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Prompting Basics – From Vague Requests to Usable Results

Lesson 3: Fixing Prompts That Miss

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

  • Diagnose why a prompt produced a weak answer.
  • Use four quick repairs: add facts, add a reader, add a format, add a rule.
  • Use the "ask me questions first" technique when they are not sure what to include.

Lesson Content

When an answer misses, the cause is usually in the prompt, not the AI. Read the answer and ask which of these was missing:

  • Facts: The AI filled gaps with guesses. Repair: add the real details.
  • Reader: The tone or level is wrong. Repair: say who will read it.
  • Format: You got paragraphs when you needed a list. Repair: name the format.
  • Rule: The AI added things you did not want. Repair: add a limit such as "no prices" or "under 100 words."

The "ask me questions first" technique. When you are not sure what to include, end your prompt with: "Before you write anything, ask me up to three questions you need answered to do this well." The AI will tell you what is missing. This is one of the most useful habits for beginners.

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