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Pull the to-dos and dates out of a school letter

  • For Parents and households
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes

About this exercise

Your child's school sent a long letter and you need to know what you actually have to do. Get only the things a parent must do, as numbered lines sorted by due date, each like "1. Nov 14: Return the permission slip". Use the updated field trip date, and leave out general information. End with the line "Questions: call the office at 555-0163." Under 80 words, plain text. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Missing the stapled update. The AI reads the letter body first and gives the old Nov 14 and Nov 21 dates. Try: Add: "Use the stapled update's dates for the field trip."
  • Getting a summary instead of to-dos. The AI summarizes the whole newsletter, festival and recess included. Try: Say: "Only things a parent must do, nothing else."
  • Not showing the line shape. The AI groups by topic with headings, so dates are buried. Try: Show it: "Sort by due date. Format each like: 1. Nov 14: Return the permission slip".
  • No exact ending. The AI ends with a friendly note or nothing at all. Try: Add: "Last line exactly: Questions: call the office at 555-0163."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 80 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part: "each line under 12 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Asks for to-dos only
  • Uses the update
  • Sorts by date
  • Shows the line shape
  • Sets a word limit

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