THE FOUR-PART BRIEF
Understanding AI HQ free worksheet, version 1.1 (2026-11-11)
Fill it in online, print it or get the PDF: Understanding AI HQ website, Learn > Worksheets

HOW TO USE IT
1. Fill in the four parts for one real request.
2. Copy the finished brief into any AI chat tool.
3. If you aren't sure what to include, add the optional last line so the model asks you first.

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YOUR BRIEF
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Each part removes a guess the model would otherwise make.

1. GOAL
What do you want to end up with, and what is it for?
>
>

2. CONTEXT
What does the model need to know that it can't guess? Audience, product or project, what's been tried, facts that must be included.
>
>

3. CONSTRAINTS
Length, tone, reading level, things to avoid, and anything that must be exactly right (dates, prices, names).
>
>

4. OUTPUT FORMAT
How should the answer be laid out? A list, a table, three options, plain text to paste.
>
>

OPTIONAL LAST LINE
[ ] Before you start, ask me up to five questions you need answered.

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BEFORE YOU USE THE ANSWER
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CHECK AGAINST A SOURCE YOU TRUST
[ ] Names
[ ] Numbers and prices
[ ] Dates and times
[ ] Quotes and citations

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Fluent is not the same as correct. Check names, numbers, dates and quotes before an answer leaves your hands.


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# EXAMPLE ANSWERS
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THE FOUR-PART BRIEF
Understanding AI HQ free worksheet, version 1.1 (2026-11-11)
Fill it in online, print it or get the PDF: Understanding AI HQ website, Learn > Worksheets

HOW TO USE IT
1. Fill in the four parts for one real request.
2. Copy the finished brief into any AI chat tool.
3. If you aren't sure what to include, add the optional last line so the model asks you first.

EXAMPLE ANSWERS. The example is the bakery email from the prompting guide. It's illustrative: your brief will be about your own task.

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YOUR BRIEF
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Each part removes a guess the model would otherwise make.

1. GOAL
What do you want to end up with, and what is it for?
> A 120-word email inviting past customers to our spring open day.

2. CONTEXT
What does the model need to know that it can't guess? Audience, product or project, what's been tried, facts that must be included.
> We are a small family bakery. Customers are mostly local families. The open day is Saturday 4 April, 10am to 2pm. There will be free tasting of three new sourdoughs.

3. CONSTRAINTS
Length, tone, reading level, things to avoid, and anything that must be exactly right (dates, prices, names).
> Warm and plain. No exclamation marks. No discount codes.

4. OUTPUT FORMAT
How should the answer be laid out? A list, a table, three options, plain text to paste.
> Two subject-line options, then the email body.

OPTIONAL LAST LINE
[ ] Before you start, ask me up to five questions you need answered.

================================================================
BEFORE YOU USE THE ANSWER
================================================================

CHECK AGAINST A SOURCE YOU TRUST
[x] Names
[ ] Numbers and prices
[x] Dates and times
[ ] Quotes and citations

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Fluent is not the same as correct. Check names, numbers, dates and quotes before an answer leaves your hands.