Introduction to prompting

30 June 2026

Learning Pathway:

AI Aware 101

The one skill that makes every other guide in this series work better.

Person using ChatGPT on a laptop, with visual prompts illustrating ideas, writing, and conversations around the text "Introduction to Prompting".

What is a prompt?

A prompt is simply an instruction or question you give an AI. Good prompting isn't a technical skill; it's a communication skill. The clearer you are, the better the answer.

Think of it like briefing a colleague:

Three-step infographic explaining why clear instructions are important when working with AI. Step 1 shows a person holding a lightbulb, with the caption “They’re smart and eager,” indicating that AI is capable and ready to help. Step 2 shows a person standing beside signposts and a target, with the caption “But they don’t know your project, your audience, or what ‘good’ looks like,” highlighting AI’s lack of context. Step 3 shows a structured workflow diagram with a hand selecting an option, with the caption “So you have to spell it out,” emphasizing the need to provide clear requirements, goals, and expectations when prompting AI. Arrows between the panels illustrate the progression from AI capability to the importance of user guidance.

Why it matters

You can get wildly different answers from the same AI, depending on how you ask. Most disappointing results come from a vague prompt, not a weak tool.

Comparison Table between weak and strong prompts

The 5 building blocks of a good prompt

Here is a five-part recipe that could serve as a guide. You don't need all five every time — but the more you include, the better the result.

C	📂Context	The background it needs. "This is for a member of the public who was frustrated by a delay."
R	🎭Role	Who the AI should act as. "You are an experienced policy writer."
A	⚡Action	What to do, as one clear instruction. "Draft a reply to this feedback email."
F	📋Format	How to structure the output. "Write it in 3 short paragraphs."
T	🔊Tone	The voice. "Polite, empathetic, professional."

🔁 Putting it together:

You are a customer service officer (Role). Draft a reply to this complaint email (Action). The resident waited 3 weeks for a permit and is upset (Context). Keep it to 3 short paragraphs (Format). Sound warm and apologetic but factual (Tone).

Don't stop at the first answer

Your best results often come after a few back-and-forth exchanges. Try these simple ways to refine the output:

Make it shorter/more concise
Explain it more simply
Make the tone more formal/simpler
Add more detail on 'X'
Give me 3 alternative versions

Make it repeatable. Save your own starter tool.

Once a phrasing works well for a task you do often, save it as a reusable Skill or Custom GPT, so you never start from a blank box.

Now it's your turn to try!

Try your hand at using the C.R.A.F.T. spine for your next prompt and compare your results!

Remember: the goal isn't to get what you want with one single prompt, but to iterate and refine further to sharpen your output, before you convert it into a reusable skill.

[Additional resource] Watch this 8-min video on Prompting

⏭️Next Guide: Using AI responsibly ↩️Return to: AI 101 Learning Pathway