Module 4: Prompt Frameworks & Templates

You wake up at 3am with a brilliant business idea. You grab your phone and type into ChatGPT:

"Help me with my business idea"

ChatGPT responds with generic advice. You stare at the screen, frustrated. What if you had a proven framework — a mental checklist that guarantees high-quality output every single time?

That's what this module delivers: three battle-tested frameworks used by professional prompt engineers at OpenAI, Google, and Fortune 500 companies.

💡 By the end of this module, you'll have:

RISEN framework for comprehensive prompts
RTF framework for quick, focused requests
CRAFT framework for creative projects
Personal template library (copy-paste ready)
Framework selection guide (when to use which)

🎯 RISEN Framework

Role • Instructions • Steps • End goal • Narrowing

Best for: Complex projects, detailed analysis, multi-step tasks

Developed by: AI research community (2023), widely adopted by enterprises

R ROLE - Who should ChatGPT be?

Assign expertise: "Act as a senior UX designer with 10 years at Google..."

Why it matters: Activates relevant knowledge patterns from training data

I INSTRUCTIONS - What exactly do you need?

Clear, specific task: "Analyze our mobile app onboarding flow and identify 3 friction points..."

Why it matters: Prevents vague, generic responses

S STEPS - How should it approach this?

Break down process: "First, review each screen. Then, identify user pain points. Finally, suggest improvements..."

Why it matters: Guides reasoning, ensures nothing is missed

E END GOAL - What's the desired outcome?

Define success: "The output should be a 1-page report with 3 prioritized recommendations..."

Why it matters: Ensures output matches your actual needs

N NARROWING - What constraints or focus areas?

Set boundaries: "Focus only on first-time users. Ignore advanced features. Keep technical jargon minimal..."

Why it matters: Prevents scope creep, keeps response focused

RISEN in Action: Real Example

ROLE: Act as a senior product marketing manager at Shopify with 8 years of experience launching e-commerce features. INSTRUCTIONS: Create a go-to-market strategy for our new "AI-Powered Product Recommendations" feature targeted at small business owners. STEPS: 1. Analyze the competitive landscape (what similar features exist?) 2. Identify our unique value proposition 3. Define 3 key customer segments 4. Recommend marketing channels and messaging for each segment 5. Suggest success metrics END GOAL: A 2-page strategy doc with: - Executive summary (3 bullets) - Segmentation + messaging table - Channel strategy with budget estimates - 90-day launch timeline NARROWING: - Focus on businesses earning $50K-$500K annually - Budget constraint: $25K marketing spend - Avoid technical jargon (audience is non-technical) - Prioritize quick wins over long-term brand building

✅ Result: ChatGPT delivers a structured, actionable strategy that addresses all requirements. No generic fluff, no wasted output.

⚡ RTF Framework

Role • Task • Format

Best for: Quick requests, straightforward tasks, time-sensitive work

Developed by: Prompt engineering practitioners (simplified version of complex frameworks)

R ROLE - Who are you?

Quick expertise assignment: "You're a Python expert..."

T TASK - What do I need?

One clear action: "Write a function that validates email addresses..."

F FORMAT - How should output look?

Structure specification: "Provide code, then 3-bullet explanation..."

RTF in Action: Real Examples

Example 1: Email Writing

Role: You're a customer success manager at a SaaS company. Task: Write an email apologizing for a 2-hour service outage yesterday. Format: Subject line + 3-paragraph email (acknowledge issue, explain fix, offer compensation). Tone: empathetic but professional.

Example 2: Code Generation

Role: You're a React developer. Task: Create a reusable Button component with loading state. Format: TypeScript code with props interface, component code, usage example. Include comments explaining key logic.

Example 3: Data Analysis

Role: You're a data analyst at Netflix. Task: Analyze why our Q3 churn rate increased from 3% to 5%. Format: Executive summary (3 bullets) + detailed analysis (5 potential causes with data to investigate) + 3 actionable recommendations.

💡 When to use RTF: Need fast results? Don't need extensive multi-step process? RTF gets you 80% quality in 20% of the time. Save RISEN for high-stakes projects.

🎨 CRAFT Framework

Context • Role • Action • Format • Target audience

Best for: Creative work, content creation, marketing copy, storytelling

Developed by: Content creators and copywriters adapting prompt engineering for creative fields

C CONTEXT - What's the background?

Set the scene: "We're launching a sustainable sneaker brand targeting Gen Z environmentalists..."

