this skill when working with intelligent textbooks that need academic references, either book-level
+ or chapter-level.
4 ---
5
6 # Reference Generator
7
8 ## Overview
9
10 - [TODO: 1-2 sentences explaining what this skill enables]
10 + Generate high-quality, verified reference lists for educational textbooks with level-appropriate content and quantity. The skill
+ analyzes course descriptions to determine the target audience and creates references that match the readers' level, from fun and
+ engaging resources for junior-high students to authoritative peer-reviewed papers for graduate students.
11
12 - ## Structuring This Skill
12 + ## When to Use This Skill
13
14 - [TODO: Choose the structure that best fits this skill's purpose. Common patterns:
14 + Use this skill when:
15 + - Creating a new intelligent textbook that needs a comprehensive reference list
16 + - Adding references to an existing textbook
17 + - Updating or expanding references for educational content
18 + - A user explicitly requests reference generation
19
20 - 1. Workflow-Based (best for sequential processes)
21 - - Works well when there are clear step-by-step procedures
22 - - Example: DOCX skill with "Workflow Decision Tree" → "Reading" → "Creating" → "Editing"
23 - - Structure: ## Overview → ## Workflow Decision Tree → ## Step 1 → ## Step 2...
20 + ## Reference Generation Workflow
21
22 - 2. Task-Based (best for tool collections)
23 - - Works well when the skill offers different operations/capabilities
24 - - Example: PDF skill with "Quick Start" → "Merge PDFs" → "Split PDFs" → "Extract Text"
25 - - Structure: ## Overview → ## Quick Start → ## Task Category 1 → ## Task Category 2...
22 + ### Step 1: Analyze the Course Description
23
24 - 3. Reference/Guidelines (best for standards or specifications)
25 - - Works well for brand guidelines, coding standards, or requirements
26 - - Example: Brand styling with "Brand Guidelines" → "Colors" → "Typography" → "Features"
27 - - Structure: ## Overview → ## Guidelines → ## Specifications → ## Usage...
24 + Read the /docs/course-description.md file to determine:
25 + - Grade level or target audience (junior-high, senior-high, college, graduate)
26 + - Prerequisites - indicates reader sophistication
27 + - Subject matter - determines reference topics
28 + - Learning objectives - guides reference selection
29
30 - 4. Capabilities-Based (best for integrated systems)
31 - - Works well when the skill provides multiple interrelated features
32 - - Example: Product Management with "Core Capabilities" → numbered capability list
33 - - Structure: ## Overview → ## Core Capabilities → ### 1. Feature → ### 2. Feature...
30 + The grade level determines:
31 + - Junior-high (middle school): 10 references - fun, engaging, visual resources
32 + - Senior-high (high school): 20 references - mix of accessible and academic sources
33 + - College (undergraduate): 30 references - more academic, some peer-reviewed papers
34 + - Graduate (masters/PhD): 40 references - heavily peer-reviewed, authoritative sources
35
36 - Patterns can be mixed and matched as needed. Most skills combine patterns (e.g., start with task-based, add workflow for complex
- operations).
36 + ### Step 2: Check for Chapter-Level Content
37
38 - Delete this entire "Structuring This Skill" section when done - it's just guidance.]
38 + Before generating references, search for chapter content in the textbook:
39
40 - ## [TODO: Replace with the first main section based on chosen structure]
40 + bash 41 + # Look for chapter files 42 + find /docs -name "chapter*.md" -o -name "*-chapter-*.md" 43 +
44
45 - [TODO: Add content here. See examples in existing skills:
46 - - Code samples for technical skills
47 - - Decision trees for complex workflows
48 - - Concrete examples with realistic user requests
49 - - References to scripts/templates/references as needed]
45 + If chapter content exists, use the AskUserQuestion tool to ask:
46 + - "Would you like book-level references (in /docs/references.md) or chapter-level references (at the end of each chapter)?"
47
48 - ## Resources
48 + ### Step 3: Generate References with Verification
49
50 - This skill includes example resource directories that demonstrate how to organize different types of bundled resources:
50 + For each reference, perform the following:
51
52 - ### scripts/
53 - Executable code (Python/Bash/etc.) that can be run directly to perform specific operations.
