Research, summarization, and drafting
Combine documents without hiding disagreements.
In this lesson · F5 of 8
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Start with the idea
Combine documents without hiding disagreements.
Read the sources before writing a combined summary. Keep dates attached to the events they describe. If two sources disagree and you cannot resolve it, show the disagreement.
Source record: A note showing which document supports a statement.
See the example and check your understanding
A made-up teaching example
One Cedar workshop source gives the planned event date. Another says Lee will confirm the venue. An undated draft says the event will be online. That draft does not prove an online format was approved.
Ask yourself
Should the summary announce that the workshop will be online?
Show the explanation
No. Report the format as unresolved. Ask for confirmation instead of selecting the most convenient source.
Start with these checks
- Keep dates and owners correct.
- Show unresolved source conflicts.
- Do not borrow facts from another lesson.
Use the different practice case below and check every requirement in its full instructions.
The video explains the main idea. Use the sources, instructions and checks below to complete the practice.
Captions appear here during playback.
Research, summarization, and drafting
Combine documents without hiding disagreements.
Video playback is unavailable. Read the descriptive transcript below, go directly to practice, or open the video file.
Source-based teaching example · Fictional data · Reviewed 2026-10-03. Microsoft Mark · locally synthesized. On a small screen, use fullscreen for diagram details or read the transcript.
Read the descriptive transcript
0:00 · What you will learn
Combine documents without hiding disagreements.
What appears on screen
Combine documents without hiding disagreements.
0:05 · The idea
Read the sources before writing a combined summary. Keep dates attached to the events they describe. If two sources disagree and you cannot resolve it, show the disagreement.
What appears on screen
Read the sources before writing a combined summary. Keep dates attached to the events they describe. If two sources disagree and you cannot resolve it, show the disagreement.
0:19 · One useful term
Source record. A note showing which document supports a statement.
What appears on screen
A note showing which document supports a statement.
0:27 · A worked example · 1
One Cedar workshop source gives the planned event date. Another says Lee will confirm the venue. An undated draft says the event will be online.
What appears on screen
One Cedar workshop source gives the planned event date. Another says Lee will confirm the venue. An undated draft says the event will be online.
0:39 · A worked example · 2
That draft does not prove an online format was approved.
What appears on screen
That draft does not prove an online format was approved.
0:46 · Your turn to think
Should the summary announce that the workshop will be online? Pause and decide before continuing.
What appears on screen
Should the summary announce that the workshop will be online? Pause the video if you need more time.
1:02 · Why this answer works
No. Report the format as unresolved. Ask for confirmation instead of selecting the most convenient source.
What appears on screen
No. Report the format as unresolved. Ask for confirmation instead of selecting the most convenient source.
1:13 · Check 1
Keep dates and owners correct.
What appears on screen
Keep dates and owners correct.
1:18 · Check 2
Show unresolved source conflicts.
What appears on screen
Show unresolved source conflicts.
1:23 · Check 3
Do not borrow facts from another lesson.
What appears on screen
Do not borrow facts from another lesson.
1:29 · Now try a different case
Open the lesson and try its different practice case. Use every check in the full task. Watching alone does not mark the lesson complete.
What appears on screen
Open the lesson Try the new case Check and revise The full task and its requirements are in the linked lesson.
Watching explains the example. Complete the lesson practice to check what you can do. Explore all visual lessons →
Before you start
Prerequisite: F3–F4; be able to distinguish support from interpretation. Offline/no-cost route: paper, a notes editor and the synthetic packet below. Optional tools must already be authorized. No accounts, paid calls, workplace records or external actions are required.
What you will be able to do
- Create a traceable summary.
- Separate extraction, synthesis, rewriting, and unsupported generation.
- Apply attribution and disclosure.
Part 1 Extraction, synthesis and rewriting are different operations
Extraction locates what a source explicitly says. Synthesis connects supported information across sources while preserving disagreements. Rewriting changes expression without changing meaning, authority or uncertainty. Start with a source ledger: ID, title, date, authority/scope and location. Then build a claim-source matrix before prose. Missing facts stay missing. A shorter brief is useful only if critical qualifications survive. Disclose AI assistance as required by actual policy and audience expectations; a disclosure does not transfer accountability or validate claims.
Part 2 Worked synthetic example
Three invented workshop sources: S1, 1 October: Cedar event planned 14 October, venue pending. S2, 2 October: Lee confirms venue by 8 October. S3, undated draft: event will be online. Extract dates/owners first. Synthesize S1/S2: planned date, pending venue and owner deadline. Preserve S3 as an unresolved format conflict because an undated draft does not establish approval. There is no registration date in this packet; do not borrow one from a prior lesson.
Part 3 Guided practice and feedback
Rewrite “Venue confirmation remains pending” as “We are still waiting for the venue to be confirmed.” This preserves meaning. Rewrite “Online format approved” only if the packet actually records approval. In the given packet it does not; label the gap rather than polishing it away.
Review and next step
Self-review demonstrates practice, not independent certification or operational approval. F6 uses this evidence packet for decision support.
Substantive review: 2026-10-02. See the configuration guide. OWASP excessive-agency guidance discusses the risks of unnecessary capabilities, permissions and autonomy.