PM-301d · Module 2

Structured Self-Critique Prompts

5 min read

"Check your work" fails because it is not a specification — it is an instruction to do something unspecified. The model has no criteria against which to check, so it checks for whatever feels most salient, which is usually the most obvious surface errors and nothing else. Structured self-critique specifies exactly what dimensions to critique and in what order.

Do This

  • "Review your response for: (1) factual accuracy — cite sources for every claim, (2) scope completeness — have all constraints been addressed, (3) format compliance — does the output match the specification"
  • Specify the output format for the critique itself: "Rate each dimension Red/Yellow/Green with one sentence of justification"
  • Use single-prompt critique when latency matters; use multi-turn critique when quality matters more than latency
  • Provide the original specification in the critique prompt so the model critiques against the contract, not against its own preferences

Avoid This

  • "Review your answer and correct any mistakes"
  • "Is this response good? If not, improve it."
  • "Check for errors"
  • Self-critique without providing the original requirements as the critique standard
# Single-prompt self-critique pattern

[Initial task prompt here]

After producing your response, evaluate it against these criteria:

CRITIQUE CHECKLIST:
□ Completeness: Does the response address all requirements stated in the task?
  Rating: [Complete / Partial / Missing] — [one sentence explanation]

□ Accuracy: Are all factual claims correct and supportable?
  Rating: [Verified / Uncertain / Error] — [one sentence explanation]

□ Format: Does the response match the specified output format?
  Rating: [Compliant / Minor deviation / Non-compliant] — [one sentence explanation]

□ Scope: Does the response stay within the defined scope (no unrequested additions)?
  Rating: [In scope / Out of scope additions present] — [one sentence explanation]

If any rating is Partial, Missing, Error, or Non-compliant:
Revise the response to address the identified issues, then output the final version.

FINAL RESPONSE:
[revised or confirmed response here]