R ROLE - What's your perspective?

Creative expertise: "You're a viral TikTok content creator with 2M followers..."

A ACTION - What creative output?

The creative ask: "Generate 10 video concepts that could go viral..."

F FORMAT - How should it be structured?

Creative format: "Each concept: hook (first 3 seconds) + middle (main content) + CTA..."

T TARGET AUDIENCE - Who's consuming this?

Audience details: "18-25 year olds, environmentally conscious, active on TikTok, value authenticity over polish..."

CRAFT in Action: Marketing Campaign

CONTEXT: We're a meal kit delivery startup competing with HelloFresh and Blue Apron. Our unique angle: all ingredients sourced from local farms within 50 miles. Launched 6 months ago, have 500 customers, want to reach 5,000. ROLE: You're a growth marketer who specializes in direct-to-consumer food brands. You've scaled 3 startups from $0 to $10M revenue. ACTION: Create a 30-day Instagram content calendar designed to grow our following from 2,000 to 10,000 and convert 2% to paying customers. FORMAT: - Content pillars (3-4 themes) - Post schedule (what to post when) - 10 specific post ideas with captions and hashtag strategy - Story series concepts - Engagement tactics (polls, questions, etc.) TARGET AUDIENCE: - Age: 28-42 - Income: $75K-$150K household - Values: health, sustainability, supporting local businesses - Pain points: "too busy to grocery shop," "want healthy meals without effort" - Social behavior: active on Instagram, trust influencer recommendations

✅ Result: ChatGPT delivers a detailed, actionable content strategy tailored to your specific audience and business goals. Ready to execute immediately.

🤔 Which Framework Should You Use?

Scenario	Best Framework	Why?
Writing code quickly	RTF	Fast, focused, no unnecessary detail
Business strategy document	RISEN	Comprehensive, structured, multi-step thinking
Social media campaign	CRAFT	Audience-focused, creative, context-rich
Technical documentation	RISEN	Needs clear steps, end goal, narrowing scope
Email to customer	RTF	Quick turnaround, simple format
Blog post about complex topic	CRAFT	Requires audience understanding, creative approach
Data analysis with recommendations	RISEN	Multi-step process, clear deliverables
Product description for e-commerce	CRAFT	Target audience crucial, creative copy needed

🎯 Pro tip: Start with RTF for speed. If output isn't detailed enough, upgrade to RISEN (for complex tasks) or CRAFT (for creative work).

📚 Your Personal Template Library

Copy these templates to your notes app. Customize variables (in [brackets]) for instant high-quality prompts.

💼 Business Analysis

RISEN

Role: Business analyst at [Company] Instructions: Analyze [Topic/Problem] Steps: 1) Current state 2) Issues 3) Solutions End goal: [Format: report/presentation/email] Narrowing: Focus on [Constraints]

💻 Code Generation

RTF

Role: Expert [Language] developer Task: Write [Function/Component] that [Does what] Format: Code + docstring + usage example

✍️ Content Writing

CRAFT

Context: [Business/project background] Role: Content writer for [Industry] Action: Write [Type: blog/email/ad copy] Format: [Structure: intro/body/CTA] Target: [Age/interests/pain points]

🎓 Learning & Explanation

RTF

Role: Teacher explaining to [Audience level] Task: Explain [Complex topic] Format: Use analogies, examples, then summary

📊 Data Analysis

RISEN

Role: Data analyst at [Company] Instructions: Analyze [Dataset/metrics] Steps: Clean → Analyze → Visualize → Recommend End goal: [Report/dashboard/presentation] Narrowing: Focus on [Key metrics]

🚀 Product Launch

CRAFT

Context: Launching [Product] to [Market] Role: Product marketer at [Type of company] Action: Create [Launch plan/messaging/content] Format: [Deliverable type] Target: [Customer segment details]

⚙️ Advanced: Customizing Frameworks

Hybrid Framework Example (RISEN + Chain-of-Thought)

ROLE: Act as a financial advisor specializing in retirement planning. INSTRUCTIONS: Should I max out my 401(k) or pay off my $30K student loan at 5% interest? I'm 28, earning $80K/year, have $10K emergency fund. STEPS + CHAIN-OF-THOUGHT: Let's think through this step-by-step: 1. Calculate opportunity cost of each option 2. Consider tax implications (401k deduction vs loan interest) 3. Evaluate risk factors (job security, market volatility) 4. Compare 10-year outcomes for both strategies 5. Provide personalized recommendation END GOAL: Clear recommendation with: - Side-by-side comparison table - 10-year projections - Action plan (what to do first) NARROWING: - Assume moderate risk tolerance - Employer matches 401k up to 4% - Focus on math, not emotional factors

💡 Pro tip: Don't be afraid to mix frameworks. RISEN + few-shot examples? RTF + chain-of-thought? Experiment to find what works for your specific needs.

