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Clarify Vague Tasks Like a Pro
Created by Shaunak Ghosh
Interns learn to spot hidden assumptions in vague engineering requests, convert unknowns into the right clarifying questions, and close the loop with clear acceptance criteria. You’ll practice on realistic prompts like “fix the bug” and “add a search feature” to avoid building the wrong thing.
Requirements
- Basic familiarity with software work (bugs, features, tickets)
- Comfort communicating in text (Slack/email) and describing what you see
- Basic debugging awareness (errors, logs, reproduction steps)
What you'll learn
- Explain why vague tasks trigger hidden assumptions and how wrong assumptions cause expensive rework
- Identify ambiguity, missing information, and personal assumptions in a vague engineering request
- Generate clarifying questions using multiple question buckets (goal, scope, constraints, edge cases, priority/quality)
- Rewrite assumptions as neutral, answerable questions before coding
- Draft acceptance criteria that make “done” testable and shared
- Produce a high-signal clarification/help message for “fix the bug” and apply the same workflow to “add a search feature”
Learning path
5 modules • Each builds on the previous one
1
Every assumption is a gamble
Learn why vague tasks trigger hidden assumptions, and how wrong assumptions create expensive rework. You’ll practice turning an assumption into an explicit question before coding.
1 video5 min
2
Spot what's unclear in vague tasks
Learn a quick scan to label what’s ambiguous, what information is missing, and what you’re assuming. This creates a short “clarification checklist” before you message a mentor or PM.
1 video6 min
3
Use question buckets for clarity
Use a small set of question categories (goal, user, scope, constraints, edge cases, priority, and success metrics) to generate high-quality clarifying questions fast, without sounding unprepared.
1 video6 min
4
Turn answers into clear requirements
Learn how to summarize what you heard into a lightweight spec: scope boundaries, decisions made, and acceptance criteria. This closes the loop so everyone agrees on what 'done' means.
1 video5 min
5
Practice: fix bug and search feature
Apply the full workflow to two common vague tasks: “fix the bug” and “add a search feature.” You’ll practice spotting unclear parts, listing assumptions, asking top questions, and writing a confirmation summary.
1 video5 min
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Begin your learning journey
Modules5
Duration24 min
Science-backed learning
In-video quizzes and scaffolded content to maximize retention.
Key concepts
Every Assumption Is A Gamble (And Creates Rework)Distinguishing Ambiguity Vs Missing Information Vs AssumptionsClarifying Questions That Uncover Goal, Scope, Constraints, And Quality BarAvoiding Premature Implementation/Technology AssumptionsTurning Answers Into Testable Acceptance CriteriaWriting High-Signal Bug Reports And Help Requests (Reproduction Steps, Evidence, What You Tried)Choosing A Small Set Of High-Impact Questions When Time Is Limited