Role
Tell AI who to be. "You are an experienced editor" or "Act as a career coach." This shapes the expertise and perspective of the response.
Module 2: The Formula
The 4-Part Prompt
Stop guessing what to write. Here's a simple formula that works for almost any prompt.
Most people stare at the chat box wondering "what do I even say?" Here's a formula that removes the guesswork:
Role
Who to be
Task
What to do
Format
How to show it
Context
Why it matters
The Four Parts
R
T
Task
The specific thing you want done. "Review this email" or "Explain this concept" or "Generate 5 ideas for..."
F
Format
How you want the answer. "As a bulleted list" or "In 2 paragraphs" or "As a table comparing pros and cons."
C
Context
Background that shapes the answer. Your situation, audience, constraints, or what you've already tried.
See It in Action
Example prompt
[ROLE] You are an experienced product manager who has launched dozens of successful features.
[TASK] Review my feature spec and identify the 3 biggest risks that could cause this to fail.
[FORMAT] For each risk, give me:
- The risk in one sentence
- Why it's dangerous
- One way to mitigate it
[CONTEXT] This is for a mobile app startup with a small team. We're launching in 6 weeks and can't afford to miss major issues.
Here's my spec:
[paste your spec here]
Notice how each part adds something specific. Without the role, you get generic advice. Without context, the AI doesn't know your constraints.
You Don't Need All Four
The formula is a tool, not a requirement. Sometimes you only need two parts. Sometimes context is implied. Use what makes sense.
For simple tasks: Task + Format is usually enough
For expert advice: Add Role
For personalized help: Add Context
Quick template
You are a [ROLE with relevant expertise].
I need you to [SPECIFIC TASK].
Please format your response as [DESIRED FORMAT].
Context: [RELEVANT BACKGROUND]
Try It Now
Take something you need help with right now and structure it using the formula:
1. What role would give the best perspective?
2. What exactly do you need done?
3. How do you want to receive it?
4. What context would improve the answer?
Key Takeaway
Role + Task + Format + Context = consistently better prompts.