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How to Write a Prompt That Gets Great Answers

The four-part method we teach in class (Role, Context, Task, Format) turns vague questions into answers you can actually use. With examples you can copy today.

By Tanimawo AI Academy3 min read

Most people ask AI one short question, get a vague answer and decide AI is "not that good". The problem is usually the question, not the AI. A chatbot like ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot only knows what you tell it. Give it more to work with and the answer gets much better.

In the Sunday class we use a simple four-part method. You do not need to memorise it: after a few tries it becomes a habit.

The four parts: Role, Context, Task, Format

  1. Role. Tell the AI who to be. "Act as a friendly business coach." "Act as a patient maths teacher."
  2. Context. Tell it about your situation. "I sell shoes on Instagram in Lagos. Most of my customers are students."
  3. Task. Say exactly what you want. "Give me 5 ideas to get more customers this month."
  4. Format. Say how you want the answer. "Use short bullet points. Keep it under 120 words."

Before and after

A weak prompt:

Help me with my business.

A strong prompt:

Act as a friendly business coach. I sell shoes on Instagram in Lagos and most of my customers are students. Give me 5 cheap ideas to get more customers this month. Use short bullet points and keep it under 120 words.

Same AI, very different answer. The second one is specific to you, so the ideas are ones you can use.

Three habits that make every prompt better

  • Ask for options. "Give me 3 versions" lets you pick the best one instead of settling for the first.
  • Keep talking. The first answer is a draft. Reply with "Make it shorter", "Make it friendlier" or "Explain step 2 like I am 12".
  • Give an example. If you want a certain style, paste a short example and say "Write it like this".

Prompts you can copy today

  • Study: "Act as a patient teacher. Explain photosynthesis in simple words for a secondary school student, then ask me 3 questions to check I understood."
  • Work: "Act as a career coach. Here is a job advert: [paste]. List the 5 skills it asks for most, in simple words."
  • Everyday: "Act as a nutrition coach who knows Nigerian food. Plan cheap, healthy meals for a family of 4 for one week. Use a simple table."

One thing never to put in a prompt

Never paste passwords, PINs, OTP codes, your BVN or other people's private details into any AI tool. You do not need them to get a good answer. Read more in Stay Safe With AI.

Practise it

Download the free prompt writing cheat sheet, try the method on something you need this week, and bring your best prompt to the free Sunday class. We look at real student prompts live and make them better together.

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