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The Prompt Starter Kit
Five patterns that cover 80% of what you'll ever ask an AI. This is Lesson 1 of every Last20 Academy track — the whole kit is right here, because a cheat sheet you have to unlock isn't a cheat sheet.
1. Give it a job
“You are a senior developer reviewing my code for bugs” beats “fix this.” A role sets the standard the AI holds itself to — vague asks get vague work.
Template: You are a [role]. Your job is [outcome]. Here's the material: …
2. Show, don't describe
One example of the output you want is worth a paragraph of explanation. AI matches patterns far better than it follows descriptions of patterns.
Template: Match this format exactly. Example: [example]. Now do it for: …
3. Constrain it
Unbounded AI edits everything. Bound it — say what may change, what may not, and what should make it stop and ask.
Template: Only change [this function]. Touch nothing else. If the fix needs more, tell me first.
4. Ask for the plan first
Approve the steps before it writes code — catching a wrong plan is cheap; untangling wrong code isn't.
Template: Don't write code yet. Give me the steps you'd take, in order. I'll approve, then you build.
5. Feed it the error
Paste the exact message, not “it broke.” The error text is the diagnosis — paraphrasing it throws away the evidence. (This is also exactly how our Debug Clinic works.)
Template: Here's the exact error: [paste]. Here's what I was doing when it happened: […]. Explain the cause in plain English, then the fix.
Patterns are the first 20%. Finishing is the rest.
The kit gets your prompts working. Last20 Academy gets your projects shipped: three real projects, lessons that unlock only when you build, a public ship date, and a portfolio that proves you finished.