Module 3 – Asking smarter questions
From vague question to clear answer

Total time: about 35–45 minutes · Roughly 15 minutes reading, 20–30 minutes practice

You learn to build prompts that work: clear language, role and goal, limits (length, shape), and steering after the first answer. That gets you usable text faster, without heavy technique. It is about asking slightly smarter: structure, context, and handy follow-ups. You do not need to be technical.

Important terms (short and simple)

Goal: you recognise the words we use, without fuss.

Person writing notes next to a laptop

Prompt

A prompt is what you type: a question or task.

Role

The role is who ChatGPT “plays”, such as a coach, teacher, or assistant.

Goal

The goal is what you ultimately want, such as a WhatsApp message, email, checklist, or step plan.

Constraints

Constraints are rules like: at most 80 words, 5 bullets, or 2 sentences.

Steering

Steering is giving extra instructions after the answer so it fits better.

Quick check

1. What is a prompt?

2. Why does giving constraints help (for example: 5 bullets)?

Lesson 3.1 – From vague to clear

Goal: see why “vague” often gets “vague back”, and how to fix it.

Someone typing on a laptop with notes beside it

A prompt like “Write an email” makes sense, but a lot of information is missing. ChatGPT then has to guess: to whom, about what, how long, what tone.

Four things that almost always help

  • Who is it for?
  • What is it about?
  • What exactly do you want as output?
  • How should it sound?

Exercise (do it for real)

Click here to open ChatGPT in a new tab, this course page stays open.

Do this in ChatGPT in two steps. Notice the difference in the answer.

Step 1: vague (on purpose)

Write a message.

Step 2: clear (with context + tone + length)

Write a WhatsApp to a colleague that I will be 10 minutes late. Tone: calm. Length: 2 sentences.

In step 2 you give in one go who it is for, what it is about, how it should sound, and how long. That is the difference between guessing and hitting the mark.

Questions for lesson 3.1

3. Why does a vague prompt often get a vaguer answer?

4. Which add-on helps most to make the answer fit?

Lesson 3.2 – Five simple prompt formulas

Goal: you get an easy “recipe” for better prompts.

One universal scaffold (helps with everything)

Role + context + task + format. You do not need all four every time, but when something stays vague, add them step by step.

  • Role: “Pretend you are …” (e.g. a calm writing coach).
  • Context: briefly: for whom, which situation, which constraint.
  • Task: what must happen (one clear instruction).
  • Format: email with subject, bullets, max words, “no extra commentary”, etc.
Person flipping through a notebook next to a laptop

Formula 1 – Role + task

  • “Pretend you are a friendly language coach. Rewrite this message in a friendly, short way: …”

Formula 2 – Context + goal

  • “Situation: I am writing to school. Goal: reschedule an appointment. Write an email.”

Formula 3 – Format + length

  • “Give the answer in 5 bullets, at most 80 words.”

Formula 4 – Example + imitate

  • “Write in the same style as this example, but for my situation: …”

Formula 5 – Ask questions first

  • “Ask me 2 questions first so you understand me. Only then write the text.”

Example: everything at once (you may copy and adapt)

Click here to open ChatGPT in a new tab, this course page stays open.

Replace the brackets with your situation. That shows how the formulas work together.

Pretend you are a calm writing coach (role). Situation: I need to send an email to [school or club] about [topic]. Goal: make clear what I need without sounding blunt. Format: email, at most 150 words. Tone: friendly and clear. Ask 2 short questions first if anything is unclear, then write the email.

Questions for lesson 3.2

5. Which prompt clearly has a role + task?

6. What is the benefit of format + length (for example 5 bullets, max 80 words)?

Lesson 3.3 – Practice block: short, clear, usable

Goal: you feel the difference after you have done it a few times.

Laptop with notes and coffee on the table

Task 1

Type in ChatGPT: “Explain what interest is in simple language, at most 6 sentences.”

