A — Be Absolutely Specific
The Specificity Ladder:
Level 1 (Vague): "Write about health"
Level 2 (Topic): "Write about mental health in Ethiopia"
Level 3 (Audience): "Write about mental health in Ethiopia for university students"
Level 4 (Format): "Write a 500-word blog post about mental health in Ethiopia for university students, including 3 practical tips and 2 local resources in Addis Ababa"
Level 5 (Complete): "Write a 500-word empathetic blog post about managing exam stress for Ethiopian university students. Include: (1) 3 science-backed techniques, (2) 2 free counseling resources in Addis, (3) a brief note about cultural stigma. Tone: supportive, not clinical. Format: Short paragraphs, bullet points for tips."
R — Assign a Role
Why it works: AI adapts its knowledge, tone, and examples to the role.
| Role | How AI Responds | |:---|:---| | "You are a patient teacher..." | Simpler explanations, more encouragement | | "You are a strict editor..." | Critical feedback, catches all errors | | "You are an Ethiopian elder..." | Cultural wisdom, traditional analogies |
T — Specify the Template/Format
Always tell AI HOW to present information:
- Numbered list (for steps, rankings)
- Bullet points (for features, benefits)
- Table (for comparisons)
- Email/Letter format
- Q&A format