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.
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.
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)
Step 2: clear (with context + tone + length)
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.
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.
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.
Task 1
Type in ChatGPT: “Explain what interest is in simple language, at most 6 sentences.”
Task 2
Type in ChatGPT: “Write a friendly email: I will miss my deadline, but I will come back with a new plan. 140–170 words.”
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 ChatGPT in a new tab, this course page stays open. On your phone: switch tabs afterwards.
How to tackle this smartly
- Use the link above (or the ChatGPT app) to ask questions.
- For each item, ask a normal factual question, for example: “In what year was Isaac Newton born? Give one year only.”
- 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?
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
In Module 4 you apply this to real situations at home, work, and hobbies.