Why you need this
Most people write prompts like they're texting a friend: casual, vague, inconsistent. The Prompt Engineering Framework gives you a systematic approach that works every time.
Think of it as a recipe—once you know the steps, you can cook anything.
Perfect for:
- Professionals who use AI daily (writers, developers, marketers, analysts)
- Teams building prompt libraries for consistent outputs
- Anyone frustrated by trial-and-error prompting
- Students learning to use AI tools effectively
What's inside
The 5-Step Framework
Every great prompt has these five ingredients:
- Context — What's the situation? What background does the AI need?
- Role — Who should the AI act as? (Expert, assistant, critic?)
- Task — What specific action should the AI take?
- Format — How should the output be structured?
- Constraints — What rules, limits, or guidelines apply?
The Fill-in-the-Blank Template
Context: [Describe the situation]
Role: Act as a [role] who [context about the role]
Task: [Specific action] using [resources or approach]
Format: Structure your output as [format description]
Constraints: [Rules, limits, tone, things to avoid]
Before & After Examples
See real prompts transformed from vague to precise using the framework.
Before (vague):
"Write about project management"
After (using the framework):
Context: Our startup is launching a new product in Q4, but the timeline is aggressive.
Role: Act as a senior project manager with experience in fast-paced tech startups.
Task: Draft an email to stakeholders explaining a 2-week delay in our launch.
Format: 3 paragraphs: Problem → Impact → Mitigation plan. Use a professional but empathetic tone.
Constraints: Keep it under 200 words. Don't assign blame. End with a clear next step.
Result: Clear, actionable output on the first try.
How to use it
For Individuals:
- Keep the template visible — Print and stick near your workspace
- Start with simple tasks — Use the framework for emails, summaries, or brainstorming
- Build a library — Save your best prompts for reuse
For Teams:
- Standardize prompts — Use the framework to create consistent outputs
- Share templates — Build a team prompt library based on the 5 steps
- Train new hires — Teach the framework during onboarding
Why it works
This framework works because it forces you to think like the AI:
- Context helps AI understand the situation
- Role sets the right expertise level and tone
- Task defines success criteria
- Format ensures you get usable output
- Constraints prevent common errors and off-topic responses
Want to go deeper?
This framework is your starting point. For advanced techniques, troubleshooting, and pattern libraries:
- Prompt Engineering Basics — Full guide to crafting better prompts
- Prompt Patterns Cheat-Sheet — 10 proven patterns to combine with this framework
- Glossary: Context Window — Understanding AI's memory limits
License & Attribution
This resource is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY). You're free to:
- Share with your team or students
- Print for workshops or training
- Adapt the template for your organization
Just include this attribution:
"Prompt Engineering Framework" by Field Guide to AI (fieldguidetoai.com) is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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