Lesson 05 of 38 · Basics - 8 min
AI Basics: Your First Simple Prompt
Write a simple AI prompt that asks for a clear, beginner-friendly answer.
AI Basics: Start Here
A prompt is the instruction you type into AI. A prompt can be a question, a task, or a request. Beginners do not need fancy prompts. Start with a clear sentence. Say what you want, who it is for, and how simple the answer should be.
Your first simple prompt
The smallest useful prompt structure: topic, audience, output, and safety.
What to understand
- A prompt is your instruction to AI.
- A clear prompt tells the AI what topic you mean.
- A clear prompt says who the answer is for, such as a beginner, customer, parent, or student.
- A clear prompt says what shape you want, such as dot points, a checklist, or a short paragraph.
- If the answer is confusing, you can ask the AI to make it simpler.
The simple prompt stack
Build a prompt from bottom to top. The first three layers make the prompt clear; the Safety layer is the optional fourth - it comes from the no-share rules in the How To Stay Safe lesson, like avoiding private information.
- TopicWhat is this about?
- AudienceWho is it for?
- OutputWhat should the answer look like?
- SafetyWhat should it avoid?
Step by step
Use the starter sentence
Copy this prompt: Please explain [topic] in simple words for a beginner. Use five dot points.
HintSquare brackets show the part you replace. Open ChatGPT or Claude in your browser first (the links are in this lesson's resources). No account yet? Write the prompt in your notes and ask a helper to set one up.
Replace the topic
Pick a harmless topic, such as email, gardening, tyre pressure, or budgeting. Replace [topic] with your topic.
HintUse a topic you already know a little about. That makes checking easier. You are done when the prompt reads as one clear sentence with your topic in it.
Ask for a simpler version
After reading the answer, type: Please make that simpler and give me one everyday example.
HintAsking again is normal. Good AI use is a back-and-forth process. A good sign it worked: you get five short dot points and one everyday example, not a long essay.
Write one simple prompt, read the answer, then ask for a simpler version with one example.
One simple prompt and one improved version.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Typing only one word and expecting a perfect answer.
- Not saying who the answer is for.
- Asking for a long answer when a short one would be easier.
- Forgetting to check the answer.
Key terms
- Prompt
- The instruction or question you type into AI.
- Audience
- The person or group the answer is written for.
- Output
- The thing you want AI to produce, such as a list, paragraph, or checklist.
- Dot points
- Short list items that are easier to scan than a long paragraph.
Resources
Checkpoint