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Write a Research Paper with Claude Code

Write research papers using Claude Code as an assistant for research, brainstorming, planning, drafting, and editing. Then automate this process by creating a template slash command. See an example paper created using this workflow.

Key Concepts

What You’ll Need

Step 1: Create a Project Folder

Create a folder for your research paper:

Everything about this project happens in this folder.

Step 2: Start VS Code

For Windows:

For Mac:

Step 3: Open the Folder in VS Code

For Windows via WSL:

For Mac:

Step 4: Start Claude Code

Step 5: Initial Research

Ask Claude to research your topic. Copy and paste this prompt into Claude Code, replacing the topic with your own:

I'm writing a ~1,000 word research paper on AI adoption in the workplace.
Search for recent data (2023-2025) on:
- Productivity gains from AI tools
- Job displacement concerns and statistics
- Real-world case studies from companies

Requirements:
- Prioritize peer-reviewed research and credible industry reports
- Avoid anecdotes and opinion pieces
- List each source with a 1-3 sentence summary
- Group sources by topic

Save as general_research.md

Claude searches the web and organizes findings into a file called general_research.md. This may take a minute or two. When complete, ask for a summary:

Give me a brief summary.

Review Claude’s summary to get a quick overview of the research landscape.

Step 6: Read the Sources

Read through the research document and click through to the original sources to verify the information:

  1. Click general_research.md in the Explorer panel on the left
  2. Preview the formatted document: right-click on the general_research.md tab and select Open Preview
  3. Click the source links to read the original articles and studies

Step 7: Brainstorm Your Angle

Ask Claude to help brainstorm:

Based on this research, suggest 3-4 angles I could take for this paper.

Review the angles and pick the one that interests you most.

Step 8: Focused Research

Now that you have your angle, ask Claude for targeted research:

I want to focus on [your chosen angle]. Search for more specific data
and examples that support this perspective. Save as focused_research.md

Claude finds targeted information.

Step 9: Create Your Plan

Ask Claude to create an outline based on your chosen angle:

Give me 3 options for a brief outline for my paper based on the focused
research and my chosen angle. Use bullet points for the narrative flow.
Save as outlines.md

Review the outline and ask Claude to adjust as needed (e.g., “Make section 2 focus more on case studies” or “Add a section on limitations”).

Step 10: Draft the Paper

Select your outline and ask Claude to write the full draft:

I like outline #2 [your chosen option].

Write a ~1,000 word research paper based on the outline and research.

Structure:
- Introduction: Hook, context, thesis statement
- Body: 2-3 sections with arguments, statistics, and examples
- Conclusion: Summary and implications

Style:
- Clear, concise sentences (15-20 words average)
- Active voice, analytical tone
- Statistics woven into prose (no bullet lists)
- Smooth transitions between paragraphs

Citations:
- Use numbered references [1], [2], etc. after claims
- Include 5-15 references
- Add a References section at the end

Save as paper.md

Claude writes the draft.

Step 11: Revise Manually

Open paper.md in your text editor. Read through carefully and make your own revisions:

Save your changes in the editor.

Step 12: Polish with AI

Ask Claude to improve specific sections:

Make the introduction more engaging with a compelling hook.

Step 13: Add an Abstract

Ask Claude to add a short executive summary at the beginning:

Add an abstract at the beginning of the paper. Write 2-3 short sentences
that summarize the paper.

Claude will add the abstract. Review and edit to ensure it accurately captures your paper’s essence.

Step 14: Improve Title

Ask Claude to give you a few options for the title:

Give me a few options for the title. Make it more appealing.

Select a title. Add your own touch:

I like option #2 [your choice]. Edit the file.

Step 15: Check References (Optional)

Ask Claude to verify your citations are consistent and complete:

Check all references in my paper:
- Verify each citation number [1], [2], etc. has a matching reference
- Verify each reference in the list is actually cited in the paper
- Check that author names and titles are consistent
- Verify the cited data and examples appear in the source

Note: Claude can only verify publicly accessible sources. For paywalled articles, manually check that your citations match what you read.

Step 16: Proofread with AI

Ask Claude to do a final proofread:

Do a final proofread of the paper:
- Fix any spelling and grammar errors
- Ensure consistent formatting throughout
- Check flow and transition

Review Claude’s changes.

Export to Word: In VS Code, right-click on the paper.md tab and select Open Preview. Click inside the preview pane, then click Edit > Select All and Edit > Copy. Paste into Microsoft Word—the formatting will be retained.

Step 17: Create a Slash Command for Future Papers

Save this workflow as a reusable slash command for your next research paper:

Create a slash command called /research-paper that guides me through
this entire workflow. Save it so I can use it for future research papers on various topics.

Claude will create a custom slash command in your .claude/commands/ folder. It is a Markdown file containing a prompt. You can start your next research paper by simply typing /research-paper [your topic]!

Step 18: Get Feedback

LLMs have no memory. For each response, we have to send all our previous conversations in the chat session for context. As the interaction gets longer, we need to be aware of the length of the context. If it is unrelated, or we can provide a cleaner context, we will benefit from a fresh start.

Clear Claude’s memory to get feedback on your paper. Type:

/clear

This removes all conversation history, so Claude will read your paper with fresh eyes. Now ask for feedback:

Read paper.md and give me honest feedback.

Claude will critique your paper without being influenced by having written it. Make any final revisions based on the feedback.

The Complete Workflow

  1. Create Folder - Set up your project folder in Documents
  2. Open in VS Code - Open the folder in VS Code
  3. Start Claude Code - Launch Claude Code from the terminal
  4. Research - Claude searches for general information on your topic
  5. Read Sources - Review the research in your text editor
  6. Brainstorm - Pick your angle/perspective
  7. Focused Research - Claude finds targeted data for your chosen angle
  8. Plan - Claude creates outline options based on your perspective
  9. Draft - Claude writes the full paper with references
  10. Revise Manually - You add your voice and make changes
  11. Polish with AI - Claude improves specific sections
  12. Add Abstract - Claude creates executive summary
  13. Improve Title - Claude suggests title options, you customize
  14. Check References - (Optional) Claude verifies all citations
  15. Proofread with AI - Claude fixes errors and improves flow
  16. Create Slash Command - Save the workflow for future papers
  17. Get Fresh Feedback - Clear memory for unbiased critique

Next Steps

Now that you have the /research-paper slash command, try writing more papers:

The slash command will guide you through the entire workflow automatically! Don’t forget to clear the memory when you are switching topics.

Troubleshooting

What You Can Ask Claude

Claude handles research and writing through natural language—no commands to memorize!

Created by Steven Ge on December 9, 2025.