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MODULE 4 | 40 minutes | FAST TRACK CORE + GO DEEPER
Shape complex work and improve it
Core idea: complexity needs structure, not incantations
When a task contains several different kinds of work, separate them into stages. Each stage should produce something a person can inspect before the next stage begins. One prompt can contain multiple steps, but one primary deliverable remains a strong default.
Clarify: ask concise questions when a missing input would materially change the answer.
Analyze: extract facts, constraints, themes, or options before writing a recommendation.
Draft: create the requested artifact using the approved evidence and structure.
Review: test the draft against explicit success criteria.
Revise: change the smallest instruction that addresses the diagnosed problem.
Use output structure intentionally
Specify a list, table, outline, email, checklist, schema, or narrative when the form matters. Do not request a table simply because it looks organized; use it when rows share comparable fields.
COMPARISON TEMPLATE
Ask for inspectable work, not hidden reasoning
Different model families handle reasoning prompts differently. Asking a model to reveal hidden chain-of-thought is not necessary and may not improve performance. Ask instead for a concise rationale, material assumptions, evidence used, visible calculations, alternatives considered, and unresolved uncertainty.
See it: a staged event workflow
STAGE 1 - EXTRACT
STAGE 2 - PLAN
STAGE 3 - REVIEW
STAGE 4 - REVISE
Improve one dimension at a time
| Observed failure | Targeted revision |
|---|---|
| Too generic | Add the missing audience, decision, or source facts. |
| Wrong structure | Specify fields or show one correct example. |
| Invented information | Constrain the source and define missing-value behavior. |
| Too long | Set a length, priority order, and what to omit. |
| Ignored a constraint | Move the constraint next to the task and test it with a representative case. |
Try it: practice the skill
What to do
- Choose the task suggested for this module, or use another simple, low-risk task.
- Open ChatGPT or another AI assistant in a separate tab or window.
- Enter your prompt and send it. Do not include private or sensitive information.
- Read the AI answer.
- For this module, identify one problem in the answer. Change one instruction to address that problem, then run the revised prompt.
- Return to this course and complete the short notes below.
If you cannot use an AI assistant now, read the worked example and write what you would try later.
| Path | Your task |
|---|---|
| Everyday life | Split your comparison into extraction, comparison, and decision-support stages. |
| Learning | Create a teach-practice-quiz loop and require feedback on the learner's answer. |
| Work | Separate fictional note extraction, email drafting, and final approval into distinct steps. |
Module 4 test - check before you continue
Answer Questions 1–3 by choosing A, B, or C. For Question 4, write a short response. After you finish all four, use the answer key at the end of the course to check your work.
Your response stays in this page and is not saved or sent to RayAI.
4. Diagnose one weakness in your latest output and write one targeted revision instruction that addresses only that weakness.
Your answer should you name one observed failure and write a specific change tied to that failure without rewriting unrelated instructions.
Review after attempting
Your answer should you name one observed failure and write a specific change tied to that failure without rewriting unrelated instructions.
Finish this module
Mark this module complete when you have attempted every activity you intend to complete and reviewed your work against the v0.5 guidance.