@ckelsoe/prompt-architect 3.0.2 → 3.2.0

package/skills/prompt-architect/references/frameworks/co-star.md

@@ -1,256 +1,256 @@
-# CO-STAR Framework
-
-## Overview
-
-CO-STAR is a comprehensive prompting framework that emphasizes context, audience, and communication style. It's particularly effective for content creation, writing tasks, and scenarios where tone and audience considerations significantly impact output quality.
-
-## Components
-
-### C - Context
-**Purpose:** Provide background information, situational details, and constraints.
-
-**Questions to Ask:**
-- What's the background situation?
-- What constraints exist?
-- What's happened previously?
-- What environment/platform is this for?
-- Are there any limitations or restrictions?
-
-**Examples:**
-- "You're working with a startup that has limited resources..."
-- "This is for a formal government report..."
-- "The user base is primarily non-technical..."
-
-### O - Objective
-**Purpose:** Define the clear, specific goal to be achieved.
-
-**Questions to Ask:**
-- What exactly do you want accomplished?
-- What does success look like?
-- What's the primary outcome?
-- Are there secondary goals?
-
-**Examples:**
-- "Create a comprehensive product comparison..."
-- "Generate ideas for reducing customer churn..."
-- "Explain the concept in simple terms..."
-
-### S - Style
-**Purpose:** Specify the writing style, format, and structural preferences.
-
-**Questions to Ask:**
-- What writing style is appropriate?
-- Should it be formal or casual?
-- Are there format requirements?
-- Should it follow a specific structure?
-- Any style guides to follow?
-
-**Examples:**
-- "Use a journalistic style with short paragraphs..."
-- "Follow AP style guidelines..."
-- "Write in a conversational, blog-post style..."
-
-### T - Tone
-**Purpose:** Set the emotional quality and attitude of the response.
-
-**Questions to Ask:**
-- What emotional quality should it have?
-- Should it be serious or light-hearted?
-- Authoritative or humble?
-- Urgent or measured?
-
-**Examples:**
-- "Professional yet friendly..."
-- "Urgent and action-oriented..."
-- "Empathetic and supportive..."
-- "Confident and authoritative..."
-
-### A - Audience
-**Purpose:** Identify who will consume the output and their characteristics.
-
-**Questions to Ask:**
-- Who is the target audience?
-- What's their expertise level?
-- What do they care about?
-- What are their pain points?
-- What's their context?
-
-**Examples:**
-- "Senior executives with limited technical knowledge..."
-- "Junior developers learning the framework..."
-- "Parents of elementary school children..."
-
-### R - Response
-**Purpose:** Define the expected output format and structure.
-
-**Questions to Ask:**
-- What format should the output take?
-- How long should it be?
-- Should it include specific sections?
-- Are there structural requirements?
-- What level of detail is needed?
-
-**Examples:**
-- "Provide a 500-word article with 3 main sections..."
-- "Create a bulleted list of 10 items..."
-- "Generate a table comparing features..."
-
-## Template Structure
-
-```
-CONTEXT:
-[Background information, situation, constraints]
-
-OBJECTIVE:
-[Clear, specific goal to achieve]
-
-STYLE:
-[Writing style, format preferences]
-
-TONE:
-[Emotional quality, formality level]
-
-AUDIENCE:
-[Target audience characteristics]
-
-RESPONSE FORMAT:
-[Expected output structure and format]
-```
-
-## Complete Example
-
-### Before CO-STAR:
-"Write about the benefits of exercise."
-
-### After CO-STAR:
-```
-CONTEXT:
-I'm creating content for a health blog aimed at busy professionals who struggle to find time for fitness. Previous articles have focused on nutrition, and this is part of a series on lifestyle improvements.
-
-OBJECTIVE:
-Create an engaging article that convinces time-pressed professionals that exercise is worth prioritizing, focusing on benefits beyond just physical health.
