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How-To AI

The 5-Principle Formula for Better Prompts

Fundamentals

The Prompt Frustration

Do you know this feeling? You give the AI a task, look forward to the result – and get something that only vaguely resembles what you wanted.

The reason is simple: AI is not a mind reader. It is a tool – a very powerful one, but only as good as the instructions it receives.

The good news: There is a formula. With five principles, you transform vague wishes into precise results.

Method

The 5-Ingredient Recipe

Think of a prompt like a gourmet recipe. Missing one ingredient, and it won't taste right.

1

Define Role

"You are an experienced marketing expert..."

Give the AI a clear role. It should behave like an expert in this field.

Example: "You are an experienced teacher for 10-year-olds"
2

Formulate Goal

"Explain to me how..." or "Write a text about..."

Define clearly what you want to achieve. The more precise the goal, the better the result.

Example: "Explain to me how photosynthesis works"
3

Specify Format

"As a list", "In 3 paragraphs", "As a table"

Determine the structure and length of the output. This way you get exactly the format you need.

Example: "List the 5 most important points"
4

Provide Context

"For a 10-year-old child", "In a business context"

Give background information so the AI can tailor the response to your situation.

Example: "For beginners without prior knowledge"
5

Determine Tone

"Casual and humorous", "Factual and professional"

Define the style of the response. The right tone makes the difference between good and great.

Example: "Casual, as if you're talking to a friend"
Practice

Example Prompt

Before vs. After

Weak Prompt:

"Write me a text about AI."

Strong Prompt (with 5 principles):

I am a teacher at a secondary school (Context). Write me an explanatory text about artificial intelligence for my 12-year-old pupils (Goal + Format). The text should: - be approximately 300 words long (Length) - be written in a casual and understandable way (Tone) - contain an everyday example (Details) - not use technical terms without explanation (Constraints) If anything is unclear, ask me. (Iteration)
Tips

Do & Don't

Do

  • State concrete goals
  • Provide examples
  • Define roles
  • Proceed step by step
  • Check results

Don't

  • Make vague requests
  • Demand everything at once
  • Work without context
  • Blindly trust results
  • Give up if it doesn't fit right away
Workflows

Practice Workflows

Create Text

  1. 1Context: Who am I? Who am I writing for?
  2. 2Goal: What should the text achieve?
  3. 3Format: Length, structure, examples
  4. 4Tone: Casual, formal, technical?
  5. 5Review: Check critically and adjust

Generate Code

  1. 1State language/framework
  2. 2Describe concrete task
  3. 3Define inputs and expected outputs
  4. 4Mention error handling
  5. 5Test and debug

Explain Concepts

  1. 1Define target audience (child vs. expert)
  2. 2Set complexity level
  3. 3Make connection to everyday life
  4. 4Use metaphors or comparisons
  5. 5Ask questions until it clicks

Keep Your Voice

The best prompts give you raw material – not the finished product. Take the AI output, adapt it, give it your personal touch.

The AI is your tool, not your ghostwriter.

To the Learner Pledge

Summary: Good prompts need role, goal, format, context and tone. The AI is your tool – you remain the operator. Always check outputs critically and keep your own voice.

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