Structuring a PromptThe parts of a prompt that reliably improve an answer.ComputingNot every prompt needs all six, but this is the order that works.1Role or contextWho is answering and what they know. One line is enough.2The taskOne clear instruction. Split compound requests into separate ones.3The inputDelimited clearly, so it cannot be confused with the instruction.4ConstraintsLength, format, what to leave out, what to do when unsure.5An exampleOne good example outperforms a paragraph describing one.6Output formatAsk for the exact shape you want to parse.WEAK VS STRONGWeak: 'summarise this'Strong: 'Three bullets, under 15 words each, for a reader who has not seen the document'If you cannot describe what a good answer looks like, the model cannoteither.Structuring a Promptlearnposters.com
Structuring a Prompt — printable computing wall chart from LearnPosters. Free vector PDF, US Letter and A4.

Structuring a Prompt, step by step

Not every prompt needs all six, but this is the order that works.

  1. Role or contextWho is answering and what they know. One line is enough.
  2. The taskOne clear instruction. Split compound requests into separate ones.
  3. The inputDelimited clearly, so it cannot be confused with the instruction.
  4. ConstraintsLength, format, what to leave out, what to do when unsure.
  5. An exampleOne good example outperforms a paragraph describing one.
  6. Output formatAsk for the exact shape you want to parse.

Weak vs strong

  • Weak: 'summarise this'
  • Strong: 'Three bullets, under 15 words each, for a reader who has not seen the document'

If you cannot describe what a good answer looks like, the model cannot either.

Questions about the Structuring a Prompt poster

What’s on the Structuring a Prompt poster?
6 numbered steps, with a full worked run-through. Not every prompt needs all six, but this is the order that works. Role or context — Who is answering and what they know. One line is enough.; The task — One clear instruction. Split compound requests into separate ones.; The input — Delimited clearly, so it cannot be confused with the instruction.; Constraints — Length, format, what to leave out, what to do when unsure.; An example — One good example outperforms a paragraph describing one.; Output format — Ask for the exact shape you want to parse.. If you cannot describe what a good answer looks like, the model cannot either.
Who is the Structuring a Prompt poster for?
Structuring a Prompt belongs to the Computing section rather than to a school year, because computing is not something one grade owns. Anyone learning ai & ml can pin it up — a beginner, a student mid-course, or someone revising years later.
When should you use the Structuring a Prompt poster?
Say what good looks like. Most poor outputs come from unstated expectations, not model limits. A wall chart earns its place by being glanceable from where the work is happening, so Structuring a Prompt belongs on the wall where that computing work actually happens, within glancing distance, rather than filed away.
What other posters go with Structuring a Prompt?
Embeddings, Evaluating AI Output and LLM Vocabulary sit alongside Structuring a Prompt in the Computing section. Printed together they make a wall rather than a single sheet, which is how a reference set actually gets used.EmbeddingsEvaluating AI OutputLLM Vocabulary
Is the Structuring a Prompt poster free to download and print?
Yes. Structuring a Prompt downloads as a free PDF with no account, no email and no watermark, like everything else in the Computing section. Print as many copies as you like for a home, a classroom, a library or a tutoring group; reselling the file is the only thing the licence rules out.Read the licence
What size does the Structuring a Prompt poster print at?
Structuring a Prompt is a vector PDF laid out for US Letter, and prints on A4 with Fit to page — the same file, no separate download. Because every mark on it is drawn rather than photographed, it stays sharp enlarged to A3, A2 or A1 at a copy shop. Colour carries emphasis only, so a greyscale print of Structuring a Prompt loses nothing.Printing guide

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