-
-STYLE:
-Use a conversational blog style with short paragraphs (2-3 sentences), subheadings every 150-200 words, and occasional bullet points for key takeaways. Include specific examples and avoid medical jargon.
-
-TONE:
-Encouraging and motivating without being preachy. Acknowledge their time constraints and show empathy for their challenges. Be practical and realistic rather than idealistic.
-
-AUDIENCE:
-Professionals aged 30-50 who work 50+ hour weeks, have limited free time, may have families, and currently don't exercise regularly. They're skeptical of fitness advice that seems unrealistic for their lifestyle.
-
-RESPONSE FORMAT:
-800-word article with:
-- Engaging headline
-- Brief introduction (2-3 sentences)
-- 4-5 main sections with subheadings
-- Bullet points highlighting key benefits
-- Practical conclusion with next steps
-```
-
-## Best Use Cases
-
-1. **Content Creation**
-   - Blog posts, articles, marketing copy
-   - When multiple stakeholders will review
-   - When brand voice matters
-
-2. **Communication Tasks**
-   - Emails to specific audiences
-   - Presentations
-   - Reports with specific readers
-
-3. **Creative Writing**
-   - When tone significantly impacts effectiveness
-   - When audience understanding is critical
-   - When style consistency matters
-
-4. **Educational Content**
-   - Teaching materials
-   - Explanations for specific skill levels
-   - Documentation for user groups
-
-## Selection Criteria
-
-**Choose CO-STAR when:**
-- ✅ Task involves writing or content creation
-- ✅ Multiple stakeholders or diverse audience
-- ✅ Tone and style significantly impact success
-- ✅ Rich contextual requirements exist
-- ✅ Brand or voice consistency matters
-- ✅ Audience characteristics are well-defined
-
-**Avoid CO-STAR when:**
-- ❌ Task is purely analytical/technical
-- ❌ Audience doesn't matter
-- ❌ Tone is irrelevant
-- ❌ Simple, quick task without context needs
-- ❌ Format is the only concern
-
-## Common Mistakes
-
-1. **Too Much Context**
-   - Include only relevant background
-   - Avoid tangential information
-   - Focus on what impacts the task
-
-2. **Vague Objective**
-   - Be specific about desired outcome
-   - Quantify when possible
-   - Clarify success criteria
-
-3. **Confusing Style and Tone**
-   - Style = structural/format choices
-   - Tone = emotional quality
-   - Keep them separate
-
-4. **Generic Audience Description**
-   - Be specific about audience characteristics
-   - Include their knowledge level
-   - Mention their goals/pain points
-
-## Variations and Combinations
-
-### CO-STAR + Chain of Thought
-Use for complex content that requires reasoning:
-```
-[Standard CO-STAR components]
-
-PROCESS:
-Think through this step-by-step:
-1. Identify key themes
-2. Organize supporting evidence
-3. Structure argument flow
-4. Draft with examples
-```
-
-### CO-STAR + RISEN
-For content creation with specific methodology:
-```
-[Use CO-STAR for context/audience/tone]
-[Use RISEN's Steps for the creation process]
-[Use CO-STAR's Response for output format]
-```
-
-## Quick Reference
-
-| Component | Focus | Key Question |
-|-----------|-------|--------------|
-| Context | Background | "What's the situation?" |
-| Objective | Goal | "What do you want achieved?" |
-| Style | Format/Structure | "How should it be written?" |
-| Tone | Emotional Quality | "What feeling should it convey?" |
-| Audience | Reader | "Who is this for?" |
-| Response | Output | "What should the output look like?" |
-
-## Assessment Checklist
-
-When applying CO-STAR, verify:
-- [ ] Context provides necessary background without excess
-- [ ] Objective is specific and measurable
-- [ ] Style guidance is clear and actionable
-- [ ] Tone matches audience and objective
-- [ ] Audience is well-defined with characteristics
-- [ ] Response format is detailed and specific
-- [ ] All components work together cohesively
-- [ ] Nothing contradicts other components
+# CO-STAR Framework
+
+## Overview
+
+CO-STAR is a comprehensive prompting framework that emphasizes context, audience, and communication style. It's particularly effective for content creation, writing tasks, and scenarios where tone and audience considerations significantly impact output quality.