Task 2 – Untangle a messy email from your manager

Paste this prompt into ChatGPT:

You are my assistant. Below is an email from my manager. The email is sloppy and mixes several things together. I want to know exactly what is expected of me before I reply. The email: "Hi, I was still thinking about yesterday's meeting, by the way can you check last month's figures again, I think week 3 revenue wasn't quite right, and oh Sanne mentioned a new supplier but I don't know if we should do anything with that yet, if you finish the piece by Thursday that's fine, and can you also check whether the minutes are done because otherwise I still need to email Peter. Cheers, M." Give your answer in this order: 1. Concrete tasks for me (bullets, with deadline if there is one) 2. Questions I need to ask first before I can start 3. Things that do not seem to be for me Keep it short: at most 150 words. Do not invent tasks that are not in the email. If something is unclear, put it under the questions, not under the tasks.

Paste the prompt into ChatGPT and check that the three blocks come back in the right order. Check that ChatGPT invented nothing that was not in the email, and that the unclear items (new supplier, minutes) sit under the questions and not under the tasks.

Task 3

Then type: “Make the same email 70 words, without sounding blunt.”

Afterwards: read only the start and end of the second email. Do you see the tone stays the same but the length is shorter? That is steering with constraints, a skill you can reuse everywhere.

Questions for lesson 3.3

7. Which upgrade often helps fastest?

8. Why is “ask questions first” sometimes smart?

Practice check (fill-in tasks)

These are not strict exams. They look hard, but you can only answer them well by actually using ChatGPT.

Click here to open Gemini in a new tab, this course page stays open. On your phone: switch tabs afterwards. Gemini is fine here; same exercise.

How to tackle this smartly

  1. Use the link above (or the ChatGPT app) to ask questions.
  2. For each item, ask a normal factual question, for example: “In what year was Isaac Newton born? Give one year only.”
  3. Copy the year or number ChatGPT gives and paste it below. (Optionally double-check on a reliable site afterwards, good practice for Module 4.)

A. In what year was Isaac Newton born?

B. Roughly how many babies are born each year in the Netherlands?

C. Roughly how far is it from Earth to Mars, in kilometres?

Lesson 3.4 – Let ChatGPT interview you about a plan

Goal: notice that AI does not only write texts, but can also help you by asking good questions.

Sometimes you know you want something (a holiday plan, a job at home, a learning plan), but not yet how. Then you can ask ChatGPT: interview me for five to ten minutes, and then make a short plan. That is the same trick as “ask questions first”, but longer and with a clear end product.

Can you talk on the free tier? Yes, with limits. ChatGPT Voice/Live works for free with a limit per 24 hours (often a lighter variant). Gemini Live is often free with limits too. Claude has less voice. If Voice is unavailable or you hit a limit, just type. The exercise stays the same.

Exercise: let yourself be interviewed (5–10 minutes)

Click here to open ChatGPT in a new tab, this course page stays open. Want to talk: tap the voice icon (waves) next to the text box.

Pick a small plan of your own (for example: sleep a bit better for a week, organise a birthday, or tidy a room). Then paste:

I want a simple plan for: [fill in, for example sleep a bit better for a week / organise a birthday / tidy a room]. Do this, in this order: 1. Say in one sentence what you will do: you will interview me for 5-10 minutes and then make a short plan. 2. Ask me one question at a time. Wait for my answer. Maximum 7 questions. 3. Ask about: my goal, how much time I have, what already goes well, what is hard, and what success means for me. 4. After the questions: give a plan of max 150 words in short steps. No long lecture. No exclamation marks. Start now with step 1.

Afterwards: read the plan. Cross out one step that is too big. That is your final edit.

Closing Module 3

You can now:

  • turn a vague question into a clear prompt
  • add structure with role, context, goal, tone, and constraints
  • get usable answers faster
  • let yourself be interviewed to make a short plan (typing or Voice)

In Module 4 you apply this to real situations at home, work, and hobbies.

Continue to Module 4 →