{"id":"wri-col-ta-extension-reply","audience":"college","category":"customer-replies","technique":"context","title":"Answer a student's extension request as a TA","free":false,"task":"You're a TA, and a student asked you for an extension. Reply under 80 words. The first sentence says plainly that TAs can't grant extensions, then give the request form's direct link, canvas.example/bio150/extension, and the request deadline, and offer your office hours for help with the assignment. Don't promise the instructor will say yes. Write a prompt that gets that reply.","materialLabel":"Her email and the course policy (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"EMAIL from Kayla Nguyen (BIO 150, Section 4):\nHi! Can I please have until Monday for Lab Report 5? I have three exams this week and I'm really behind. Thank you so much!!\n\nBIO 150 SYLLABUS - Extensions (Dr. Harmon)\n- Only the instructor grants extensions. TAs cannot.\n- Request with the Extension Request form on Canvas (Modules > Course Forms) at least 24 hours before the deadline.\n- Lab Report 5 is due Friday, Nov 14 at 11:59 pm. So the request deadline is Thursday, Nov 13 at 11:59 pm.\n- Dr. Harmon usually approves up to 48 hours for documented conflicts. (Not guaranteed.)\n\nMY NOTES (TA: Marcus Lee)\n- My office hours: Wednesday 2-4 pm, Life Sciences 210.\n- Kayla's last two lab reports were strong.\n- Last semester the syllabus allowed TAs to give 24-hour extensions. That changed this year.","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":80}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for \"under 80 words\" and it often lands well over.","fix":"Cap each part: \"4 sentences, each under 18 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Burying the no","why":"AI replies open with \"I totally understand how stressful exam weeks are!\" and hide that you can't decide.","fix":"Say it: \"Sentence 1: TAs can't grant extensions; only Dr. Harmon can.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Vague instructions","why":"The AI says \"reach out to the professor\" without the form, the path or the request deadline.","fix":"Add: \"Give the form link, canvas.example/bio150/extension, and the deadline: Thursday, Nov 13, 11:59 pm.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Over-promising","why":"To be kind, the AI says \"I'm sure she'll approve it\" or mentions the usual 48 hours.","fix":"Add: \"Don't predict the answer. Offer my office hours, Wednesday 2-4 pm.\"","checks":["r2"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Sets a word limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)"]},{"label":"Leads with the no","patterns":["first sentence","can'?t grant","only (the instructor|dr)"]},{"label":"Gives the form and path","patterns":["form","course forms","canvas"]},{"label":"Gives the deadline","patterns":["nov(ember)?\\s*13","thursday","24 hours"]},{"label":"Avoids promises","patterns":["don'?t (promise|predict)","no promise","not guarantee"]}],"hint":"A good no from a TA points straight to the yes path. Tell the AI the order, the exact form and deadline, and what not to promise.","rubricLabels":["The first sentence (after a greeting) says plainly that TAs can't grant extensions (only Dr. Harmon can)","Gives the form link canvas.example/bio150/extension and the request deadline of Thursday, Nov 13 at 11:59 pm","Offers his Wednesday 2-4 pm office hours in Life Sciences 210, and does not promise or predict that the extension will be approved"]}