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@free_ai_guides (post published 2026-05-12) prescribes a seven-section prompt…

2026-05-12 · 10:07 UTC ·@free_ai_guides ·1 min read

Brief

@freeaiguides' seven-section prompt structure (Task; Context Files; Reference; Success Brief; Rules; Conversation; Plan) is presented as a repeatable template for every Claude job. The thread assigns explicit roles to each section, urges clarifying questions before execution, and argues that prompt design — not the model — is almost always the deciding factor in useful outputs.

Why it matters

@free_ai_guides (post published 2026-05-12) prescribes a seven-section prompt structure for every Claude task: 1) Task, 2) Context Files, 3) Reference, 4) Success Brief, 5) Rules, 6) Conversation, and 7) Plan.

Key details

  • The author assigns specific roles to each section — e.g., Task = desired output + success criteria; Context Files = files Claude must read first; Reference = examples + extracted rules; Success Brief = output type/length/tone/what to avoid; Rules = constraints Claude checks; Conversation = clarifying questions; Plan = list top 3 rules and map approach — and claims prompt quality, not the model, usually determines usefulness.
Source evidence

The prompt structure I use for every Claude task.

7 sections. Each one earns its place.

Most people type one sentence and hope for the best.
That's like handing someone a blank page and saying "make something good."

This structure fixes that:

  1. Task → What you want + what success looks like
  2. Context Files → The files Claude needs to read first
  3. Reference → Examples of what good output looks like + the rules you extracted from them
  4. Success Brief → Output type, length, tone, and what to avoid
  5. Rules → Your standards and constraints. Claude checks these before writing
  6. Conversation → Ask clarifying questions before executing
  7. Plan → List the 3 most relevant rules, then map out the approach

The difference between a generic output and a useful one is almost always the prompt, not the model.

Save this. Try it on your next task.