Unit Title: Learning the Language of AI – Foundational Prompt Skills
Level: Intermediate
Duration: 90–120 minutes (split across 2 sessions is ideal)
🎯 Learning Objectives
By the end of this week, you should be able to:
- Understand what a prompt is and how it shapes AI responses.
- Use the 3C Model (Clarity, Context, Command) for crafting effective prompts.
- Write and refine structured prompts to direct AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini.
- Recognise how wording, tone, and format influence outputs.
- Apply prompt engineering to 3 real-world task types.
🧭 Lesson Flow
| Segment | Duration | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What Is Prompt Engineering? | 15 min | Definition + Analogy |
| 2. The 3C Prompt Framework | 25 min | Model + Examples |
| 3. Prompt Types and Tuning | 25 min | Real Tasks + Templates |
| 4. Common Mistakes and Debugging | 15 min | Troubleshooting Guide |
| 5. Exercises + Knowledge Check | 30–45 min | Writing, Testing, Reflecting |
🧑🏫 1. What Is Prompt Engineering?
📖 Teaching Script:
Every AI tool responds to your input text — and the way you phrase that input is called a prompt.
Prompt engineering is the skill of designing your message to the AI so it delivers useful, accurate, and creative outputs.
This is not just typing — it’s strategic communication.
🔍 Analogy: “Talking to a Super-Literal Assistant”
Imagine your assistant has read the whole internet, but has no common sense.
If you ask it vaguely (“Tell me something interesting”), it might guess wrong.
If you ask with clarity (“Summarise 3 facts about AI’s use in medicine with examples”), it excels.
🧩 2. The 3C Prompt Framework: Clarity, Context, Command
🧠 Framework Breakdown:
| Element | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Clarity | Use clear, specific language | “Summarise this article in 3 points.” |
| Context | Give background, audience, or purpose | “Write this as a tutor for 12-year-olds.” |
| Command | Use a precise action verb | “Compare”, “Generate”, “Summarise”, “Design”, “Rate” |
🧪 Example Prompt (Poor → Good)
❌ Poor Prompt:
“Write something about AI.”
✅ Improved Prompt:
“Summarise the role of AI in education in 5 sentences, highlighting both benefits and ethical risks. Write in plain English for a non-expert audience.”
✏️ Quick Practice:
Refine the following prompt:
“Help me with my essay.”
(Add Clarity, Context, Command — your version should be ~25 words)
🧰 3. Prompt Types and Real-World Applications
📘 Common Prompt Patterns:
| Type | Use Case | Prompt Template |
|---|---|---|
| Summarisation | Digesting long content | “Summarise this into 3 bullet points…” |
| Instruction/How-to | Teaching or guiding | “Explain how to do X, step-by-step…” |
| Transformation | Changing style or tone | “Rewrite this email to sound more confident…” |
🧪 Three Real-World Prompt Examples:
- Summarisation Prompt
“Summarise the article below in 5 bullet points with one quote and one statistic included.”
- Creative Transformation Prompt
“Rewrite the following text as a 30-second speech in the style of a TED Talk.”
- Data Insight Prompt
“From this data table, identify 2 patterns and 1 potential risk.”
🧠 Think About:
Which AI tool would be better for each case above?
(E.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini — depending on structure, formatting, and memory)
🛠️ 4. Common Mistakes and Debugging Tips
| Mistake | Why It Happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Vague prompt | Not enough instruction | Add a task + format |
| Overloaded request | Too many demands in one go | Break into steps |
| Poor context | AI doesn’t know your purpose | Add audience, tone, or background |
🧪 Debugging Example:
Input Prompt:
“Create a lesson.”
Problem: Too open — AI doesn’t know subject, level, format.
Fixed Prompt:
“Create a 45-minute beginner lesson plan on climate change for 13-year-old students. Include objectives, activities, and one group task.”
🧪 5. Exercises + Knowledge Check
✅ Exercise 1: Prompt Rewrite Challenge
Start with this vague prompt:
“Tell me about technology.”
Your task: Write 3 revised versions:
- One for a high school teacher
- One for a job interview
- One for an investor pitch
✅ Exercise 2: 3C Prompt Builder
Use this scaffold:
“Act as a [role]. I am working on [goal or task]. Please [command]. Use a tone that is [tone]. Include [format or detail].”
Write 2 custom prompts using this scaffold.
✅ Exercise 3: Reverse Engineering
Look at this AI output:
“AI has three main strengths: scalability, speed, and pattern recognition. However, it also struggles with nuance and originality.”
Task: Guess what the original prompt might have been. Then write a better one to get a deeper answer.
🧠 Knowledge Check (10 Questions)
- What is a prompt?
- What are the three parts of the 3C framework?
- Give an example of a “command” verb in a good prompt.
- Why is “context” important in prompt design?
- What is the risk of vague prompts?
- What is a transformation prompt?
- How do you fix a “too-long” prompt with mixed goals?
- What are three common prompt types?
- What makes prompt engineering a skill, not guesswork?
- Write one prompt using the 3C model.
📝 Wrap-Up Assignment (Optional)
Title: “My First Prompt Portfolio”
Write and test:
- 1 summary prompt
- 1 creative writing prompt
- 1 transformation prompt
Paste the output. Then write: - What worked well
- What you would revise
- What type of prompt style you prefer
📦 End-of-Week Deliverables
- ✅ 3C prompt builder completed
- ✅ 3 real-world prompts created and tested
- ✅ Debugged version of a poor prompt
- ✅ Knowledge check answered
- ✅ Mini prompt portfolio with reflection