The goal
To learn how to write a clear request to an AI chat tool, so that you get an answer closer to what you need and know how to improve it.
Before you start
- An AI chat tool you can access.
- A small, real task you want to complete.
- Remember: do not enter personal or confidential data.
The steps
- Set the goal: what exactly do you want to get?
- Give the context: who you are, who the result is for, and at what level.
- Set the format: a list, a table or a paragraph, and how long.
- State the constraints: language, style, and what to avoid.
- Review and improve: ask for a specific change instead of asking again from the beginning.
Try it yourself
Compare the two requests, then write your own request for a task from your work or studies.
An unclear request: “Write about water.”
A clearer request: “I am a Grade 6 science teacher. Write five short questions about the water cycle, from easy to harder, with a brief model answer for each, in simple English.”
Adapt the example: change the topic, the audience, the number and the format to suit your task.
Note: results vary from one tool to another and from one attempt to the next; the example shows a possible result, not a fixed one.
Review the result
- Did the answer follow the requested format and length?
- Is the information correct? Check the important points in a reliable source.
- Is the language suitable for the intended audience?
- If the answer is not suitable, add clarification and ask for a specific change, such as “make the questions shorter”.