AI Fundamentals Cheat Sheet

Your comprehensive guide to effective AI prompting strategies

A. Frame Your Request Before Starting the Prompt

I. What is your task? II. What is your objective? III. What is the desired output?
✓ Analysis
✓ Creativity/Ideation
✓ Documentation/Formatting
✓ Issue resolution/Brainstorming
✓ Synthesis/Reporting
✓ Design Strategy/Tactic

✗ Predict the future
✗ Research facts 		✓ Accelerate delivery
✓ Higher impact
✓ Improve quality
✓ Increase quantity

✗ Discover new information
✗ Generate breakthrough
✗ Innovate 		✓ Book
✓ Blog post
✓ Email
✓ Podcast script
✓ PowerPoint Outline
✓ Speech
✓ Video Script
✓ Report/Analysis
✓ Formula

B. Choose Your Strategy

Simple Prompt L1

Use for: Simple query, using general knowledge, no data source, natural format.

Formula: Role + Context + Format + Command
Prompt with Example L2

Use for: Simple query, using general knowledge, no data source, specific format required.

Formula: Role + Context + Format + Command + Example(s)
Prompt Chaining L3

Use for: Complex query, known steps, small data set.

Formula: Role + Context + Format + Command + Data Set (result from previous prompt) [Repeat]
Chain of Thought 1 L2

Use for: Complex tasks, unknown steps, using general knowledge.

Formula: Role + Context + Format + Command + Modifier ("Let's go step by step")
Chain of Thought 2 L2

Use for: Complex tasks, known steps, using general knowledge.

Formula: Role + Context + Format + Command + List of steps
Coach L2

Use for: Initiate a dialog with an objective.

Formula: Role + Context + Format + "Be my coach and wait for my question"

C. Design Prompt Elements

Element Level Description Example/Guidelines
Role L2 Define who the AI should act as Format: "As a XXX with Z years of experience, who is YYY..."

• The role (XXX) must be a widely known profession, not too specialized
• Use adjectives (YYY) to specify behavior: polite, direct, precise, authoritative, etc.
Context L1 Provide background information Format: "...working for a company that XXX..."

• Must be precise enough to limit the range of output
• Include company profile, values, vision, market position if useful
Format L1 Specify output structure Format: "...in the format of XXX."

Examples:
• "2-level outline on the subject..."
• "bullet list of..."
• "as an acronym"
• "in JSON/markdown/CSV/HTML"
Command L1 The action you want performed Format: "...write/summarize/extract/list/etc."

• Must be an action verb
• Directly related to tasks and objective
• More details in expected outcome = better results
Example L2 Provide sample input/output Format:
Q: XXXX
A: YYYYY

An example gives a prompt and a result to guide the AI's response style.
Modifier L2 Activate advanced techniques Format: "First XXX, then YYY..."

The modifier will activate one of the advanced techniques like step-by-step reasoning.
💡 Pro Tip: Start with Level 1 (L1) elements for simple tasks, and progressively add Level 2 (L2) and Level 3 (L3) elements for more complex requirements.