52 + 1. Search for authoritative sources using WebSearch tool
53 + 2. Verify each URL using WebFetch to ensure the link is valid and accessible
54 + 3. Format according to the standard template (see Format Specification below)
55
56 - Examples from other skills:
57 - - PDF skill: fill_fillable_fields.py, extract_form_field_info.py - utilities for PDF manipulation
58 - - DOCX skill: document.py, utilities.py - Python modules for document processing
56 + Quality Guidelines by Level:
57
58 - Appropriate for: Python scripts, shell scripts, or any executable code that performs automation, data processing, or
- specific operations.
58 + Junior-High (10 references):
59 + - Educational websites with interactive content
60 + - Videos from reputable educational channels
61 + - Visual resources, infographics, and animations
62 + - Age-appropriate articles from educational publishers
63 + - Museums, science centers, and educational organizations
64
65 - Note: Scripts may be executed without loading into context, but can still be read by Claude for patching or environment
- adjustments.
65 + Senior-High (20 references):
66 + - Mix of educational websites and academic sources
67 + - Reputable news organizations and science journalism
68 + - Educational videos and documentaries
69 + - Introduction to academic journals (more accessible papers)
70 + - Government and NGO educational resources
71
72 - ### references/
73 - Documentation and reference material intended to be loaded into context to inform Claude's process and thinking.
72 + College (30 references):
73 + - Peer-reviewed journal articles (50%+ of references)
74 + - Academic textbooks and monographs
75 + - University course materials and lectures
76 + - Research institution publications
77 + - Industry white papers and technical reports
78
79 - Examples from other skills:
80 - - Product management: communication.md, context_building.md - detailed workflow guides
81 - - BigQuery: API reference documentation and query examples
82 - - Finance: Schema documentation, company policies
79 + Graduate (40 references):
80 + - Heavily weighted toward peer-reviewed journals (70%+ of references)
81 + - Seminal papers in the field
82 + - Recent research (last 5 years) showing current state of field
83 + - Meta-analyses and systematic reviews
84 + - Academic books from university presses
85
86 - Appropriate for: In-depth documentation, API references, database schemas, comprehensive guides, or any detailed information
- that Claude should reference while working.
86 + ### Step 4: Format Each Reference
87
88 - ### assets/
89 - Files not intended to be loaded into context, but rather used within the output Claude produces.
88 + Use the following format for every reference:
89
90 - Examples from other skills:
91 - - Brand styling: PowerPoint template files (.pptx), logo files
92 - - Frontend builder: HTML/React boilerplate project directories
93 - - Typography: Font files (.ttf, .woff2)
90 + markdown 91 + 1. [Link Title](URL) - YYYY-MM-DD - Publication Name - Brief description of resource and specific relevance to the textbook + topic. 92 +
93
94 - Appropriate for: Templates, boilerplate code, document templates, images, icons, fonts, or any files meant to be copied or
- used in the final output.
94 + Format Specifications:
95 + - Link Title: Exact title of the article, paper, video, or resource
96 + - URL: Verified, working link (use WebFetch to confirm)
97 + - Date: Publication date in YYYY-MM-DD format (use YYYY-MM or YYYY if day/month unavailable)
98 + - Publication Name: Journal, website, organization, or publisher
99 + - Description: 1-2 sentences explaining what the resource covers and why it's relevant to this specific textbook
100
101 + Example References:
102 +
103 + markdown 104 + 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. 105 + 106 + 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. 107 + 108 + 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. 109 +
110 +
111 + ### Step 5: Write References to File
112 +
113 + For book-level references:
114 + Create or overwrite /docs/references.md with:
115 +
116 + markdown 117 + # References 118 + 119 + This textbook draws upon the following high-quality resources: 120 + 121 + [Generated numbered list of references] 122 + 123 --- 124 + *References last updated: [Current Date]* 125 +
126
127 - Any unneeded directories can be deleted. Not every skill requires all three types of resources.
127 + For chapter-level references:
128 + Append to each chapter file (e.g., /docs/chapter-01.md):
129 +
130 + markdown 131 + 132 + ## References 133 + 134 + [Generated numbered list of references for this chapter] 135 +
136 +
137 + ### Step 6: Validation and Reporting
138 +
139 + After generating references:
140 +
141 + 1. Count the references to ensure correct quantity for level
142 + 2. Verify all URLs were checked with WebFetch
143 + 3. Report summary to user:
144 + - Number of references generated
145 + - Target level identified
146 + - File location
147 + - Any URLs that failed verification (if any)
148 +
149 + ## URL Verification Process
150 +
151 + Critical: Every URL must be verified before inclusion.
