Plan a dorm finals event that fits the RA budget and rules

About this exercise

You're an RA planning a finals de-stress night for your floor with a $150 budget. You want exactly 6 numbered lines: 5 items with their cost math, then a total line, under 70 words, plain text. Follow the residence hall's rules email (one item on your list breaks it), keep the total at or under $150, and use only items and prices from your notes. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Missing the rules email. Candles are on your list, and the AI keeps them for the vibe. Try: Add: "Follow the Residence Life email: no candles."
• Not showing the math. The AI lists prices without quantities, so totals can't be checked. Try: Add: "Show the math on each line, like '5 x $14 = $70'."
• Going over budget. The AI picks everything that sounds fun and goes past $150. Try: Add: "Keep the total at or under $150. Only items from my notes."
• Letting the AI pick the layout. The AI writes a table with headings and tips. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 6 numbered lines: 5 items, then the total. Plain text."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 70 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each line under 8 words."

What a strong prompt includes

• Says how many lines
• Follows the rules email
• Asks to show the math
• Sets the budget
• Stays with the notes

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