Capstone: Complete a Real Research Project

Everything Comes Together

You’ve spent seven lessons building a complete AI-assisted research toolkit. You can ask better questions, evaluate sources critically, summarize and synthesize findings, manage your knowledge, apply research to real scenarios, and accelerate your learning with proven cognitive techniques.

Now it’s time to use all of it.

This capstone walks you through a complete research project from blank page to finished product. You’ll apply techniques from every lesson, and by the end, you’ll have a real piece of research you can use–not a hypothetical exercise.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll have:

• Completed a research project on a topic of your choice
• Applied techniques from all seven previous lessons
• Produced a polished research deliverable (report, brief, or review)
• Stored your findings in your second brain for future use

Choose Your Project

Pick one of these project types based on what’s most useful to you right now:

Pick a real topic–something you actually need to research. The project is most valuable when the output is something you’ll genuinely use.

Phase 1: Frame Your Research (15 minutes)

Step 1: Define the Question

Apply the question funnel from Lesson 2. Start with the landscape and narrow down.

“I need to research [your topic]. My goal is to [specific outcome]. The deliverable will be [type of output] for [audience].

Help me:

1. Define a clear, focused research question
2. Identify the ‘question behind the question’–what I really need to know
3. List 4-5 sub-questions I need to answer
4. Identify what’s within scope and what’s out of scope”

Step 2: Set Your Verification Standards

Before you research anything, decide what level of verification each type of information needs. Use the trust spectrum from Lesson 1:

Write this down. When you’re deep in research, it’s easy to let verification slide. Having a pre-set standard keeps you honest.

Phase 2: Research and Evaluate (30-45 minutes)

Step 3: Explore the Landscape

Use a landscape question to map the territory:

“Give me a comprehensive overview of [your research question]. Cover:

• Major perspectives and viewpoints
• Key data and evidence
• Areas of consensus and debate
• Recent developments
• Who the most credible voices are on this topic”

Use the output as a map, not as your research. It tells you where to look, not what to conclude.

Step 4: Find Real Sources

Based on the landscape, go find actual sources:

• For academic topics: Google Scholar, university databases, PubMed, JSTOR
• For business topics: Industry reports, company filings, analyst coverage, trade publications
• For general topics: Reputable news outlets, government data sources, established organizations

For each source, run the CRAAP evaluation from Lesson 3:

“Evaluate this source for my research: [describe source].

CRAAP assessment:

• Currency: Is this current enough for my needs?
• Relevance: Does it directly address my research question?
• Authority: Is the author/publisher credible for this topic?
• Accuracy: Are claims supported by evidence?
• Purpose: What’s the intent–to inform, persuade, or sell?”

Step 5: Summarize Each Source

Use the layered summary technique from Lesson 4:

“Summarize this source in three layers:

1. One-sentence takeaway relevant to my research question: [question]
2. Key findings paragraph (4-5 sentences)
3. Detailed notes: claims made, evidence provided, limitations, and how it connects to my other sources”

Quick Check

At this point, you should have 3-5 evaluated sources with layered summaries. Look at them together: do they cover your research question from multiple angles? If they all say the same thing, you might need a source that offers a different perspective to ensure your research is balanced.

Phase 3: Synthesize (20-30 minutes)

Step 6: Map Agreement and Disagreement

Apply the synthesis framework from Lesson 4:

“I’ve researched [topic] using these sources:

Source 1: [one-sentence summary] Source 2: [one-sentence summary] Source 3: [one-sentence summary] [add more as needed]

Map the landscape:

1. Where do sources agree?
2. Where do they disagree or show tension?
3. What topics are covered by some sources but not others?
4. What’s the overall trajectory or trend?”

Step 7: Build Your Narrative

“Based on the agreement/disagreement map, help me construct a synthesis that:

• Starts with what’s well-established
• Addresses areas of debate honestly
• Identifies the key gaps
• Draws 3-5 evidence-based conclusions

Write as an integrated narrative, not a source-by-source summary. I want insights, not a bibliography.”

Step 8: Apply the “So What?” Test

This is where your research becomes actionable. From Lesson 4:

“My synthesis found [key findings]. Now help me answer: So what?

• What decisions should this inform?
• What actions should someone take based on this?
• What are the practical implications?
• What would you tell someone who has 60 seconds to understand why this matters?”

Phase 4: Create Your Deliverable (20-30 minutes)

Step 9: Draft the Output

Choose the format that matches your project type.

For a Research Brief:

“Help me draft a research brief that includes:

1. Executive Summary (3-4 sentences)
2. Research Question and Context
3. Key Findings (organized by theme)
4. Recommendations (with supporting evidence)
5. Limitations and Open Questions
6. Sources Consulted”

For a Literature Review:

“Help me draft a literature review that includes:

1. Introduction (why this topic matters, scope of review)
2. Thematic sections (organized by themes, not by source)
3. Synthesis and Current State of Knowledge
4. Identified Gaps and Future Directions
5. References”

For a Learning Guide:

“Help me create a study guide that includes:

1. Topic Overview and Why It Matters
2. Key Concepts (explained simply, Feynman-style)
3. Common Misconceptions
4. Self-Test Questions (for active recall)
5. Recommended Next Steps for Deeper Learning”

For a Competitive Analysis:

“Help me draft a competitive analysis that includes:

1. Market Overview
2. Competitor Profiles (features, strengths, weaknesses)
3. Competitive Positioning Map
4. Strategic Recommendations
5. Limitations of This Analysis”

Step 10: Verify Before Sharing

Before you consider this deliverable complete, run the verification checklist:

• Every specific statistic has been checked against an independent source
• Every citation or reference has been confirmed to exist
• Claims are attributed correctly (no misrepresentation of what sources actually say)
• Both sides of any debate are represented fairly
• Limitations are acknowledged openly
• The “So What?” is clear and actionable

If even one citation is fabricated or one key statistic is unverified, your entire deliverable loses credibility. This step is non-negotiable.

Phase 5: Capture and Reflect (10 minutes)

Step 11: Store in Your Second Brain

Use the capture prompt from Lesson 5:

“I just completed a research project on [topic]. Help me create a capture note:

1. One-line summary of the most important finding
2. Key findings (3-5 bullet points)
3. Sources I found most valuable (and why)
4. Questions that remain unanswered
5. Connections to other topics I’ve researched
6. Tags for retrieval”

Step 12: Reflect on the Process

“Reflecting on my research process for this project:

• What went well? Which techniques were most useful?
• Where did I struggle? What would I do differently next time?
• What surprised me about my findings?
• What skills from this course did I use most?
• What skills do I need to practice more?”

This reflection isn’t just navel-gazing. It makes your next research project faster and better because you’ll consciously apply what worked and avoid what didn’t.

What You’ve Accomplished

Over eight lessons, you’ve built a complete research and learning system:

You’re no longer someone who just searches and reads. You’re a systematic researcher who uses AI as a powerful accelerator while maintaining the critical thinking that makes research trustworthy.

Key Takeaways

• A complete research project follows a clear arc: frame, research, evaluate, synthesize, create, verify, capture
• Verification before sharing is non-negotiable–one fabricated citation undermines everything
• The “So What?” test transforms research from academic exercise into actionable knowledge
• Capturing and reflecting after every project makes the next one faster and better
• All eight lessons work together as an integrated system, not isolated techniques

Congratulations on completing the AI-Powered Research and Learning course. The next time you face a 47-tab research problem, you’ll have a system that turns it into structured understanding. Go research something that matters to you.