1In one sentence
Almost everything you will ever ask Claude is one of eight kinds, and each kind has a short template, so you never start from a blank box.
2New words
- Template — a request with blanks in it. You fill the blanks; the structure is already right.
- Kind of ask (we also say pattern) — the type of job: are you making something, understanding something, finding something, changing something, and so on.
3Why you would want it
Knowing the kind of ask tells you which blocks matter most. A research ask needs sources and a scope; a create ask needs an audience and a format; an automate ask needs a schedule and a place to deliver. The future generator in our app starts by working out which of these eight you need.
| Kind | You want Claude to… | Blocks that matter most | Template |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create | Make something new: text, a plan, a design, a video prompt | Audience, format, example | Create [thing] for [audience]. Tone: [tone]. Length: [length]. Format: [format]. Here is an example I like: [paste]. |
| Analyze | Understand data or a document | Inputs, the question, format | Here is [file/data]. Answer: [question]. Show your reasoning in 3 steps, then the answer as [table/list]. |
| Research | Find current facts and compare | Scope, sources, quality bar | Research [topic]. Compare [A, B, C] on [criteria]. Use current sources and link them. End with a recommendation for [my situation]. |
| Transform | Change the shape of something | Inputs, rules, format | Turn this [notes/transcript/list] into [format]. Keep all facts, remove repetition, [other rules]. |
| Automate | Do something regularly or in another app | Schedule, place, tools | Every [day/time], [do task] and deliver it to [email/Slack/file]. Use [connector]. |
| Build | Make software, a skill, an agent | Goal, constraints, process | Build [thing] that does [what]. Constraints: [list]. Work in small steps and show me each before continuing. |
| Decide | Choose between options | Context, criteria, quality bar | I am deciding between [options]. What matters to me: [criteria, ranked]. Give a scored table, your recommendation, and the strongest argument against it. |
| Learn | Understand or practice a topic | Level, format, process | Teach me [topic] at the level of [beginner/...]. Explain in steps, give one example, then quiz me with 3 questions. |
4Try it now
- Think of one real thing you need this week.
- Find its row in the table.
- Copy the template, fill the brackets, send it.
5What you will see
A structured answer in the shape the template asked for. For Decide, that is a table with scores weighted by your own ranking, a clear recommendation, and a counter-argument, which is more honest than a simple "pick A":
6Watch out
- Mixed asks confuse the answer. "Research options and write the proposal" is two kinds; do Research first, then Create.
- Templates are a floor, not a ceiling. Add the nine blocks when the task is important.
7Go further
Every scenario card in Part 5 names its kind at the top. Once you know the eight kinds, you can read any card and see why its prompt is shaped the way it is.