Anchor, situation, quiz, warning — miss one and the answer is missing a piece. Four sentence templates you can copy as-is.
Understanding a generic explanation isn't the same as solving the problem in your hand. What's missing is your specific situation.
The café is running two deals at once: half off the second cup and 20% off the whole bill. You want to use percentages to see which saves more, so you ask AI for a systematic explanation of discounts. It covers definitions, conversions, and full steps. You follow every bit of it.
At checkout, you treat “half off” as 50% off both cups, and almost pick the wrong deal. The problem isn't the formula. That explanation never touched the two coffees in your hand, and never made you work one out on your own. Following a lecture isn't the same as handling your own problem.
How do you ask so AI knows what you already get, what you need to solve now, and can surface the trap before you nod along? Start by picking one of three perfectly natural questions, and watch where the answer drifts from what you actually need.
Don't peek at the answer. Chat with Alice for two rounds
AliceAI learning coach · Question practice
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You need to compare the café's “half off the second cup” and “20% off the whole bill.” How would you ask me?
Only add these four parts:
AnchorHow far I already get
SituationThe thing I need to solve
QuizAfter explaining, make me do it
WarningCatch the easy mistakes first
Now add information. Pick 3–5 items and ask again:
0 selected
The anchor decides where to start; the situation decides where to stop. The quiz checks you actually get it; the warning stops you from blowing it.
