Prompt-craft: context, role, format, iterate
Goal. Get sharper answers by giving ChatGPT a role, the context, and the exact output format you want — then refining in follow-ups.
Act as a careful molecular biology reviewer. Here is my abstract draft: [paste 150 words]. Give me (1) three specific weaknesses, (2) one suggested rephrasing of the final sentence, and (3) a one-line verdict on clarity. Use bullet points.
Notice the four parts: a role, your material, a numbered request, and a format. That structure is most of what makes a prompt work.
- 1Set a role and context. "Act as a careful reviewer" plus your actual draft beats "is this good?" — the role steers tone and depth.
- 2Ask for a specific format. Bullet points, a table, exactly three items, a word limit. Vague asks get vague answers.
- 3Iterate in the same chat. Don't restart — say "tighten point 2" or "now rewrite it for a general audience". ChatGPT keeps the whole conversation in mind, so each reply builds on the last.
You'll see. A focused critique in the exact shape you asked for — and noticeably better output after one or two follow-up refinements.
Cost. Works on the free tier. Longer documents and longer back-and-forth threads run into free-tier message and context limits sooner; Go and Plus raise those limits.
Takeaway. A good prompt = role + context + a specific request + a format — and the conversation is iterative, so refine rather than restart.