Course › Module 2: How to ask for what you want › Lesson 4 of 24
How to ask for what you want
Talk to it like a helpful new coworker. Say who it is for and why, say what shape you want, give an example, and fix it with a reply.
Key points
- Context: who it is for and why.
- Shape: a list, a short email, three options.
- If it is off, reply and say what to change.
What the video says
Getting a good answer from AI starts with how you ask. Talk to it like a helpful new coworker.
Tell it who the answer is for, and why you need it. That background helps it fit the answer to you.
Say what shape you want back: a short list, a friendly email, or three options to pick from.
For example: write a short, friendly email to my neighbor, asking to borrow a ladder on Saturday.
If the answer is off, just reply and tell it what to change. Make it shorter, or make it warmer.
And if something sounds confusing, ask it to explain it more simply. You can ask as many times as you like.
Next up: staying safe.
Try it yourself
Write a thank-you note to my child's teacher. Warm, 4 sentences, mention the class trip.
That is too formal. Make it sound like me talking.
Check yourself
- Which request will get a better answer?
- The answer is close but too long. What do you do?
- What does 'shape' mean in a request?