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Write up the family's curfew agreement as clear if-then rules

Practice: Asking for a format you can use. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

After a family meeting, you're writing the curfew agreement your 16-year-old will sign. Write exactly 4 numbered rules, each phrased "If ..., then ...", each under 20 words, plain text. Include only what everyone agreed to (not ideas that were dropped), use the final weekend time, and write it to your teen as "you". Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • No fixed shape. The AI writes a contract with headings, signature lines and a preamble. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 4 numbered rules, nothing else."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 90 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each rule under 20 words."
  • Writing loose rules. The AI writes "Be home on time" with no condition or consequence, or talks about Aiden instead of to him. Try: Add: "Phrase each rule 'If ..., then ...', speaking to him as 'you'."
  • Using early numbers. The notes start at 9 PM and 10:30 PM before the agreed times. Try: Add: "Use the agreed times: 9:30, 11:00, 11:30 if asked by Thursday."
  • Including dropped ideas. The AI includes location sharing and the check-in call. Try: Add: "Only what everyone agreed to."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Uses if-then rules
  • Uses the agreed times
  • Drops rejected ideas
  • Writes to the teen
  • Sets a word limit

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