ocean-prompting

name	ocean-prompting
description	Advanced prompt engineering framework. When the user needs to transform vague, simple, or 'normal' requests into high-fidelity, context-aware, and result-oriented prompts using the OCEAN (Observable, Concrete, Evident, Assertive, Narrative) methodology.
license	Proprietary. LICENSE.txt has complete terms

OCEAN Prompt Engineering Framework

Overview

The OCEAN framework is a systematic approach to prompt engineering designed to upgrade "Normal" prompts into high-performance instructions. It moves beyond simple commands by embedding context, constraints, and narrative flow into the request.

Use this skill when a user provides a basic task (e.g., "Write an ad") and wants a sophisticated, expert-level output.

The OCEAN Components

To construct an OCEAN prompt, you must expand the original request using these five dimensions:

1. Observable (O)

Definition: What does success look like from the outside? What is the visible context or situation?

• Goal: Ground the prompt in reality.
• Examples:
  • "Customers are moving from sugary bars to high-protein savory snacks."
  • "Business owners are frustrated with 'lead gen' experts who don't deliver."
  • "The team is speaking up more in meetings."

2. Concrete (C)

Definition: What specific tools, methods, inputs, or data points should be used?

• Goal: eliminate ambiguity.
• Examples:
  • "Compare brands like Graze and Deliciously Ella."
  • "Use a 'Pay-per-Appointment' model."
  • "Focus on insulin resistance and blood glucose levels."
  • "Focus on user-centric design principles."

3. Evident (E)

Definition: What is the proof, metric, or specific outcome?

• Goal: Define quantifiable or verifiable success.
• Examples:
  • "Use recent 2024 market share data."
  • "We increased a client's ROI by 40% in 3 months."
  • "Our bags last 5+ years and are 100% biodegradable."
  • "Project delivered 2 weeks early."

4. Assertive (A)

Definition: What is the desired tone, style, or persona? What should be avoided?

• Goal: Control the voice and prevent generic outputs.
• Examples:
  • "Be critical of brands with high plastic packaging."
  • "Use bold, direct language. No jargon."
  • "Be empathetic but firm about lifestyle changes."
  • "Avoid toxic positivity."

5. Narrative (N)

Definition: What is the specific story, "Before & After" transformation, or user journey?

• Goal: Give the content a human element and direction.
• Examples:
  • "Focus on the 'busy professional' who needs a desk-side health boost."
  • "Tell the story of a founder who wasted $5k on ads before finding us."
  • "Frame it as a journey of 'reclaiming energy' rather than a 'life sentence'."

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Industry Application Examples

📊 Marketing

Context: Converting generic marketing tasks into high-conversion assets.

• Competitor Analysis:

  • Normal: "Who are the top competitors for a new vegan snack brand?"
  • OCEAN: "Analyze the UK vegan snack market. (O) Customers are moving to high-protein savory snacks. (C) Compare Graze vs. Deliciously Ella. (E) Use 2024 market share data. (A) Be critical of plastic packaging. (N) Focus on the 'busy professional' desk-side use case."

• Ad Copywriting:

  • Normal: "Write a Facebook ad for my digital marketing agency."
  • OCEAN: "Draft a high-conversion ad. (O) Owners are frustrated with undelivered leads. (C) Promote 'Pay-per-Appointment' model. (E) Cite 40% ROI increase in 3 months. (A) Bold, direct, no jargon. (N) Story of a founder who wasted $5k before finding us."

• Influencer Outreach:

  • Normal: "Write an email to an influencer for a brand deal."
  • OCEAN: "Write a partnership pitch. (O) Reference their recent honest critique on sustainable fashion. (C) Offer recycled hemp tote bag. (E) Mention 5+ year durability/biodegradability. (A) Professional but personal, not bot-like. (N) Story of starting in a garage to make a truly green bag."

🔬 Research

Context: Deepening academic or data-driven inquiries.

• Literature Review:

  • Normal: "Summarize the latest trends in AI for education."
  • OCEAN: "Summarize AI in EdTech. (O) Shift from 'banning' to 'integrating' AI. (C) Focus on 2024 'Human-in-the-loop' papers. (E) Cite studies on engagement scores. (A) Objective, highlight biases. (N) Shift from lecturing to personalized AI tutoring."

• Data Interpretation:

  • Normal: "What does a high churn rate mean for my SaaS?"
  • OCEAN: "Interpret SaaS data. (O) Users quit after 3 days. (C) 15% churn in week 1. (E) Feedback cites long onboarding. (A) Give 3 hard-hitting fixes. (N) User arrives excited but leaves due to slow 'Time-to-Value'."

🩺 Healthcare

Context: Improving patient communication and clinical documentation.

• Patient Education:
  • Normal: "Explain what Type 2 Diabetes is to a patient."
  • OCEAN: "Explain Type 2 Diabetes. (O) Patient feels sluggish/thirsty. (C) Focus on insulin resistance. (E) Use 'sugar in a fuel tank' analogy. (A) Empathetic but firm. (N) Journey of 'reclaiming energy', not a 'life sentence'."

🎓 Education / Student

Context: Structuring academic arguments.

• Essay Planning:
  • Normal: "Give me an outline for an essay on Climate Change."
  • OCEAN: "Outline essay on Urban Heat Islands. (O) Cities hotter than rural areas at night. (C) Focus on 'Albedo Effect' and green space. (E) Use 2023 Paris heatwave data. (A) Argue city planning is at fault. (N) Start with city dweller unable to sleep."

🚀 Entrepreneurship

Context: Pitching business value and hiring.

• Investor Pitch Deck:

  • Normal: "Write a pitch deck outline for my fintech startup."
  • OCEAN: "Draft Seed-round pitch. (O) Gen Z ignoring banks for 'social-investing'. (C) 10k waitlisted users. (E) 60% retention in beta. (A) Category leader tone, no hopeful language. (N) Solve 'financial anxiety' for first-time investors."

• Strategic Hiring:

  • Normal: "Write a job description for a Content Manager."
  • OCEAN: "Draft JD. (O) Content is quality but lacks 'viral' edge. (C) Needs 3+ years B2B SaaS & SEO tools. (E) Must have grown account 0-10k. (A) Fast-paced, no-BS culture. (N) Transitioning from 'blog-first' to 'video-first'."

Workflow: How to Generate an OCEAN Prompt

1. Analyze the Request: Identify the core task (e.g., "Write a [Format] about [Topic]").
2. Draft Observable: Describe the external situation or signs of success.
3. Draft Concrete: Select specific methods, tools, or constraints.
4. Draft Evident: Choose proof points or metrics to back up the content.
5. Draft Assertive: Define the specific tone and what to avoid (e.g., buzzwords).
6. Draft Narrative: Construct the transformation story or user journey.
7. Assemble: Combine into a cohesive prompt block.