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Key Components of Effective Prompts

Jun 14, 2025

Summary

  • The meeting (or video) focused on breaking down the key formula for effective prompting when using AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard.
  • Six core components of a good prompt—task, context, exemplars, persona, format, and tone—were explained with detailed examples and tips.
  • The importance, structure, and impact of each component were discussed, helping attendees understand how to craft more precise and productive prompts.

Action Items

  • (No explicit action items were mentioned; if you need actionable steps, they would relate to viewers applying these six building blocks when crafting prompts.)

The Six Building Blocks of a Good Prompt

1. Task

  • Start your prompt with a clear action verb (e.g., generate, write, give, analyze).
  • Clearly articulate the goal, whether it's a simple request or a complex, multi-step task.
  • A task is essential; without it, the AI will not deliver meaningful output.

2. Context

  • Provide just enough relevant background to constrain the AI’s response and avoid generic outputs.
  • Three guiding questions: what’s the user’s background, what does success look like, and what environment are they operating in?
  • Don’t overburden the prompt with too much context; focus on what is most important for your use case.

3. Exemplars

  • Including examples or frameworks in your prompt can drastically improve output quality.
  • Examples range from specific sentence structures (e.g., resume bullet points) to frameworks like STAR for interview questions.
  • Not always necessary, but highly effective for nuanced or complex requests.

4. Persona

  • Specify who the AI should "be" during the response (e.g., a recruiter, a physical therapist, a well-known figure, or even a fictional character).
  • This component helps tailor the response’s expertise and style to your needs.

5. Format

  • Visualize and state the desired output format (e.g., table, email, bullet points, code block, markdown, or paragraphs).
  • Being explicit about format saves time and ensures you get results ready for practical use.

6. Tone

  • Define the tone of voice (casual, formal, witty, enthusiastic, etc.).
  • If unsure, ask the AI to suggest tone-related keywords based on your intended emotional impact.
  • Use clear instructions to help the AI achieve the desired tone in its output.

Practical Examples and Combined Prompts

  • Showcased how combining all six components leads to highly specific and useful outputs compared to generic prompts.
  • Demonstrated side-by-side differences in output quality when prompts include more building blocks.

Decisions

  • No formal decisions were made during the discussion; it was an instructional and informational session.

Open Questions / Follow-Ups

  • None noted.
  • (A follow-up video was mentioned for advanced prompting techniques, suggesting future content development.)