CheckedImprove a result

A practical method for your work

Role + Rubric Pattern

Get better critique by defining the judge and the scoring criteria.

Original sourceAnthropic prompt engineering guidanceChecked 2026-07-07
Use this whenCritique · Editing · Design review
You will getA reusable way to start the work

Core idea

A role helps the model adopt a lens. A rubric prevents “make it better” feedback from becoming vague taste.

Why it works

Criteria make the output easier to evaluate and reduce drift across iterations.

Weak

Review this landing page.

Better

Act as a conversion-focused editor. Judge by clarity, trust, specificity, CTA strength, and friction. Give one blocker, three fixes, and a rewritten hero.

Customize it

RoleRubric dimensionsSeverity labelsOutput structure

Working template

Goal: [what I am trying to accomplish] Context: [background, audience, constraints] Use this pattern: Role + Rubric Pattern Variables: Role, Rubric dimensions, Severity labels, Output structure Return: [exact output format] Before finalizing: state limits and one improvement

Operating recipe

  1. Start with the weak version so you know what problem you are fixing.
  2. Add the missing variables instead of making the instruction longer randomly.
  3. Ask the model to follow the output contract exactly once.
  4. Review the first answer against the checklist below.
  5. Save the improved version as your reusable pattern.

Quality checklist

  • Did I give the model the real goal, not just the task?
  • Did I define the output shape before asking for the answer?
  • Did I include examples, constraints, or a quality bar?
  • Did I ask for limits, uncertainty, or failure cases?
  • Can I reuse this as a pattern next time?

Model notes

Claude

Strong for long context, critique, and structured writing. Give it clear sections and examples.

ChatGPT

Strong for fast iteration and everyday templates. Be explicit about output format and assumptions.

Limits

A role cannot replace missing facts. Provide real product context when possible.

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