# Break down an assignment so I know exactly what's being asked

Turns a confusing assignment into plain-language requirements, a checklist, and questions to clarify with your teacher.

- Topic: Learning & Teaching
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Education, Analyze, Explain & Teach, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/break-down-an-assignment-so-i-know-exactly-what-s-being-asked

## Prompt

```text
Help me understand exactly what this assignment is asking me to do before I start.

**Assignment instructions:** [PASTE THE FULL PROMPT, including any rubric]
**Class:** [SUBJECT AND LEVEL]
**Due date and anything else I know:** [e.g. "due Friday, worth 20% of my grade"]
**What confuses me:** [e.g. "I don't know what 'synthesize' means here"]

Do this:
1. Restate the assignment in plain language in 2-3 sentences.
2. Pull out every task verb (analyze, compare, evaluate, explain, argue, reflect...) and explain what each one means in practice for this assignment.
3. List every hard requirement: length, format, number and type of sources, citation style, sections, submission method.
4. Point out anything the instructions leave unclear and write the questions I should ask my teacher.
5. Name common ways students misread this kind of assignment.

Return:
- **In plain words:** the restatement.
- **Requirements checklist:** a checkbox list I can tick before submitting.
- **What a strong response does vs. a weak one:** 3 bullets each.
- **Questions for my teacher.**

Only use what is in the instructions. If something isn't stated, say it isn't stated rather than guessing.
```

## What to fill in

- PASTE THE FULL PROMPT, including any rubric
- SUBJECT AND LEVEL
- e.g. "due Friday, worth 20% of my grade"
- e.g. "I don't know what 'synthesize' means here"

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.