EXD.1:4.1 - Recover the requested connection and its use

Start with the recipient’s own words and the task at hand. Identify what the answer would let them infer, distinguish, predict, calculate or do. Keep the question and purpose distinguishable: “What is the average across these people?” asks for a statistic; “I need a fair comparison of branches” states a purpose whose rule of fairness remains to be settled.

When alternatives would lead to different answers, offer a brief discriminating clarification. For an average, ask whether each individual or each group should receive equal influence. For a recommendation, ask whether the recipient needs its existing grounds or evidence that following it will develop a capability. Choose the contrast from the actual task and available account.

Accept a clear answer, a corrected paraphrase or a still-unresolved choice. If the recipient cannot choose, state the conditional questions. “We can calculate either summary; we still need to decide which unit should count equally” is a useful result.