Chapter 02 · DESKTOP
Your first chat and conversation controls
A useful chat starts with a clear task: the outcome, audience, source material and what must not be invented. You can improve a response by editing the request or continuing the conversation instead of starting over each time.
Video
Steps
- Give the task an outcome and criteria: "Summarize the text below in five bullets for a nontechnical manager. Do not add facts that are not in it." Include the text rather than assuming Claude can see it.
- Read the response and verify facts, names and numbers. Ask for a focused change: "Keep the conclusion, but add an example from the text to the second point."
- If the starting request needs changing, use message editing when available in your interface. Retrying generates an alternative answer; it is not a fact check.
- Give the conversation a recognizable name and find it in history. Before sharing it, check for files, personal details and internal material. Copying a draft does not send it to another person.
Common pitfall: A confident tone does not prove the facts are correct. Check against the source material.
Hands-on exercise: Provide a short paragraph, request a summary, then adapt it for a different audience. Check which facts stayed the same and which changed.
Filmed demo · Video is added in the media phase
Recap
Comprehension check
What does retrying a response do?
Recap
- Specify outcome, audience and source
- Refine with a focused follow-up
- Review before sharing