Use Examples and Clarification with Purpose
Work through the explanation, apply it to the example, and complete the quick check before continuing.
Examples show patterns
An example can demonstrate:
- Desired structure.
- Level of detail.
- Tone.
- How to label uncertainty.
- How to apply a category.
For instance, one labelled support request can show how a classification should be written.
Examples do not define every case
If all examples use short, simple cases, the system may copy that pattern and miss a more complex case.
Examples may also contain details that do not belong in the new output. Label which parts are facts, which parts show style, and which parts are only examples.
Use more than one example when important variation must be shown.
Counterexamples show what to avoid
A counterexample is a result that fails for a clear reason.
Desired pattern:
Status: Not providedwhen the source has no status.
Counterexample:
Status: In progresswhen no source supports that claim.
Explain the reason. A bare bad example can be copied accidentally or misunderstood.
Ask clarification questions when the gap matters
A useful clarification question resolves a decision that changes the result.
Examples:
- Who will read this notice?
- Which policy version controls the answer?
- Should the comparison include price before or after tax?
- May the draft use information outside the supplied document?
Do not ask questions whose answers do not affect the work. Do not continue silently when a required decision is missing.
The specification can say:
Before drafting, ask no more than three questions that are necessary to determine audience, source, or required action. If the answers are unavailable, list the gaps and stop.
Examples cannot repair a wrong task
If the outcome is unclear, adding many examples may make the output look consistent while still solving the wrong problem.
Define the outcome, audience, sources, constraints, format, and criteria first. Use examples only where they teach a useful distinction.
Quick check
When is a clarification question most useful?
A. When the answer changes a material part of the result. B. Whenever the prompt is shorter than a page. C. To delay every task. D. After publishing the result.
Check the answer
Answer: A. Clarification should resolve a decision needed to complete the task safely and correctly.
Remember
- Examples show a pattern; they are not automatically evidence.
- Label facts, style samples, and examples separately.
- Explain why a counterexample fails.
- Ask focused questions when missing information changes the work.
- Do not use examples to hide an undefined outcome.
Next, we will split complex work into controlled stages.