🎯 Hands-On Exercise: Framework Mastery Challenge

📝 Practice Each Framework

Your Task: You're launching a side hustle selling handmade candles online. Create prompts for:

Using RISEN: Create a comprehensive 90-day business plan (target market, pricing strategy, marketing channels, financial projections)
Using RTF: Write 5 compelling product descriptions for your Etsy shop (focus on scent profiles, ingredients, ambiance)
Using CRAFT: Design an Instagram content strategy to gain your first 1,000 followers and convert 5% to customers

Reflection Questions:

Which framework felt most natural for each task?
Did ChatGPT's output quality differ based on framework?
Which template will you add to your personal library first?

📚 Summary: Your Framework Arsenal

✅ RISEN (Role/Instructions/Steps/End/Narrowing): Complex, multi-step projects requiring comprehensive analysis
✅ RTF (Role/Task/Format): Quick, straightforward requests when speed matters
✅ CRAFT (Context/Role/Action/Format/Target): Creative work requiring deep audience understanding
✅ Framework selection: RTF for speed, RISEN for complexity, CRAFT for creativity
✅ Template library: 6 copy-paste templates for common scenarios
✅ Customization: Hybrid frameworks (RISEN + CoT, RTF + few-shot) for edge cases

🎯 Key Takeaway: Frameworks aren't restrictive rules — they're mental checklists that ensure you never miss critical prompt elements. Professional prompt engineers don't reinvent the wheel each time; they use proven frameworks and adapt as needed. You now have the same tools.

📝 Test Your Understanding

Question 1: What does the "E" in RISEN stand for?

Examples

Explanation

End goal

Execution

Question 2: When should you use RTF framework?

Only for creative writing

Quick, straightforward tasks where speed matters

Never - RISEN is always better

Only for business analysis

Question 3: What makes CRAFT framework different from others?

It emphasizes target audience and is designed for creative work

It's the fastest framework

It only works for marketing

It doesn't require role assignment

Question 4: You need to write a complex technical specification document. Which framework is best?

RTF - it's simple and fast

CRAFT - it's creative

RISEN - it provides steps, end goal, and narrowing for complex tasks

None - frameworks don't work for technical content

Question 5: What's the best approach to frameworks?

Always use all elements of every framework

Start with one, experiment, and customize as needed - even mix frameworks

Stick to one framework for all tasks

Frameworks are too restrictive - avoid them

🛠️ Organize & Scale Your Prompts

You've learned frameworks. Now organize and reuse your best prompts with these professional prompt management tools:

📦

PromptBase - Prompt Marketplace

promptbase.com | Free to browse

Buy & sell prompts: Marketplace with 100,000+ ready-to-use prompts across every category. Buy tested prompts from experts or sell your own creations. Perfect for finding inspiration and proven templates.

💡 Use Case: Need a prompt for "product description generator" or "legal contract analyzer"? Browse 100+ variations, see ratings, read reviews, buy for $2-10, and get instant results instead of spending hours crafting from scratch.

Quality Tested: User ratings and reviews
All Platforms: ChatGPT, DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion
Instant Access: Copy-paste ready prompts
Earn Money: Sell your best prompts

Explore PromptBase →

📝

Notion Prompt Library Template

Notion | Free + Premium options

Personal knowledge base: Pre-built Notion templates to organize your prompts by category, tag by use case, track performance, and build your personal AI toolkit. Many creators sell premium templates with 500+ prompts included.

Organized Library: Search, filter, tag your prompts
Templates Included: Premium versions with 500+ prompts
Team Collaboration: Share with colleagues
Version Control: Track iterations and improvements

Get Notion Templates →

🚀 Next Step: Apply to Real Work

You've learned what ChatGPT is, how to write effective prompts, advanced techniques, and proven frameworks. Now it's time to apply these skills to real use cases.

Coming up in Module 5: ChatGPT for Writing & Content — master blog posts, emails, social media, editing, and content repurposing. Real examples, templates, and workflows you can use immediately.

← Module 3: Advanced Techniques Module 5: Writing & Content →