11
Lesson 11 · 2 min
Prompt chaining: one step at a time
Big jobs go better when you split them into small prompts and check each result before the next.
Asking AI to "write my whole business plan" in one go usually gives a long, shallow answer. There is too much to do at once.
Prompt chaining means breaking the job into steps. First, list the sections. Then, draft section one. Then, improve it. Each answer becomes the input for the next prompt.
You stay in control. If step two goes wrong, you fix it before it spoils step three. And each step gets the model's full attention.
A good chain for most writing jobs: outline, then draft, then critique, then rewrite. It takes a few more minutes and gives a much better result.
Do it now
Run a four-step chain
- 1.Send step 1 below and read the outline. Change anything you do not like.
- 2.Send: "Now write section 1 only."
- 3.Send: "Point out the three weakest sentences and say why."
- 4.Send: "Rewrite section 1 fixing those problems."
Step 1: Create a short outline, 4 to 6 headings, for [YOUR DOCUMENT, e.g. a one-page proposal to start a recycling program at my school]. Do not write the content yet.
Words from this lesson
- Prompt
- The instruction or question you give an AI. Clearer prompts with context usually get much better answers.
- Chain of thought
- Asking an AI to work through a problem in steps before answering, which often makes its answers more accurate.