How to write a good prompt? 5-piece construction

Most people who try AI tools experience the same thing: ask a short question, get a generic answer, and think the tool is “not that good.” However, what most determines the quality of the output is what you tell the tool.

Why is prompt quality so important?

A language model produces the most probable and appropriate continuation given the text it is given. If your prompt is vague, the model will fill in the gaps with its own assumptions. When your prompt is clear, the margin of guesswork decreases and the result gets closer to your needs.

Five-piece construction

1. Role: Which eye the vehicle will look at. For example, “Act like an experienced project manager.”
2. Context: Situation, target audience and constraints. “I prepare a weekly report for a team of 10 people.”
3. Mission: A single, clear request. “A 5-item summary can be derived from the notes below.”
4. Format: The appearance of the output. “Bulleted, 120 words or less.”
5. Criterion: Definition of good outcome. “List unclear points separately, do not add information that is not in the notes.”

Example: Before and after

Weak prompt: “Summarize these notes.” Strong prompt: "Act like an experienced project manager. I prepare a weekly status report for a team of 10 people. Create a 5-item summary from the notes below; bullet-point and no more than 120 words. List ambiguous points at the end with the title 'Things that need clarification', do not add information that is not in the notes."

The second prompt is longer, but the result is much more likely to be usable on the first try. Clarity, not length, makes the difference.

Three ways to improve the result

• Give an example: Show a printout you like and say “write in this tone.”
• Proceed step by step: Ask for a draft first, then revision, then final version.
• Give clear feedback: “Shorter,” “more formal,” “make the third point concrete,” etc.

Point to note

A good prompt does not guarantee that the output is correct. Always verify numbers, names and quotes with an independent source. Do not share texts containing confidential or personal data without reading the vehicle's data policy.

Writing a prompt is like giving a work order to the tool: the clearer it is, the more manageable the result.