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foundations · Level 1

Your first prompts: how to ask AI for what you actually want

The six parts of a good prompt, how to improve a reply, and how to build a personal library of prompts that work.

By Mickarle Wagstaff-Irons - Micky Irons

  • Level 1Starting out
  • 120 min
  • 7 chapters
  • Free PDF, no account
Download free PDF (PDF, 1.5 MB)
The Aperturefoundations / 01

Start with the essentials

The short answer

A prompt is the instruction you give an AI. A strong one can cover six things: the role you want it to play, the task, the context it cannot know, the format of the answer, any constraints, and an example of the style you want. Treat the first reply as a draft and improve it with follow-up messages.

What you will learn

  • You will be able to name the six parts of a good prompt and use them to write your own.
  • You will know how to improve a reply with follow-up messages instead of starting again.
  • You will be able to ask an AI to question you before it answers, and to work on big jobs in stages.
  • You will know how to show an AI an example of the style or format you want.
  • You will be able to spot and fix the most common prompting mistakes.
  • You will have a small personal prompt library and a reusable template.

Who it is for

Anyone who has tried a chatbot and got bland or off-target answers, and anyone who is just starting. No coding and no special software are needed. It helps to have read the first workbook, What is AI?, but it is not essential.

Before you start

  • None. A free chatbot is helpful for the exercises, but you can also work through them on paper and try them later.

Keep learning

The complete workbook

This workbook teaches you to write prompts that get useful answers first time, and to fix them when they do not. You will practise the six parts of a good prompt, learn to iterate, let the AI interview you, show it examples of your style, avoid the common mistakes and keep a personal library of prompts. Every exercise works with any free chatbot, or on paper.

  1. 01
    What a prompt is, and why wording matters

    A prompt is simply what you type. The words you choose decide most of what you get back, so a little care here saves a lot of time later.

    In the workbook · 1 exercise
  2. 02
    The six parts of a good prompt

    There is no magic formula. But most strong prompts contain a mix of six ingredients, and once you know them you can build a good prompt for almost any job.

    In the workbook · 1 exercise
  3. 03
    Iterating: treat the first answer as a draft

    First replies are rarely perfect, even for experts. The real skill is in the follow-ups.

    In the workbook · 1 exercise
  4. 04
    Let the AI ask you questions, and work in steps

    Two habits make big tasks manageable: let the AI interview you first, and break the work into stages.

    In the workbook · 1 exercise
  5. 05
    Show, do not just tell: examples of the style you want

    Describing a style in words is hard. Showing a sample is easy, and AI is very good at following a pattern.

    In the workbook · 1 exercise
  6. 06
    Common mistakes, and how to fix them

    Beginners tend to make the same handful of errors. Spot them early and you will improve fast.

    In the workbook · 1 exercise
  7. 07
    Your prompt library and a reusable template

    The prompts that work for you are worth keeping. A small personal library turns one good afternoon into a lasting habit.

    In the workbook · 1 exercise

Also inside: a 9-point checklist, a glossary of 10 terms and 10 questions and answers to test yourself. 7 hands-on exercises, each with a worked answer at the back where the workbook gives one.

Download all 7 chapters as PDF (PDF, 1.5 MB)

No login, no card, no account. Before the download we ask you to follow Mickai (two quick links). Free to download and use for personal learning, study groups and inside your own team. Please do not resell the workbooks or republish them as your own. Link people to trust-agent.ai instead.

Test yourself

Questions and answers

What is a prompt?

A prompt is what you give an AI to work from: your question, your instructions and any text you paste in. The quality of the answer depends heavily on how clear and complete the prompt is.

Do I need special tricks or magic words?

No. Clear, specific, plain language works best. Say what you want, who it is for, what you already know and what shape the answer should take. Tricks come and go. Clarity is the lasting skill.

How long should a prompt be?

As long as it needs to be. A quick question can be one line. A bigger job may need a paragraph of context. If the reply is generic, add detail. If the prompt is cluttered, cut it back to what matters.

Why do I get a different answer each time?

AI chatbots include a little randomness when they choose each word, so the same prompt can give different replies. If you like a version, save it. If you want consistency, give a clearer format and an example.

Does a role such as 'You are an expert lawyer' make the answer reliable?

No. A role mainly changes tone and focus. It does not give the AI qualifications or make its facts reliable. For legal, medical or money matters, use the AI to prepare good questions, then speak to a qualified person and check important facts yourself.

Should I continue the chat or start a new one?

Continue when you are refining the same piece of work, because the AI can see everything so far. Start a new chat when you change topic, when the chat has grown long or confused, or when you want a fresh take. Paste a short summary.

What should I do if the answer is wrong?

Say what is wrong and ask for a correction, but do not take the corrected version on trust either. Check important facts against a reliable source. If it keeps failing, rewrite the prompt or start a fresh chat.

Can I ask the AI to write my prompt for me?

Yes. Describe your goal and ask: 'Write a clear prompt I could give an AI to achieve this.' Then read it and edit it. It is a good way to learn how strong prompts are built, but add your own context.

Is it safe to paste my own writing as a style sample?

Only if it contains nothing private and the tool's privacy settings suit you. Remove names and personal details, use text you own, and never paste other people's work without permission.

What belongs in a prompt library?

Prompts that gave you results you were pleased with, for jobs you repeat: emails, summaries, explanations and plans. Save each with a short name, a note on when to use it, and square brackets for the parts that change.

When you have finished

Get your certificate of completion

Type your name and download a certificate for this workbook as a PDF, ready to print or to add to LinkedIn. It is made on your own device, so your name is never sent to us. It is a self-declared certificate, not an accredited qualification.

Make my certificate

Learn the language

Key terms

Prompt
The instruction, question or text you give an AI, together with anything you paste in for it to work from.
Role
A line in a prompt that tells the AI what point of view or level of expertise to write from, such as a patient tutor.
Context
The background facts the AI cannot know unless you tell it, such as who the answer is for and what you have already tried.
Format
The shape you want the answer to take, such as bullets, a table, an email or a set length.
Constraint
A limit or exclusion in a prompt, such as a word limit, a reading level or topics to avoid.
Iteration
Improving a result through a series of small follow-up requests instead of starting again.

6 of the workbook's 10 terms. The complete glossary is in the workbook.

Follow the evidence

Sources and checks

Facts last checked: .

These workbooks use AI assistance. See how the workbooks are made.

Created by Mickarle Wagstaff-Irons - Micky Irons with the Mickai team. Published by Mickai LTD. Last updated 25 September 2026.

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