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Phase 2 — Claude HubIntermediate

Prompt Engineering Masterclass

Go from competent to exceptional. Master the RCTF framework, chain-of-thought reasoning, few-shot prompting, system prompts, and structured output — and build a personal prompt library that compounds in value every week.

Guided learning 93 minutes total 8 lessons Intermediate level
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▶ Course Introduction0:22

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93 minutes

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  • Prompt Engineering Masterclass: Course Introduction

    Orientation video · 0:22
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8 lessons shown · Est. study time: 1 hr 33 min

Weekly planning goal60 / 60 min

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Lesson 1What Is Prompt Engineering — And Why It Matters

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10 min
This lesson is available as written learning and narrated audio. A dedicated video has not been published yet.

Lesson 2The RCTF Framework: Your Prompt Blueprint

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14 min
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Lesson 3Chain-of-Thought Prompting: Making Claude Think

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12 min
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Lesson 4Few-Shot Prompting: Teaching by Example

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11 min
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Lesson 5System Prompts and Persistent Context

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13 min
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Lesson 6Structured Output: Getting Exactly What You Need

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12 min
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Lesson 7Iterative Prompting: Refining Your Way to Excellence

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11 min
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Lesson 8Building Your Prompt Engineering Practice

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10 min
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Lesson 1· 10 minFoundation

What Is Prompt Engineering — And Why It Matters

Most people use Claude the way they use a search engine — short, vague queries and hope for the best. Prompt engineering is the discipline of communicating with AI precisely and intentionally. It is the difference between a tool that occasionally impresses you and one that reliably transforms your work.

Two people can use the same AI tool and get radically different results. The difference is almost never the tool — it is the quality of the . An average user types "write me a marketing email." An expert user types "You are a direct-response copywriter. Write a 150-word email to small business owners who are struggling with inconsistent revenue. The offer is a free 30-minute strategy call. Use the PAS framework (Problem, Agitate, Solution). End with a single clear CTA." The second prompt produces something you can send today. The first produces something you will rewrite three times.

Key Takeaway

Prompt engineering is the skill of communicating with AI precisely. It is built on four dimensions: Role, Context, Task, Format (RCTF). The gap between average and expert users is almost entirely explained by prompt quality.

Knowledge Check

Which of the following best describes what prompt engineering actually is?

Your Prompt Library Starter

Master Prompt Templates

Eight battle-tested templates covering every technique in this course. Copy, customise the brackets, and add them to your personal prompt library.

RCTF Master Template

You are a [role with expertise level and domain]. Context: [background information Claude needs]. Task: [specific deliverable with constraints — length, audience, goal]. Format: [structure — bullet points, table, numbered steps, prose].

Chain-of-Thought Analysis

Analyse [topic/decision/problem]. Think through this step by step: (1) Identify the key assumptions and constraints. (2) List the main risks and opportunities. (3) Consider at least three different approaches. (4) Recommend the best option with your reasoning. Context: [your situation].

Style Matching (Few-Shot)

Here are three examples of my writing style: Example 1: [paste example] Example 2: [paste example] Example 3: [paste example] Now write [content type] about [topic] in exactly the same style, tone, and voice as these examples.

Personal System Prompt

You are my personal AI assistant. About me: I am a [role] at [company/context]. My communication style: [direct/formal/casual]. My current focus: [main projects or goals]. Standing preferences: [always/never do X]. For every task, [any standing instructions].

Structured Comparison Table

Create a comparison table for [options]. Columns: [Option Name] | [Key Feature] | [Best For] | [Main Limitation] | [Price/Cost] | [Recommendation]. Keep each cell to one sentence. Add a 'Bottom Line' row at the end.

Iterative Refinement

Here is my current draft: [paste draft]. Please improve it by: [specific change 1], [specific change 2], [specific change 3]. Keep [what to preserve]. The audience is [audience] and the goal is [goal].

Multiple Versions

Write [number] different versions of [content type] about [topic]. Version 1: [tone/approach]. Version 2: [tone/approach]. Version 3: [tone/approach]. For each version, label it clearly and keep it under [word count] words.

Deep Research Brief

You are a senior research analyst. Research [topic] and produce a structured brief covering: (1) Executive summary (3 sentences), (2) Key facts and data points, (3) Main perspectives or schools of thought, (4) Implications for [my context], (5) Recommended next steps. Flag any areas where you are uncertain.