Ask for Clarifying Questions Before Answering

Unit ID: PAW-M07-U01 Estimated active time: 20-25 minutes

Reverse the order

For anything non-trivial, this instruction saves more time than any other single line in the course:

> Before you answer, ask me up to five questions that would most change your answer. Do not answer until I reply.

Why it works

It converts the tool's hidden assumptions into visible questions.

Without it, the gaps get filled silently and you review the consequences. With it, you see the gaps first and fill the ones that matter.

The questions are diagnostic

The questions themselves tell you something. If they are all obvious, your request was clear and you can proceed.

If one of them is something you had not decided, that is the real finding — and it would have been decided for you.

A worked shape

CLARIFY-FIRST REQUEST

Task:    (one sentence)
Rule:    Ask up to five questions that would most change your answer.
         Rank them by how much they would change it.
         Do not produce the output until I answer.
         If I skip a question, state the assumption you will use instead.

(then, after the answers)

Rule:    Use my answers. For anything I did not answer, list the assumption
         you made at the end.

The "state the assumption you will use instead" clause matters. You will not answer all five, and you want to know what filled the gap.

When not to use it

For short, low-stakes requests it is overhead. Asking five questions before drafting a two-line reply wastes both your time.

Use it when the output will be long, will be seen by others, or would take you real effort to check.

Mini practice

Take a request you are about to make anyway.

Add the clarify-first instruction.

Note which of its questions you had not already decided. That is the value it added.

Mark complete