Part 2 - Building Skill

10. Break a Big Task into Steps

Goal: Handle large jobs by splitting them into a sequence of smaller prompts.

Big requests overwhelm both you and the AI. Instead of asking for a whole essay at once, break it into stages: outline, then draft one section, then the next, then polish. You stay in control and can fix problems early.

This 'divide and conquer' habit is the bridge from casual use to real projects. Each step is a small, clear prompt, and the output of one step becomes the input to the next.

The Script (Template)

Step 1 prompt: [get an outline]. Step 2 prompt: [expand section 1]. Step 3 prompt: [expand section 2]. ... Final prompt: [polish the whole thing].

Worked Example

You write

First step only: I need a 600-word blog post on the benefits of walking. Before writing, give me a 5-point outline so I can approve it.

AI replies (sample)

1. Walking is the easiest exercise to start - no gym, no gear.
2. Physical benefits: heart health, weight, better sleep.
3. Mental benefits: lower stress, clearer thinking.
4. Social and practical: walk with friends, walk to commute.
5. How to build the habit: start with 10 minutes a day.
Approve this and I will write section by section.

Why it works

Getting the outline first meant any wrong direction was caught in 5 lines, not after a 600-word draft - cheap to fix early.

Do & Avoid

Tips

Approve the outline before asking for the full draft.
Do one section per prompt for long pieces; quality stays higher.

Common Mistakes

Asking for a huge deliverable in one prompt, then rewriting the whole thing.
Losing track of steps - keep them numbered in the chat.

Practice

Plan a real task (essay, event, study plan) as an outline prompt first.
Take one outline point and expand it in a second prompt.

Teacher Notes Suggested: 25 min

Learning objectives

Students decompose a large task into ordered prompts.
Students use approval checkpoints (outline first).

Talking points

Model the outline-first workflow end to end on a real class task.
This chapter is the pivot into 'projects'; connect it to Chapter 19.

Answer key / what good looks like

Outlines should be logically ordered and approvable.
Section expansions should stay within their outline point.

Discussion questions

Why is catching a mistake at the outline stage cheaper than at the draft stage?