+
+## Components
+
+### C - Context
+**Purpose:** Provide background information, situational details, and constraints.
+
+**Questions to Ask:**
+- What's the background situation?
+- What constraints exist?
+- What's happened previously?
+- What environment/platform is this for?
+- Are there any limitations or restrictions?
+
+**Examples:**
+- "You're working with a startup that has limited resources..."
+- "This is for a formal government report..."
+- "The user base is primarily non-technical..."
+
+### O - Objective
+**Purpose:** Define the clear, specific goal to be achieved.
+
+**Questions to Ask:**
+- What exactly do you want accomplished?
+- What does success look like?
+- What's the primary outcome?
+- Are there secondary goals?
+
+**Examples:**
+- "Create a comprehensive product comparison..."
+- "Generate ideas for reducing customer churn..."
+- "Explain the concept in simple terms..."
+
+### S - Style
+**Purpose:** Specify the writing style, format, and structural preferences.
+
+**Questions to Ask:**
+- What writing style is appropriate?
+- Should it be formal or casual?
+- Are there format requirements?
+- Should it follow a specific structure?
+- Any style guides to follow?
+
+**Examples:**
+- "Use a journalistic style with short paragraphs..."
+- "Follow AP style guidelines..."
+- "Write in a conversational, blog-post style..."
+
+### T - Tone
+**Purpose:** Set the emotional quality and attitude of the response.
+
+**Questions to Ask:**
+- What emotional quality should it have?
+- Should it be serious or light-hearted?
+- Authoritative or humble?
+- Urgent or measured?
+
+**Examples:**
+- "Professional yet friendly..."
+- "Urgent and action-oriented..."
+- "Empathetic and supportive..."
+- "Confident and authoritative..."
+
+### A - Audience
+**Purpose:** Identify who will consume the output and their characteristics.
+
+**Questions to Ask:**
+- Who is the target audience?
+- What's their expertise level?
+- What do they care about?
+- What are their pain points?
+- What's their context?
+
+**Examples:**
+- "Senior executives with limited technical knowledge..."
+- "Junior developers learning the framework..."
+- "Parents of elementary school children..."
+
+### R - Response
+**Purpose:** Define the expected output format and structure.
+
+**Questions to Ask:**
+- What format should the output take?
+- How long should it be?
+- Should it include specific sections?
+- Are there structural requirements?
+- What level of detail is needed?
+
+**Examples:**
+- "Provide a 500-word article with 3 main sections..."
+- "Create a bulleted list of 10 items..."
+- "Generate a table comparing features..."
+
+## Template Structure
+
+```
+CONTEXT:
+[Background information, situation, constraints]
+
+OBJECTIVE:
+[Clear, specific goal to achieve]
+
+STYLE:
+[Writing style, format preferences]
+
+TONE:
+[Emotional quality, formality level]
+
+AUDIENCE:
+[Target audience characteristics]
+
+RESPONSE FORMAT:
+[Expected output structure and format]
+```
+
+## Complete Example
+
+### Before CO-STAR:
+"Write about the benefits of exercise."
+
+### After CO-STAR:
+```
+CONTEXT:
+I'm creating content for a health blog aimed at busy professionals who struggle to find time for fitness. Previous articles have focused on nutrition, and this is part of a series on lifestyle improvements.
+
+OBJECTIVE:
+Create an engaging article that convinces time-pressed professionals that exercise is worth prioritizing, focusing on benefits beyond just physical health.
+
+STYLE:
+Use a conversational blog style with short paragraphs (2-3 sentences), subheadings every 150-200 words, and occasional bullet points for key takeaways. Include specific examples and avoid medical jargon.
