Extracting Key Points & Action Items
Sometimes you don't need a narrative summary. You need specific information extracted and organized for action. This lesson shows you how to pull exactly what you need from any document.
Beyond Summaries: Targeted Extraction
Instead of "summarize this," ask for exactly what you need:
- Key decisions made
- Action items with owners
- Deadlines and dates
- Risks and concerns
- Questions to follow up on
- Data points and metrics
Template: Meeting Notes Extraction
Turn messy meeting transcripts into organized notes:
Template: Contract Key Terms
Extract critical information from contracts:
Template: Research Paper Data
Pull specific findings from research:
Template: Email Thread Summary
Make sense of long email chains:
Template: Report Data Points
Extract specific metrics and data:
The Priority Matrix
Ask AI to categorize action items by urgency:
Combining Extraction with Follow-Up Questions
After extracting key points, dig deeper:
Pro Tip: Create Your Own Templates
Build templates for documents you regularly process:
Weekly Report Template:
- What went well this week?
- What challenges arose?
- What are next week's priorities?
- Any blockers or risks?
Vendor Proposal Template:
- What's the total cost?
- What's included vs. extra?
- What's the timeline?
- What are the contract terms?
Save your best prompts and reuse them.
Key Takeaway
Don't just ask for a summary when you need specific information. Use structured extraction prompts to pull exactly what you need: action items, key data, decisions, and deadlines. Create templates for document types you process regularly.