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Crafting Effective Prompts for ChatGPT

Lesson 2: Context and Constraints – The Two Highest-Leverage Components

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

  • Write context that answers the four key background questions
  • Apply at least six types of constraints in their prompts
  • Distinguish useful from unnecessary context
  • Recognize when a constraint is implicit vs. when it must be stated explicitly

Lesson Content

The four context questions.

Strong context answers: Who are you (role, background, experience), What is the situation (specific context), Who is the audience (who receives or is affected by the output), What is the goal (the outcome you are trying to achieve).

What NOT to include in context.

Context should be relevant. Including irrelevant personal history clutters the prompt without improving the output. If removing a piece of context would not change what ChatGPT produces, it probably does not belong.

The six most valuable constraint types.

  1. Length: "Under 150 words." / "No more than three bullet points."
  2. Tone: "Professional but warm." / "Direct and confident – no hedging language."
  3. Exclusion: "Do not mention competitor products." / "Avoid academic jargon."
  4. Inclusion: "Must include a clear call to action." / "Include at least one specific data point."
  5. Format constraints: "Use headers." / "No bullet points – prose only."
  6. Accuracy constraints: "Flag any claim you are uncertain about." / "Note where this may vary by jurisdiction."

Implicit vs. explicit constraints.

Constraints that depend on context you know but have not shared must be stated explicitly. An audience's sensitivities, organizational constraints, or communication norms cannot be inferred – they must be stated. When in doubt, state it.

Jamie Practice Lab

Before moving to the quiz, complete this short applied exercise:

  1. Write one realistic ChatGPT prompt that applies the main idea from Context and Constraints – The Two Highest-Leverage Components to your own work, learning, or daily life.
  2. Add one safety or verification step you would take before acting on ChatGPT's response.
  3. Revise the prompt once to include clearer context, constraints, or success criteria.

Instructor check: A strong answer should show practical use, human review, and awareness that ChatGPT output is assistance – not automatic truth or professional advice.

Added Quiz Enhancement

question_id: auto-enhancement-context-and-constraints-the-two-highest-leverage-components-qjamie001 question_type: short_answer difficulty: applied question: Write one prompt you could use after this lesson, then name one verification or human-review step you would apply before relying on the result. correct_answer: Answers will vary; a strong answer includes a clear task, relevant context, at least one constraint or desired format, and a realistic verification or human-review step based on the stakes of the task. answer_explanation: This applied question checks whether the student can transfer the lesson into real use while maintaining responsible AI habits.

Lesson Quiz

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