The 4 parts of a good prompt

Day 2 of 5 · AI Catch-Up Program (EN): Beginner Course

Direct the output with clarity


Learning goal

  • Use the 4-part structure.
  • Write 2 prompts that are clear and cite-ready.

Why it matters

  • Ambiguity = random answers.
  • Structure makes AI responses usable and consistent.

Explanation: 4 parts

  1. Goal — what you want.
  2. Context — background needed.
  3. Format — bullet/table/short paragraph.
  4. Style — tone (formal, friendly, technical).

Examples

  • Weak: “Write an email.”
  • Good: “Write a short, polite email to a customer who complained yesterday. Tone: empathetic, professional. Max 4 sentences.”

Guided exercise (10–15 min)

  1. Write 2 prompts with all 4 parts.
  2. Generate outputs; check if they match intent.

Independent exercise (5–10 min)

Refine one prompt to be more specific (add data, format, constraints).


Self-check

  • Both prompts include goal, context, format, style.
  • Outputs match your intent.

Optional deepening