tools-only 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:
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:
- Search for authoritative sources using WebSearch tool
- Verify each URL using WebFetch to ensure accessibility
- Format according to standard template
Step 4: Format Each Reference
Standard format:
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:
# 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:
## References
[Generated numbered list of references for this chapter]
Step 6: Validation and Reporting
- Count references to ensure correct quantity
- Verify all URLs were checked with WebFetch
- Report summary to user with any failed verifications
Reference Format Examples
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.
# 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
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
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
- Verify Authority: Use established publishers, recognized experts
- Check Recency: Prefer recent sources for rapidly evolving fields
- Balance Types: Mix videos, articles, papers, books
- Cross-Reference: Include multiple perspectives on key topics
- 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
URLs and Link Rot
- 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