152 +
153 + python 154 + # Use WebFetch for each URL 155 + WebFetch(url=reference_url, prompt="Is this page accessible? Provide the title and a brief description of the content.") 156 +
157 +
158 + If a URL returns an error or redirect:
159 + - Try to find an updated or archived version
160 + - Use Internet Archive / Wayback Machine if appropriate
161 + - Skip the reference if no valid URL exists
162 + - Note in the report any references that couldn't be verified
163 +
164 + ## Reference Quality Checklist
165 +
166 + Before finalizing references, ensure:
167 + - [ ] Correct quantity for target level (10/20/30/40)
168 + - [ ] All URLs verified and accessible
169 + - [ ] Publication dates included
170 + - [ ] Mix of resource types (articles, videos, papers)
171 + - [ ] Descriptions explain relevance to textbook
172 + - [ ] Academic rigor matches target audience
173 + - [ ] No duplicate sources
174 + - [ ] Proper formatting throughout
175 +
176 + ## Example Usage Scenarios
177 +
178 + Scenario 1: New textbook
179 + 180 + User: "Generate references for my textbook" 181 + → Read /docs/course-description.md 182 + → Identify level (e.g., college) 183 + → Check for chapters (none found) 184 + → Generate 30 verified references 185 + → Write to /docs/references.md 186 +
187 +
188 + Scenario 2: Existing textbook with chapters
189 + 190 + User: "Add references to my course" 191 + → Read /docs/course-description.md 192 + → Find chapter files exist 193 + → Ask: "Book-level or chapter-level references?" 194 + → User selects chapter-level 195 + → Generate references for each chapter 196 + → Append to each chapter file 197 +
198 +
199 + ## Resources
200 +
201 + This skill uses web-based verification tools built into Claude Code:
202 + - WebSearch: Find authoritative sources on topics
203 + - WebFetch: Verify URLs are accessible and extract metadata
204 + - AskUserQuestion: Clarify book-level vs chapter-level preference
205 +
206 + No additional scripts, references, or assets are required for this skill.
⏺ Now let me clean up the example files that aren't needed:
⏺ Bash(rm -rf $HOME/.claude/skills/reference-generator/scripts $HOME/.claude/skills/reference-generator/references $HOME/.claude/skills/reference-genera…) ⎿ (No content)
⏺ Now let me package the skill:
⏺ Bash(python3 $HOME/.claude/skills/skill-creator/scripts/package_skill.py $HOME/.claude/skills/reference-generator) ⎿ 📦 Packaging skill: $HOME/.claude/skills/reference-generator
🔍 Validating skill...
… +5 lines (ctrl+o to expand)
⏺ Perfect! I've successfully created the reference-generator skill for creating high-quality textbook references. Here's what was created:
Skill Overview
The reference-generator skill automatically creates curated, verified reference lists for educational textbooks with the following features:
Key Features
- Level-Appropriate Quantities - Junior-high: 10 references (fun, engaging, visual) - Senior-high: 20 references (mix of accessible and academic) - College: 30 references (50%+ peer-reviewed) - Graduate: 40 references (70%+ peer-reviewed)
- Automatic Level Detection - Reads /docs/course-description.md to identify target audience - Analyzes grade level, prerequisites, and learning objectives - Adjusts reference quality and quantity accordingly
- URL Verification - Every URL is verified using WebFetch before inclusion - Handles redirects and broken links - Suggests archived versions if needed
- Flexible Output - Book-level references → /docs/references.md - Chapter-level references → appended to each chapter - Automatically detects existing chapters and asks user preference
- Proper Formatting - Format: Title - YYYY-MM-DD - Publication - Description and relevance - Includes publication dates and source names - Descriptions explain relevance to the specific textbook
Workflow
When invoked, the skill will:
- Analyze the course description to determine level
- Check for existing chapter content
- Ask user preference (book-level or chapter-level) if chapters exist
- Generate appropriate number of references with verification
- Format and write to the correct location
- Report summary with any issues
Package Location
The skill has been packaged and saved to: $HOME/Documents/ws/claude-skills/reference-generator.zip
The skill is also installed in your skills directory at: ~/.claude/skills/reference-generator/
You can now use this skill by invoking it when working on textbook projects that need references!