Exercise 3: Improve a First Draft

Objective

Practice reading AI output critically and improving it through targeted follow-up instructions — without manually rewriting a single word.

Background

The first draft AI produces is a starting point, not a finished product. The skill this exercise trains is editorial judgment: identifying what is wrong with a draft in specific, diagnosable terms and giving AI focused instructions to fix it.

The rule for this exercise is strict: you are not allowed to manually edit the output yourself. Every improvement must come from a follow-up instruction to AI.

The starting draft

Use this weak draft as your starting point. Do not submit it as-is or improve it manually.

In today's fast-moving business environment, it is more important than ever for teams to communicate effectively. Communication is the foundation of any successful team, and when communication breaks down, problems can occur. That is why many organizations are turning to AI-powered tools to enhance their communication workflows. These tools can help in various ways, including streamlining information sharing, reducing miscommunication, and improving overall collaboration. By adopting these solutions, teams can achieve better outcomes and improve their performance across a variety of key metrics.

Task

Step 1: Diagnose the draft

Before writing any follow-up instructions, read the draft and identify at least four specific problems. For each problem, write a one-sentence diagnosis. For example:

• "The opening sentence is a generic corporate cliché that adds no information."
• "The third sentence introduces a vague claim without any specific support."

Step 2: Write follow-up instructions

For each problem you identified, write one targeted follow-up instruction. Be specific — not "make it better" but "cut the opening sentence and start with the central claim instead."

Step 3: Run two rounds of refinement

Submit your first two follow-up instructions in one message. Receive the output. Evaluate it. Submit your next one or two instructions. Receive the final output.

Step 4: Compare

Read the final output next to the original draft. Count the specific improvements. Note which follow-up instructions had the most impact.

Example follow-up instructions (for reference, not to copy)

• "The opening sentence is a cliché. Cut it and start the piece with the most concrete useful point."
• "The phrase 'various ways' is too vague — replace it with three specific, named examples."
• "The tone is too corporate. Rewrite the last two sentences to be direct and plain."
• "Cut any sentence that does not add a new piece of information."

Success criteria

Your final output should be noticeably shorter, more specific, and more direct than the opening draft. You should have improved the draft through at least two rounds of follow-up instructions, using only targeted instruction — no manual editing.

Optional reflection question

Which instruction had the biggest impact? Why do you think that problem was so central to the draft's weakness?