The evidence-first prompt pattern
A prompt structure that requires source retrieval before a draft and separates facts from recommendations.
The question
Does separating retrieval, reasoning, and drafting reduce unsupported claims?
What we know so far
- → Explicit source slots make review faster.
- → A refusal path is essential when evidence is thin.
- → Short evaluation rubrics outperform vague requests for quality.
This field note will be updated as the experiment develops. Last reviewed: June 2026.