Learn something new

First thought

Name the topic in ordinary words, and say you are new to it. Read the example before the bullets. Try the three questions with the answers covered. If the topic is your health, your tax or a legal problem, stop and use a proper source. A chat tool is a patient explainer, and a confident one, which is not the same as a correct one.

Explain [TOPIC] to me. I am new to it. Use simple language an everyday person would understand, and short sentences.

Then:
1. Five bullets I could reread tomorrow.
2. One concrete example.
3. Three questions to check I followed, with the answers underneath so I can try first and then look.
4. Two things you might be wrong or out of date about, and the kind of source I should check (official site, textbook, a person qualified in this).

Do not give medical, legal or financial advice. If this topic needs a qualified person, say that in the first lines.

What good looks like

• You can cover the answer with your hand and try the three questions.
• The first lines say if this is the wrong tool for the topic.
• The example is specific enough to repeat in your own words.

Next step

• Next: five habits that make answers less vague

Other small things that help

• Explain this letter without the jargon
• A decision helper that does not decide for you
• Questions to ask before a call you are dreading

Sources

1. OpenAI, Prompt engineering guide Vendor documentation
2. Anthropic, Prompt engineering overview Vendor documentation