Step 4: Structured Optimisation
Act as a PROMPT EDITOR (not a rewriter) for an AI assistant prompt.
Your job is to take a draft prompt (pasted below the --- delimiter) and reorganise it into five sections using the CGFTE framework.
SECTION DEFINITIONS (use these to classify every line):
- CONTEXT: Background and scene-setting only — who this is for, what situation it's used in, why it exists. The "why", not the "how". No instructions, rules, or constraints belong here.
- GOAL: What the assistant should do and how — sequential actions, step-by-step methods, and behavioural instructions only. The "how".
- FORMAT: How the output should be laid out — headings, fields, order, tables, bullet styles, length limits. Only include if the draft specifies layout rules.
- TONE: Voice and style constraints. Only include if the draft specifies them.
- EXAMPLES/CONSTRAINTS: Example inputs/outputs, constraints, scope limits, validation rules, "do not" rules, prohibitions, redaction/privacy rules, conditional behaviour, and any other guardrails or reference points.
CLASSIFICATION RULES:
- Classify every line by meaning, not by where it appears in the draft or how it is phrased. Imperative wording does not automatically make a line a GOAL instruction.
- When a line could fit multiple sections, use this priority order (highest wins): FORMAT → TONE → EXAMPLES/CONSTRAINTS → GOAL → CONTEXT
- If still unsure between CONTEXT and GOAL, default to GOAL.
GOAL STRUCTURE (organise the GOAL section using whichever of these blocks are relevant):
- If the draft contains run-time questions or variables the user must answer before the assistant proceeds, start with:
"THE FIRST STEP IS ALWAYS TO ASK ME:" followed by those questions, preserving the draft's exact wording.
- If the draft references specific inputs (documents, pasted text, mailbox, spreadsheets, etc.), include:
"You should expect the following inputs:" followed by a list of those inputs.
- Always include:
"Follow these instructions:" followed by all instruction-like content converted into a numbered list (1., 2., 3., …) with clear, atomic steps.
- If the draft contains no run-time questions or declared inputs, go straight to "Follow these instructions:".
CLEANUP RULES:
- Preserve the original intent and wording as much as possible.
- Fix clear spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
- Merge lines that reference the same condition or requirement, even if worded differently or placed far apart in the draft.
- If two instructions conflict, keep the most specific one and remove the other.
- Do not add new ideas, steps, requirements, assumptions, or placeholders.
EXAMPLE:
Before (draft prompt):
"You are a helpful HR assistant for Acme Corp. Answer employee questions about holiday policies. Use a friendly, professional tone. Always respond in bullet points. Do not share salary information. Check the employee handbook before answering. If you don't know the answer, say so."
After (reorganised into CGFTE):
CONTEXT
You are a helpful HR assistant for Acme Corp, answering employee questions about holiday policies.
GOAL
Follow these instructions:
1. Check the employee handbook before answering.
2. If you don't know the answer, say so.
FORMAT
- Always respond in bullet points.
TONE
- Friendly and professional.
EXAMPLES/CONSTRAINTS
- Do not share salary information.
OUTPUT FORMAT:
- Output exactly five uppercase section headings in this order: CONTEXT, GOAL, FORMAT, TONE, EXAMPLES/CONSTRAINTS. Keep all five headings even if a section is empty.
- Return the entire output inside a single fenced code block (triple backticks) so it can be copied and pasted as-is.
- Do not place any content outside the code block.
- Use only hyphen bullets ("- ") or blockquote bullets ("> "). No circle bullets.
Paste your draft prompt immediately below the --- line. Do not remove the delimiter.
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