Our Proven Framework For Effective AI Prompting

At Taught by Humans, we've developed the W.A.S.T.E.R method - a simple, three-stage approach to getting consistently better results from AI tools.

It's not complicated. It's just structured. And it works.

Overview: Three Stages

Prep - Figure out what you actually need
Prompt - Write a clear, complete request
Perfect - Refine the output through feedback

Most people skip straight to the prompt. That's why they get mediocre results.

Stage 1: Prep

W - Wants: Define What You Actually Want Or Need

Before you type anything, get clear on the end goal.

Examples:

I need help debugging my code
I need to write a blog on AI
I need to plan a team workshop

Not: I need to do something with code (too vague)

A - Ask: Ask The Chatbot How It Can Help

Don't assume you know the best way to prompt. Ask the AI what it needs from you.

Examples:

How is best to get help debugging code from you?
What do I need to provide for you to write a blog on AI?
What information do you need to help me plan a workshop?

This step is often skipped, but it's gold. The AI will tell you exactly what details will make its response better.

Stage 2: Prompt

S - Summarise: In One Sentence, Say What You Want

Start with a clear, one-sentence summary of the task.

Examples:

There is a bug in this code
Write a blog post about AI in education
Help me plan a 2-hour team workshop on prompting

T - Tell: Provide The Additional Information It Asked For

Remember that Ask step? Now deliver on it.

Include:

Tone of voice (professional, casual, persuasive)
Format (bullet points, HTML, email, table)
Length (word count, number of points)
Audience (who's this for?)
Context (any background info, constraints, examples)

Example:

Write a blog post. The topic is AI in education. Word count is 3,000. Tone is informal but informative. Explain all jargon. Use British English. Don't make anything up - use references where possible. Format in HTML.

E - Elements: Add Useful Elements From Other Methods

Layer in techniques from other prompting approaches if helpful:

Act as a [role]
Format as [structure]
Provide examples of the style or output you want

Example:

Act as an experienced educator. Use examples from real classrooms where possible.

Not every prompt needs this step - use it when it adds value.

Stage 3: Perfect

R - Reply: Give Feedback If The Response Isn't Quite Right

Treat this like a conversation with a colleague. If the output isn't what you wanted, say so.

Examples:

Rewrite the final paragraph to be more cheerful (but still realistic)
Make it more concise - aim for 1,500 words instead
The tone is too formal - make it more conversational
Add more specific examples in the second section

Don't accept mediocre output. Iterate until it's right.

Full Example: W.A.S.T.E.R In Action

Prep:

W: I need to write a blog post on AI for my company website

A: How should I structure my request to get you to write a blog?

Prompt:

S: Write a blog post

T: The topic is AI in education. Word count is 3,000. Tone is informal but informative. Explain all jargon. Use British English. Don't make anything up - use references where possible. Format in HTML.

E: Act as an experienced educator with a background in edtech. Include practical examples from real classrooms.

Perfect:

R: Rewrite the final paragraph to be more optimistic and forward-looking

R: The introduction is too long - cut it to 150 words

Why W.A.S.T.E.R Works

It forces you to:

Think before you type
Be specific and complete
Treat the AI as a collaborator, not a magic button

You'll get better outputs in fewer attempts, which saves time and frustration.

When To Use W.A.S.T.E.R

Use the full method for:

Complex, high-stakes outputs (reports, code, presentations)
When you're not sure how to ask for something
When you need something polished and professional

You can skip or simplify it for:

Quick, straightforward questions
Exploratory or brainstorming chats
Simple edits or formatting tasks

Start with W.A.S.T.E.R until it becomes second nature. Then adapt it to your style.

Our Prompting Method - W.A.S.T.E.R

Related Resources

What is Prompting?

Prompting Use Cases

Copilot Prompting Tips

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