Illustration created by DALL-E with the prompt “An artistic arrangement of dozens of ornate empty picture frames of various sizes in an infinite space evoking the idea of endless possibilities. beautiful, warm, exciting, inviting, colorful”
Prompt crafting, or prompt engineering, is an essential tool in AI interactions, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of outcomes. This approach helps users structure their interactions with AI systems more clearly, significantly reducing ambiguity and increasing the likelihood of obtaining relevant and accurate results. By breaking down a task or query into components easily processed by AI, these frameworks ensure that AI responses align closely with user expectations, leading to more efficient problem-solving.
The use of prompt engineering frameworks also promotes a better understanding of AI capabilities and limitations among users. It encourages a more thoughtful approach to formulating queries, fostering critical thinking and improving users’ ability to communicate complex ideas succinctly. This not only benefits the immediate interaction but also enhances long-term proficiency in leveraging AI technologies for diverse applications.
In essence, prompt crafting is a vital skill for optimizing AI interactions in various professional and personal scenarios, leading to outcomes that are both accurate and aligned with user intent. The following frameworks provide structured approaches to different tasks, each with a specific focus:
APE: Action, Purpose, Expectation
Ideal for planning or evaluating an action. For instance, if you’re planning a marketing campaign, you’d define the action (launching a new ad), its purpose (to increase brand awareness), and what you expect to achieve (higher traffic to your website).
CARE: Context, Action, Result, Example
Useful in case studies or project reports. Say you’re discussing a successful project; you’d describe the context (market conditions), the action taken (adopting a new technology), the result (improved efficiency), and give a specific example (reduction in processing time).
CDS: Certainties, Doubts, Suppositions
Great for risk assessment or decision-making. For example, in a business expansion plan, you’d list certainties (current market share), doubts (potential competition), and suppositions (projected market growth).
COAST: Context, Objective, Actions, Scenario, Task
Ideal for detailed project planning. For instance, launching a new product, you’d define the market context, your sales objectives, actions to achieve these, potential market scenarios, and specific tasks for your team.
CORE: Context, Obstacle, Resource, Evaluation
Useful in problem-solving. If facing a production delay, you’d assess the context (supply chain issues), the obstacle (delay in material delivery), available resources (alternative suppliers), and evaluate possible solutions.
ERA: Expectation, Role, Action
Good for assigning responsibilities. In a team setting, clarifying each member’s role and expected actions for a project helps ensure accountability and clear communication.
GRADE: Goal, Request, Action, Details, Examples
Helpful in instructional settings or when providing feedback. For instance, in a classroom, you’d set a learning goal, request specific actions from students, provide details on how to achieve this, and offer examples for clarity.
GUIDE: Goal, User, Instructions, Detail, Examples
Useful for user-focused tasks like software development, where the goal is user satisfaction, considering user needs, providing clear instructions, detailed functionalities, and examples of use cases.
PECRA: Purpose, Expectation, Context, Request, Action
Effective in collaborative projects. For example, when starting a joint venture, you’d define the purpose, set mutual expectations, understand each other’s business context, make requests, and outline actions.
PQRST: Preview, Question, Read, Summarize, Test
Ideal for educational or learning scenarios. Students preview a topic, ask questions, read the material, summarize key points, and then test their understanding.
RACE: Role, Action, Context, Expectation
Useful in role-specific tasks. In a sales team, each member understands their role, the actions they need to take, the sales context, and the expectations set for them.
RISE: Role, Input, Steps, Expectation
Great for process improvement. In a manufacturing setup, each role is defined, inputs required are listed, as are steps in the manufacturing process and expectations for each stage.
ROSES: Role, Objective, Scenario, Expected Solution, Steps
Effective in strategic planning. In crisis management, for example, define roles, set objectives, assess the crisis scenario, plan the expected solution, and outline the steps to manage it.
TAG: Task, Action, Goal
Simple and effective for individual tasks. For personal goal setting, you’d define a task (like learning a new skill), the actions needed (taking a course), and the end goal (skill mastery).
TRACE: Task, Request, Action, Context, Example
Useful in client-oriented services. When a client requests a new website design, understand the task, client’s request, actions needed, the business context, and provide relevant design examples.
TREF: Task, Requirement, Expectation, Format
Ideal for assignments or deliverables. In a report writing task, specify the task (topic of the report), requirements (data sources), expectations (depth of analysis), and format (structure of the report).
Try Them For Yourself
Each of these frameworks offers a unique perspective and can be used in various professional and personal scenarios to bring clarity, focus, and structure to tasks and challenges. The best way to understand how they work is to try them for yourself.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it. This work was created with the assistance of various generative AI models.