Beginner-Friendly Topic
Take your time - it's perfectly normal to re-read this topic 2-3 times. Try the interactive code editor below to run code yourself. Use the Q&A section to check your understanding before moving on. You've got this! 🚀
Task Instructions
The task instruction is the core of your prompt. It tells AI exactly what to produce. A clear, specific task instruction is the foundation of every effective prompt.
Writing Effective Task Instructions
A good task instruction:
- Starts with an action verb
- Specifies exactly what to produce
- Does not leave the AI to guess the task
Strong action verbs:
Write, Explain, Summarize, List, Review, Translate, Compare, Identify, Create, Generate, Analyze, Rewrite, Simplify, Expand
Weak task starters to avoid:
'Help me with...', 'Do something about...', 'Can you maybe...', 'I need some information about...'
Deep Learning ⊂ Machine Learning ⊂ Artificial Intelligence
Task Instruction Examples
- Strong: 'Write a professional email declining a project proposal.'
- Strong: 'Explain the concept of recursion to a beginner Python developer.'
- Strong: 'Summarize this document in 5 bullet points focused on action items.'
- Strong: 'Review this function and identify any performance issues.'
- Strong: 'Translate this paragraph from English to French, keeping the formal tone.'
- Weak: 'Can you help me with my email?' (too vague)
- Weak: 'I need some Python stuff.' (unclear task)
- Weak: 'Do something with this text.' (no task defined)
Key Takeaways
- The task instruction starts with a strong action verb
- Specify exactly what to produce, not just the general topic
- Avoid weak starters like 'help me' or 'can you maybe'
- One clear task instruction is better than several vague ones
- The task defines what the output IS; context defines what it should account for
Key Takeaways
- The task instruction is the core of your prompt.
- Strong: 'Write a professional email declining a project proposal.'
- Strong: 'Explain the concept of recursion to a beginner Python developer.'
- Strong: 'Summarize this document in 5 bullet points focused on action items.'