11 min read · then a graded exercise (~5–10 min on your own work)
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🧠 30-second recall — before we build on it
Quick recall from Lesson 1 — a crafted ask states four things. Which set is right?
In Lesson 1 you learned to shrink the guessing space. Quick recall: what were the four things a crafted ask states? … Got them? Today we upgrade that instinct into a complete system — five elements that turn any real work request into a task Claude can nail.
🎯 By the end of this lesson you'll be able to
Write a complete five-element task for a real piece of your work — with nothing left to guess.
The five elements
Role — who should Claude act as? "You are a senior HR advisor familiar with Saudi labor practices." A specific role sets the vocabulary, the standards, and the perspective. "Be professional" is not a role.
Goal — the one concrete thing to produce (this is what Lesson 1 called the Task, now sharpened and paired with a Role). "Draft a 3-paragraph reply declining the discount request while keeping the relationship warm." If your goal contains "and… and…", split it.
Audience — who will read the output? A non-technical CEO and a new engineer need different documents entirely. This is the most-forgotten element and the #1 cause of wrong-tone output.
Format — the shape: a table with named columns, a 5-bullet summary, a formal email. If you don't choose the shape, the model chooses for you (next lesson goes deep on this).
Constraints — the rules: "under 150 words · no jargon · don't mention pricing." Constraints are guardrails, and they must not contradict each other.
🔧 Build a complete task — live
Fill the elements and watch the task assemble itself.
Guessing space: huge — Claude would be improvising almost everything.
Your assembled task will appear here…
Clinic: where complete tasks go wrong
A role with no expertise
"Act as an expert" — expert in what? Attach a domain: "a pricing analyst in retail e-commerce". The narrower the role, the sharper the output.
A goal that is secretly three goals
"Write the report, fix the tone of my email, and plan next week" — that's a to-do list, not a task. One ask, one deliverable; chain follow-ups instead.
Contradictory constraints
"Comprehensive and detailed, in 50 words." The model will silently sacrifice one. Decide which matters and say so.
📌 Pocket card — the five elements
Role + Goal + Audience + Format + Constraints — natural language, any order, short beats long. It's a checklist, not a script.
🎓 Graded exercise — on your work
Take a real request from your own work and write it as a complete five-element task: role, goal, audience, format, constraints — natural language, any order, no labels needed.
Graded 🤖 against a strict rubric (pass ≥70%). Specific feedback either way. Your draft autosaves on this device — nothing gets lost.
Graded on: Five-element completeness · Actionable clarity · Real fit
Independent course by AI Smart Prompts — not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Anthropic. Claude is a trademark of Anthropic, PBC. Product facts last verified: July 12, 2026.
🤖 Lesson Coach AI — grounded in this lesson
Hi! I answer questions about this lesson — concepts, examples, how to apply it to your work. I won't write your graded answer, but I'll hint you toward a better one. What's on your mind?