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stage2-refine-template

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Base template for Stage2 rebuttal refinement. Use when creating or extending conference-specific Stage2 skills so all venues share the same high-quality writing constraints, JSON output format, and normalization rules.

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Source SKILL.md: https://github.com/runtsang/RebuttalStudio/blob/HEAD/skills/stage2/template/SKILL.md

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Stage 2 · Refine Base Template

Use this template as the shared core for all Stage2 conference variants. Conference-specific files must apply this template first, then add only necessary overrides.

Goal

Turn a rough outline into reviewer-facing rebuttal prose that:

  1. Directly addresses the reviewer concern.
  2. Keeps claims factual and bounded by provided evidence.
  3. Uses concise, polite, academically confident style.
  4. Optionally starts with one courteous opener.

Input

  • response_id / title / source / source_id (metadata)
  • quoted_issue (verbatim reviewer concern)
  • draft or outline (user-provided content)
  • optional style hints (tone, length, verbosity)

Output

Return strict JSON only:

{ "draft": "> **Reviewer's Comment**: [quoted_issue]\n\n**Response**: [polished rebuttal prose]" }

Core writing rules

  1. Respect-first opening: start with appreciation/acknowledgment when appropriate.
  2. Issue anchoring: connect to quoted_issue within the first 1–2 sentences.
  3. Novelty articulation: state what is new, why it matters, and how it differs from prior work.
  4. No fabrication: do not invent experiments, numbers, citations, or implementation details.
  5. Constructive tone: avoid defensive language.
  6. Concise precision: keep paragraphs short and information-dense.
  7. Paragraph preservation: preserve or increase paragraph separation from input; do not merge distinct points into one long block.

Courtesy opener bank

Select exactly one opener when an opener is needed:

  • "Thank you for the excellent suggestion."
  • "Thank you for pointing this out."
  • "Thank you for highlighting this important point about [TOPIC]."
  • "We appreciate the opportunity to further articulate the novelty of [METHOD/IDEA]."
  • "Thank you for giving us a chance to classify our contribution more accurately."

Opener selection guidance

  • Actionable improvement advice -> "Thank you for the excellent suggestion."
  • Omission or ambiguity pointed out -> "Thank you for pointing this out."
  • Emphasis on significance of a dimension -> "Thank you for highlighting this important point about [TOPIC]."
  • Originality/positioning challenge -> "We appreciate the opportunity to further articulate the novelty of [METHOD/IDEA]."

Markdown normalization rules

If input contains structured content, normalize in final draft:

  1. Tables/charts -> Markdown table
  2. Code -> fenced code block (with language tag if known)
  3. Formula -> Markdown math
    • Inline math: $...$
    • Display math: $...$ on separate lines

Shared refine workflow

  1. Read quoted_issue and identify reviewer intent.
  2. Extract factual points from draft/outline; remove unsupported claims.
  3. Choose one opener from the opener bank if needed.
  4. Rewrite into coherent rebuttal prose using exact output structure:
    • > **Reviewer's Comment**: [quoted_issue]
    • blank line
    • **Response**: ...
  5. Normalize table/code/formula content.
  6. Return strict JSON only.

Hard constraints

  • Do not alter the meaning of user-provided technical claims.
  • Do not introduce new citations unless already provided.
  • Do not over-promise without evidence.
  • Keep output ready for direct rebuttal editing.
  • The draft field must begin with the quoted reviewer comment line and follow the exact format.

Conference extension contract

Conference-specific Stage2 files may override only what is truly different:

  • conference naming/labeling
  • extra mandatory phrase variants (if a venue requires them)
  • venue-specific style constraints

Keep all other rules inherited from this template.

\n - Display math: `$...$` on separate lines\n\n## Shared refine workflow\n\n1. Read `quoted_issue` and identify reviewer intent.\n2. Extract factual points from `draft`/`outline`; remove unsupported claims.\n3. Choose one opener from the opener bank if needed.\n4. Rewrite into coherent rebuttal prose using exact output structure:\n - `> **Reviewer's Comment**: [quoted_issue]`\n - blank line\n - `**Response**: ...`\n5. Normalize table/code/formula content.\n6. Return strict JSON only.\n\n## Hard constraints\n\n- Do not alter the meaning of user-provided technical claims.\n- Do not introduce new citations unless already provided.\n- Do not over-promise without evidence.\n- Keep output ready for direct rebuttal editing.\n- The `draft` field must begin with the quoted reviewer comment line and follow the exact format.\n\n## Conference extension contract\n\nConference-specific Stage2 files may override only what is truly different:\n\n- conference naming/labeling\n- extra mandatory phrase variants (if a venue requires them)\n- venue-specific style constraints\n\nKeep all other rules inherited from this template.\n"}],"versionEndpoint":"/skill/api/version"}