Skip to main content

Chapter 2: Provide Context

Why Context Changes Everything​

Context is the background information that helps AI understand your specific situation. Without it, AI gives generic answers. With it, AI gives personalized, relevant responses.

Types of Context That Help​

1. Background Information​

Tell AI who you are or what your situation is:

Without context:

"How do I handle difficult clients?"

With context:

"I'm a freelance graphic designer. I have a client who keeps requesting unlimited revisions without paying extra. How do I handle this professionally while protecting my time?"

The difference: The second prompt gives AI your profession, the specific problem, and what kind of solution you need.

2. Audience Specification​

Tell AI who the content is for:

Without context:

"Explain blockchain"

With context:

"Explain blockchain to my 65-year-old mother who uses email but doesn't understand technology. Use analogies from everyday life."

The difference: AI adjusts complexity, examples, and language for the specific audience.

3. Purpose Clarity​

Tell AI why you need this:

Without context:

"Write about our new product features"

With context:

"Write about our new product features for an email announcement to existing customers. Goal: get them excited to try the new update. Product: project management app. New features: AI task suggestions and calendar sync."

The difference: AI understands the goal, format, and can craft appropriately persuasive content.

4. Tone and Style​

Tell AI how it should sound:

Without context:

"Write a rejection message"

With context:

"Write a rejection message to a job applicant. Be kind but clear. We genuinely appreciated their application but went with someone with more experience. Leave the door open for future opportunities. Company tone: warm and personal, not corporate."

The difference: AI matches your company voice and handles the sensitive message appropriately.

5. Format Requirements​

Tell AI the structure you need:

Without context:

"Give me meeting notes"

With context:

"Create meeting notes from this transcript. Format: Start with a 2-sentence summary. Then list decisions made. Then list action items with owners and deadlines. Keep it under 300 words."

The difference: AI produces exactly the format you'll actually use.

Context Examples in Action​

Example 1: Marketing Context​

Basic:

"Write social media posts"

With full context:

"I run a small bakery called 'Sweet Morning' in Portland. Write 5 Instagram post captions for photos of our croissants. Our brand voice is warm, slightly quirky, and we use food puns. Target: local food lovers aged 25-45. Include relevant hashtags."

Example 2: Professional Context​

Basic:

"Help me with a presentation"

With full context:

"I'm presenting Q3 sales results to our executive team next week. The news is mixed: revenue up 12% but two major deals fell through. I need talking points that acknowledge challenges while highlighting wins. My audience expects data but also strategic insight."

Example 3: Personal Context​

Basic:

"Help me respond to this email"

With full context:

"My colleague sent an email questioning my project timeline. The tone felt slightly aggressive. I need to respond professionally, defend my realistic timeline, but not escalate conflict. I've worked with this person for 3 years and want to maintain the relationship. Here's their email: [paste]"

The "I am a..." Pattern​

One powerful way to set context is starting with who you are:

I am a [role/profession] working on [project/task].
[Additional relevant details about your situation]
[Your specific request]

Examples:​

"I am a first-year teacher creating lesson plans for 8th grade English. Help me design a creative writing assignment that's engaging but manageable to grade."

"I am a startup founder preparing to pitch to investors. My company makes sustainable packaging. What are the 5 most important slides for a seed round pitch deck?"

"I am a fitness beginner who just recovered from a knee injury. Suggest a low-impact workout routine I can do at home with no equipment."

Context Templates​

For Writing Tasks​

Context: [Your role/situation]
Audience: [Who will read this]
Purpose: [What you want to achieve]
Tone: [How it should sound]
Format: [Structure requirements]
[Your specific request]

For Problem-Solving​

Situation: [What's happening]
My role: [Your position]
Constraints: [Limitations to work within]
Goal: [What you want to achieve]
[Your specific question]

For Learning/Explanations​

My current level: [Beginner/Intermediate/Expert]
What I already know: [Relevant existing knowledge]
Why I need this: [Purpose]
How I learn best: [Preferences]
[What you want explained]

🎯 Try It Now: Add Context to These Prompts​

Take each vague prompt and add meaningful context:

Prompt 1: "Help me write a cover letter"

  • Add: Your field, the job, why you're excited about it

Prompt 2: "Explain investing"

  • Add: Your current knowledge, your goals, your timeline

Prompt 3: "Give me dinner ideas"

  • Add: Dietary restrictions, cooking skill level, available ingredients

5 Context-Rich Prompts​

1. Content for Your Business​

About my business: [brief description]
My target audience: [who they are]
My brand voice: [how you sound]
Today's goal: [what content you need]
Platform: [where it will be posted]

2. Learning Something New​

I'm learning [topic] because [reason].
My background: [relevant experience/knowledge].
I learn best through [examples/theory/practice].
Current challenge: [what's confusing you].
Please explain [specific concept].

3. Professional Advice​

My role: [your position]
Industry: [your field]
Situation: [what you're dealing with]
Constraints: [budget/time/resources]
I need advice on: [specific question]

4. Creative Writing​

Genre/Type: [blog/story/poem/etc.]
About: [topic or brief]
Tone: [how it should feel]
Inspired by: [similar examples if relevant]
Length: [word count or format]
Special requirements: [specific elements to include]

5. Review and Feedback​

What I'm sharing: [type of content]
Its purpose: [what it's for]
My concerns: [what you're unsure about]
What feedback I need: [specific aspects]
Here it is: [paste content]

Common Mistakes with Context​

❌ Too Much Irrelevant Detail​

Don't share your life story. Share what's relevant to the task.

❌ Assuming Shared Knowledge​

AI doesn't know your company, your project, or your relationships. Spell it out.

❌ Forgetting the "Why"​

The purpose of your request often matters as much as the request itself.

❌ Not Mentioning Constraints​

Time limits, budget, skill level—these shape what advice is actually useful.

Quick Summary​

  • Context transforms generic answers into relevant ones
  • Types: background, audience, purpose, tone, format
  • The "I am a..." pattern quickly sets useful context
  • Include constraints that affect what's actually helpful
  • Only share context that's relevant to the task

What's Next?​

Now let's learn the power of examples in Chapter 3: Use Examples (Few-Shot).