Editing Openai/6969614e-00e4-8001-ac42-dda7410c3c4a (section)

=== Assistant: By “standardized prompt scaffolds” I meant a reusable structural template for your prompts that stays the same across t… ===
By “standardized prompt scaffolds” I meant a reusable structural template for your prompts that stays the same across tasks, even when the subject matter changes.

This is about stabilizing how the model thinks, not constraining what it says.

==== A prompt scaffold is: ====
* a fixed organizational frame for instructions
* reused verbatim or near-verbatim
* with only the content swapped out

Think of it as the IRAC / CREAC / scientific-method equivalent for prompting.

You are standardizing:
* where assumptions go
* where the task is stated
* where constraints live
* how reasoning is requested
* how output is shaped

==== Without scaffolds, the model must infer: ====
* what kind of thinking is expected,
* how much depth to provide,
* what to prioritize.

Inference = variance.

Scaffolds reduce variance by:
* lowering ambiguity,
* anchoring reasoning steps,
* preventing silent mode shifts.

==== ### ====

: 

This works—but:
* “critique” can mean summary, nitpicking, or rebuttal
* “concise” is undefined
* depth may vary

===== <syntaxhighlight lang="txt">Context: =====
Assume an expert audience familiar with the field.

Task:
Critique the argument below.

Constraints:
* Do not restate the argument unless necessary
* Flag unsupported assumptions
* Distinguish logical flaws from evidentiary gaps
* Be concise (≤5 bullets per section)

Method:
Evaluate premises → inference → conclusion.
Consider plausible counterarguments.

Output format:
* Summary judgment (2–3 sentences)
* Major issues (bullets)
* Minor issues (bullets)

</syntaxhighlight>

Same task. Much more predictable behavior.

==== You typically need 3–5 scaffolds total, e.g.: ====

===== - Context =====
* Question
* Assumptions
* Reasoning steps
* Conclusion

===== - Standard of review =====
* Major flaws
* Minor flaws
* Counterarguments
* Bottom line

===== - Core thesis =====
* Key concepts
* Relationships
* Implications
* Open questions

Once established, you reuse them endlessly.

==== Templates often prescribe content. ====

Scaffolds prescribe:
* thinking order
* decision criteria
* output shape

That’s why they scale across:
* topics,
* disciplines,
* sessions.

==== Not very. ====

Good scaffolds are:
* short,
* familiar,
* flexible.

You’re not scripting responses—you’re reducing guesswork.

==== Standardized prompt scaffolds are reusable prompt structures that: ====
* stabilize reasoning quality,
* reduce drift,
* make meta-prompts reliable,
* and allow mode switching without chaos.

They are one of the highest-leverage tools for advanced, consistent use of ChatGPT.