Say the Job First

Relax. We'll talk through this in plain words — no textbook voice.

What you'll walk away with

Understand Say the Job First without it feeling intimidating
Get hands-on practice using it yourself
Learn to spot and sidestep invented facts and secret-sharing, with a smile

Take a breath — this chapter is written to be read like a conversation, not a textbook, so it's easy to follow.

Let's Think About It for a Second

People forget the last line of a long message. Models can lose the thread too. So start the first sentence with a verb — summarize, translate, generate questions, revise, compare. Backstory comes second: who it's for, which text, how long. Don't tell the waiter your family history before asking for water. Ask for the water first.

Connect It to Everyday Life

Bad — "I'm a student, exam tomorrow, my teacher's strict, photosynthesis is hard, please explain it well." Good — "Explain photosynthesis in 6 sentences for a 14-year-old." Then — "Notes: plants use sunlight to make food." Read your first sentence out loud. If the job doesn't show up in it, rewrite.

Put a verb in the first sentence
Move background to the second paragraph
Read the first line out loud

Let's Try It Together

text

Bad first line:  I'm a student...
Good first line: Explain in 6 sentences

Then add context.

You should see

You can write a prompt's first sentence so the job is obvious.

Try It in 5 Minutes

Write a vague prompt. Rewrite the first sentence so the job is clear.

A Quick Heads-Up

Polite words aren't bad. But "please" doesn't belong where the job should be.

Easy traps

Leading with your life story
Giving a headline with no verb

Try It Yourself Now

Write a vague prompt. Rewrite the first sentence so the job is clear.

You'll know it worked when: You can write a prompt's first sentence so the job is obvious.