Good vs Confusing Prompts 🆚

The Prompt Improvement Game

Let's take bad prompts and make them brilliant!

🎓 School Homework Example

Bad prompt 😬:

"Help me with my homework"

AI has NO idea what subject, what topic, what level, what format, what you already know!

Better prompt 😊:

"I'm 12 years old studying for a science test on photosynthesis. Explain how photosynthesis works in: - 1 simple sentence summary - 5 bullet points of key facts - One real-life analogy I can relate to Keep it friendly and easy to understand"

🎮 Minecraft Building Example

Bad prompt 😬:

"Build me something cool"

Cool to who? What size? What materials? Where?

Better prompt 😊:

"Give me step-by-step instructions to build a medieval castle in Minecraft. Include: - The materials I'll need - 5 building steps in order - 3 cool detail ideas to make it look amazing I'm an intermediate builder who has played for 2 years"

📖 Story Writing Example

Bad prompt 😬:

"Write a story"

Better prompt 😊:

"Write a funny 3-paragraph story about: - Main character: a robot called Bob who wants to be a chef 🤖👨‍🍳 - Problem: Bob keeps confusing recipes (makes pasta with chocolate sauce) - Ending: Bob accidentally invents an amazing new dish Make it silly, light-hearted, and suitable for kids aged 10-12"

The 5-Step Prompt Checklist ✅

Before sending a prompt, check:

1. ☑️ Is it specific about what I want?
2. ☑️ Have I stated the audience (who it's for)?
3. ☑️ Have I specified the format (list, steps, paragraph)?
4. ☑️ Have I given context (why you need it)?
5. ☑️ Have I asked for the right length?

💡 Pro Tip: Iterate!

If the first response isn't perfect, follow up:

"That's good! Can you make it funnier?" "Can you simplify the language for a 10-year-old?" "Add an example using football" "Make it shorter — just 3 bullet points"

AI conversation is a back-and-forth — keep going until it's perfect!