Summarize a paper prompt

What most people type

summarize this research paper for me [paper text pasted]

It works, but the AI has to guess your audience, length and paper text, so the first answer usually needs another round. The version below asks for exactly what a professional would deliver.

Summarize the research paper below for [audience, e.g. a non-specialist or a researcher in the field].

Cover, in this order:
- Research question and why it matters
- Methods (design, data or sample, key techniques)
- Main findings, with the key numbers exactly as the paper reports them
- Limitations the authors state, plus any significant ones they don't mention
- Conclusions and practical or research implications

Use only what is in the paper. Don't add outside facts, and if something is unclear or missing from the text, say so instead of guessing. Format as a one-sentence takeaway followed by short headed sections or bullets, about [length, e.g. 300 words].

Paper:
[paper text pasted]

Replace the [brackets] with your details before you send it: audience, e.g. a non-specialist or a researcher in the field, length, e.g. 300 words, paper text pasted.

Why this version works

• Added a structure for the summary. Gives the standard sections a reader of a paper expects.
• Added audience and length placeholders. Level and size of the summary depend on them.
• Told it to stay within the paper. Prevents invented details or outside facts.
• Asked for a one-sentence takeaway first. Makes the summary quick to scan.

What a professional summarize a paper prompt covers

• Audience placeholder
• Sections such as question, method, findings, limitations
• Length

Best AI model for this prompt

This is a everyday task: summarizing a pasted document is routine, but long papers need faithful, careful handling. You don't need the most expensive model. The cheapest model at each company that handles it well:

Pay-per-use list prices for this prompt and its expected answer (about 450 tokens). On a monthly chat plan, the same choice shows up as more messages before you hit your limit. See today's AI prices.