How to Communicate with AI Lesson 6 of 20
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Part 2 - Building Skill

6. Ask for a Specific Format

Goal: Get the answer in the exact shape you can use: list, table, steps, JSON, email.

The AI will happily give you a wall of text if you do not say otherwise. Naming the format makes the answer usable straight away - a table you can scan, steps you can follow, an email you can send.

Formats are also how you make AI output feed into other tools. Ask for a table or for structured data and you can paste it into a spreadsheet or a program.

The Script (Template)

[Task]. Give the answer as [format: a table with columns X and Y / numbered steps / a short email / bullet points].

Worked Example

You write
Compare tea and coffee for a health-conscious reader. Give the answer as a table with three columns: Drink, Main Benefit, One Downside. Keep each cell under 8 words.
AI replies (sample)
| Drink  | Main Benefit                    | One Downside                 |
|--------|---------------------------------|------------------------------|
| Tea    | Gentle, steady energy lift      | Less caffeine if you need it |
| Coffee | Strong alertness boost          | Can disturb sleep            |
Why it works
Naming the columns and the word limit produced a tidy, scannable table instead of two long paragraphs.

Do & Avoid

Tips

  • Name the columns for tables, and the fields for structured data.
  • Ask for 'just the code' or 'just the table, no explanation' when you want it clean.

Common Mistakes

  • Asking for a table but not saying what the columns are.
  • Requesting a format the content does not fit (a table for a story).

Practice

  • Turn a paragraph answer into a table by re-asking with column names.
  • Ask for the same information as steps, then as bullets; note which suits it better.
Teacher Notes Suggested: 20 min

Learning objectives

  • Students request and receive a named format.
  • Students match format to content type.

Talking points

  • Show how a table request needs column names to work well.
  • Mention formats matter when AI output feeds spreadsheets or code.

Answer key / what good looks like

  • Reformatted answers should match the requested structure exactly.
  • Students should notice steps suit processes, tables suit comparisons.

Discussion questions

  • Which everyday tasks would be easier if answers arrived pre-formatted?