+
+TONE:
+Encouraging and motivating without being preachy. Acknowledge their time constraints and show empathy for their challenges. Be practical and realistic rather than idealistic.
+
+AUDIENCE:
+Professionals aged 30-50 who work 50+ hour weeks, have limited free time, may have families, and currently don't exercise regularly. They're skeptical of fitness advice that seems unrealistic for their lifestyle.
+
+RESPONSE FORMAT:
+800-word article with:
+- Engaging headline
+- Brief introduction (2-3 sentences)
+- 4-5 main sections with subheadings
+- Bullet points highlighting key benefits
+- Practical conclusion with next steps
+```
+
+## Best Use Cases
+
+1. **Content Creation**
+   - Blog posts, articles, marketing copy
+   - When multiple stakeholders will review
+   - When brand voice matters
+
+2. **Communication Tasks**
+   - Emails to specific audiences
+   - Presentations
+   - Reports with specific readers
+
+3. **Creative Writing**
+   - When tone significantly impacts effectiveness
+   - When audience understanding is critical
+   - When style consistency matters
+
+4. **Educational Content**
+   - Teaching materials
+   - Explanations for specific skill levels
+   - Documentation for user groups
+
+## Selection Criteria
+
+**Choose CO-STAR when:**
+- ✅ Task involves writing or content creation
+- ✅ Multiple stakeholders or diverse audience
+- ✅ Tone and style significantly impact success
+- ✅ Rich contextual requirements exist
+- ✅ Brand or voice consistency matters
+- ✅ Audience characteristics are well-defined
+
+**Avoid CO-STAR when:**
+- ❌ Task is purely analytical/technical
+- ❌ Audience doesn't matter
+- ❌ Tone is irrelevant
+- ❌ Simple, quick task without context needs
+- ❌ Format is the only concern
+
+## Common Mistakes
+
+1. **Too Much Context**
+   - Include only relevant background
+   - Avoid tangential information
+   - Focus on what impacts the task
+
+2. **Vague Objective**
+   - Be specific about desired outcome
+   - Quantify when possible
+   - Clarify success criteria
+
+3. **Confusing Style and Tone**
+   - Style = structural/format choices
+   - Tone = emotional quality
+   - Keep them separate
+
+4. **Generic Audience Description**
+   - Be specific about audience characteristics
+   - Include their knowledge level
+   - Mention their goals/pain points
+
+## Variations and Combinations
+
+### CO-STAR + Chain of Thought
+Use for complex content that requires reasoning:
+```
+[Standard CO-STAR components]
+
+PROCESS:
+Think through this step-by-step:
+1. Identify key themes
+2. Organize supporting evidence
+3. Structure argument flow
+4. Draft with examples
+```
+
+### CO-STAR + RISEN
+For content creation with specific methodology:
+```
+[Use CO-STAR for context/audience/tone]
+[Use RISEN's Steps for the creation process]
+[Use CO-STAR's Response for output format]
+```
+
+## Quick Reference
+
+| Component | Focus | Key Question |
+|-----------|-------|--------------|
+| Context | Background | "What's the situation?" |
+| Objective | Goal | "What do you want achieved?" |
+| Style | Format/Structure | "How should it be written?" |
+| Tone | Emotional Quality | "What feeling should it convey?" |
+| Audience | Reader | "Who is this for?" |
+| Response | Output | "What should the output look like?" |
+
+## Assessment Checklist
+
+When applying CO-STAR, verify:
+- [ ] Context provides necessary background without excess
+- [ ] Objective is specific and measurable
+- [ ] Style guidance is clear and actionable
+- [ ] Tone matches audience and objective
+- [ ] Audience is well-defined with characteristics
+- [ ] Response format is detailed and specific
+- [ ] All components work together cohesively
+- [ ] Nothing contradicts other components