# Mode: pyramid

Conclusion-first argumentation. State the answer, then support it with mutually-exclusive, collectively-exhaustive evidence — every claim earns its place, every number carries a comparison. For audiences who want the result before the process: executives, boards, investors, decision-makers.

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## 1. Narrative skeleton

**Conclusion first**: the page title *is* the conclusion, not a label. The body develops the supporting arguments beneath it.

SCQA opening, pyramid body:

| Stage | Role | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Situation | establish shared context | cover / first 1-2 pages |
| Complication | the tension / problem | early pages |
| Question | the implicit question to resolve | transition |
| Answer | the recommendation, developed MECE | all body pages |

**Assertion titles** — write the finding, not the topic:

| Weak (topic) | Strong (assertion) |
|---|---|
| "Market Overview" | "Domestic market grows 23% YoY, outpacing the global average" |
| "Challenges" | "Three structural contradictions block scaled deployment" |
| "Our Solution" | "Three-phase path: Focus, Expand, Scale" |

**Data never stands alone** — every figure pairs with a comparison (prior period / benchmark / competitor / target / rank) and a "so what". A bare number is an incomplete thought in this mode.

**MECE** — when decomposing (drivers, segments, options), branches are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive; parts sum to the whole (or label "Other").

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## 2. Page-structure tendencies

- Title (the conclusion) → one-line takeaway → supporting evidence beneath.
- Each body page answers one question and states its own one-sentence conclusion.
- Decomposition pages (driver tree / MECE breakdown / 2×2 matrix) carry the analytical load.
- Source attribution on every data page.

> Page structure is a tendency, not a coordinate template. Card / tree / chart / KPI geometry lives in [`templates/charts/`](../../templates/charts/) — adapt those skeletons, do not reinvent. This mode decides *what argument each page makes*, not pixel positions.

---

## 3. Speaker-notes register

Conclusion-driven: the first sentence of each page's notes is the takeaway, then 2-3 supporting facts in flowing prose. Composed, authoritative. Every number paired with its comparison in the same sentence ("23% — nearly double the industry's 12%"). Spell percentages as words where the spoken form reads more naturally. (Common framework: [`executor-base.md §8`](../executor-base.md).)

---

## 4. Page skeleton example

```
Title:    "Retention, not acquisition, now drives growth"   ← the conclusion
Takeaway: one line — "CAC up 40% YoY, yet repurchase lifted 60% of revenue growth"
Body:     3 MECE arguments, each with one contextualized datum
Footer:   Source: … | page #
```