Content Summarizer

Content Summarizer

Creates structured, concise summaries of long-form content while preserving key information and context.

Instructions

Step 1: Analyze the Content

Read through the provided content and identify:

• Main topic and purpose
• Key arguments or findings
• Supporting evidence
• Conclusions or recommendations

Step 2: Structure the Summary

Organize the summary using this format:

Overview (1-2 sentences)

• The big picture - what is this about?

Key Points (3-5 bullet points)

• Most important takeaways
• Main arguments or findings

Details (optional, if requested)

• Supporting information
• Notable quotes or data
• Context that matters

Conclusion (1 sentence)

• The bottom line

Step 3: Validate Quality

Before finalizing, ensure:

• [ ] Summary is 20-30% of original length
• [ ] No critical information lost
• [ ] Written clearly and concisely
• [ ] Maintains objective tone
• [ ] Free of jargon unless essential

Examples

Example 1: Article Summary

User says: "Summarize this article about remote work trends"

What the skill does:

1. Reads article content
2. Identifies main theme (remote work evolution)
3. Extracts key statistics and trends
4. Creates structured summary with overview, key points, conclusion

Result:

Overview: Article examines how remote work has evolved from emergency 
measure to permanent fixture in modern business.

Key Points:
• 73% of companies now offer hybrid work options, up from 12% in 2019
• Employee satisfaction increased 35% with flexible arrangements
• Challenges include collaboration tools and maintaining company culture
• Companies saving average of $11,000/year per remote employee

Conclusion: Remote work is now integral to talent retention and 
operational efficiency.

Example 2: Document Summary

User says: "Give me the key points from this meeting transcript"

What the skill does:

1. Processes transcript
2. Identifies decisions made
3. Notes action items
4. Summarizes discussions

Result: Structured summary with decisions, action items, and next steps

Quality Standards

Summaries should be:

• Accurate - No misrepresentation of source material
• Concise - Typically 20-30% of original length
• Objective - Neutral tone without injecting opinions
• Complete - All critical information preserved
• Clear - Easily understood by someone who hasn't read the original

Troubleshooting

Problem: Summary too long

Solution:

• Focus on main points only
• Remove redundant information
• Eliminate examples unless crucial
• Target 20-30% of original length

Problem: Missing important context

Solution:

• Re-read with focus on "why" not just "what"
• Include essential background information
• Note key relationships between concepts

Problem: Too much detail

Solution:

• Ask: "Would someone need this to understand the core message?"
• Keep statistics only if they're central to the argument
• Save deep details for "Details" section if requested

Best Practices

1. Read once completely before summarizing - Get the full picture first
2. Use the author's language for key terms - Maintain accuracy
3. Preserve the logical flow - Don't just list facts randomly
4. Note the intended audience - Adjust complexity accordingly
5. Include source context - Date, author, publication when relevant

Limitations

This skill works best for:

• Text-based content (articles, documents, reports)
• Lengths from 500 to 10,000 words
• Non-technical to moderately technical content

May require adjustment for:

• Highly specialized technical papers
• Content requiring domain expertise to evaluate
• Multi-media content with essential visual elements

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: CaptainDarkHeart
• Source: CaptainDarkHeart/claude-skills-starter-kit
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.