Maus HTML Summary#

Turn a source text (article, transcript, talk, long post, raw text) into one self-contained HTML page that explains it with the clarity of a children's science show for adults: friendly, concrete, visual, source-faithful, and easy to remember.

The name references "Die Sendung mit der Maus", a German educational TV show known for explaining complex topics in simple visual steps. Outputs should be internationally understandable; do not assume the reader knows the show.

Goal#

A single self-contained HTML page that is:

• easy to scan
• visually illustrated with real explanatory SVGs (not decorative icons)
• plain-language but substantively concrete
• faithful to the source and honest about what was left out
• memorable through metaphor and clear hierarchy

The tone is "clear science explainer for adults": friendly, concrete, slightly playful, never childish, never vague.

The non-negotiable workflow#

These seven stages run in order, every time. Skipping a stage produces shallow or hallucinated output. Reproducibility is the audit (Stage 7) catching what earlier stages missed.

Stage 1 - Internal extraction (no output yet)#

Read the source. Build a short internal notes block. It never appears in the HTML; it is the only material allowed in the HTML.

Capture four buckets:

• Facts - numbers, dates, names, places, technical terms
• Mechanisms - how things work: concrete steps, cause -> effect, before/after
• Examples - specific cases mentioned in the source
• Source claims - what the source explicitly argues or shows

Anti-hallucination rule: if a claim is not in this list, it cannot appear in the HTML.

Stage 2 - Plan hierarchy#

Count source words. Pick main-idea count by size:

• < 500 words (short transcript snippet, social post): 3 main ideas
• 500-2000 words (article, talk excerpt): 4 main ideas
• 2000+ words (long article, full transcript): 5-6 main ideas

For transcripts: first mentally filter filler words, false starts, hesitations, repetition. Extract from the cleaned signal, not the raw text.

For each main idea, plan 2-4 sub-points. Sub-points are where concreteness lives.

Identify the one-sentence core message; this becomes the hero.

Stage 3 - Pick an SVG metaphor per main idea#

Every main idea carries exactly one explanatory SVG. Pick from this catalog:

• Layer stack - layered concepts, abstraction levels, stacked components
• Pipeline / conveyor belt - sequential processes, transformations, flows
• Cross-section - what is inside something: anatomy, internals, structure
• Before / after - change, transformation, improvement
• Node graph - networks, relationships, dependencies, hubs
• Funnel - filtering, narrowing, conversion
• Growth curve - growth, decay, trends over time
• Circuit / logic flow - logical wiring, if/then chains, branching flow

Use the skeleton SVGs in svg-patterns.md as the geometric base. Adapt labels, colors, element count to the specific content. Never copy-paste verbatim.

If none of the metaphors fit a given idea, the idea is probably too abstract to stand alone. Fold it into another idea.

Decorative emoji or icons are not SVG metaphors. A row of generic symbols does not satisfy the SVG requirement.

Stage 4 - Draft sections#

Build the HTML around this arc:

1. Hero / What is this about? - the one-sentence core message plus a 1-2 sentence lead.

2. Main ideas section - 3-6 cards (per Stage 2), each with:

   • Headline
   • SVG metaphor (from Stage 3, adapted from svg-patterns.md)
   • 2-4 sub-points (each passing the concreteness check in Stage 5)

3. Why it matters - one box, the broader significance as stated in the source.

4. What we left out - honesty box: 2-4 things from the source that were intentionally omitted, each with a one-line reason ("too technical for this format", "side path not tied to the core message", "redundant with idea 2", ...).

5. Memory hook - one memorable sentence, readable aloud in under 5 seconds.

6. If you only remember 3 things - exactly three bullets, the absolute minimum take-away.

Stage 5 - Concreteness check per sub-point#

Every sub-point must contain at least one of:

• a number (count, percentage, duration, threshold, version)
• a proper noun (product, person, company, technology, place)
• a concrete example (a specific case from the source)
• a mechanism step (how it works, not just that it works)

If a sub-point has none of these, it is too vague. Rewrite it using material from the Stage 1 extraction notes, or remove it.

Vague-by-default phrases that signal a failed sub-point:

• "improves efficiency"
• "plays an important role"
• "enables new possibilities"
• "is an important aspect"
• "contributes to ..."
• "is significant"

If you catch yourself writing any of these, you're describing the existence of a thing instead of explaining it. Go back to the extraction notes and pull a fact, name, example, or step.

Stage 6 - Render HTML#

Write one complete, self-contained HTML document:

• All CSS inline in <style>
• All SVGs inline
• No external scripts, fonts, images, fetches, or <link> tags
• Mobile-friendly (verify mental layout at 360 px width)
• Strong visual hierarchy: hero -> idea cards -> significance -> honesty -> memorable closing
• Rounded shapes, warm muted palette, soft shadows, light borders
• Hierarchy through size, weight, and color; not through heavy lines

Stage 7 - Pre-emit audit (the reproducibility gate)#

Before delivering, walk this checklist mentally. Any failed item must be fixed before emitting.

text

[ ] Every sub-point contains a number, proper noun, concrete example,
    or mechanism step (Stage 5 rule)
[ ] Every main idea has exactly one explanatory SVG drawn from the
    catalog, adapted from svg-patterns.md; not a decorative icon
[ ] The "What we left out" box names at least 2 specific things from the
    source that were left out, each with a one-line reason
[ ] No fact in the output is missing from the Stage 1 extraction notes
    (no hallucinations)
[ ] The memory hook reads aloud in under 5 seconds
[ ] The "If you only remember 3 things" box has exactly 3 items
[ ] HTML is self-contained: no <script>, no <link rel="stylesheet">,
    no <img src="http...">, no external font URLs

The audit is the difference between consistent and inconsistent output. Don't skip it. Don't treat it as a wish list. It is a checklist.

Writing rules#

• Use the source language by default. If the user or audience context indicates English, use English.
• Concreteness over brevity. If forced to choose between "short and vague" and "two sentences and concrete", pick concrete.
• Explain jargon once, then drop it.
• One narrative thread per main idea; don't mix topics inside one card.
• Short paragraphs, but use lists where lists fit naturally (steps, ingredients, options).
• Avoid long quotations. Summarize.

HTML rules#

• One complete document, self-contained, no external dependencies.
• Mobile-first layout, generous padding.
• Warm muted palette, but keep it globally readable and not region-specific.
• Rounded corners, soft shadows.
• Hierarchy via size, weight, color; not via heavy lines or borders.

When the source is unclear#

If the source is genuinely ambiguous about a point, say so in the output inside the relevant card or in the "What we left out" box. Never invent details to fill space.

Resources#

• svg-patterns.md - skeleton SVGs for the eight metaphor types in Stage 3. Use as geometric base, adapt content.