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What is this strategy?

This strategy focuses on effectively leveraging reasoning-enabled models in Playlab apps. By properly structuring your app’s goals, output formats, and guardrails, you can unlock the full potential of models like o1 and Claude 3.7 Sonnet to produce more thoughtful, logical, and nuanced responses.

Reasoning models are not always better for every task or function.

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Why It’s Important

Reasoning models represent a significant advancement in AI capabilities. When properly guided, these models can:

  • Perform complex logical operations and multi-step thinking
  • Evaluate evidence and draw sound conclusions
  • Generate more coherent, consistent, and reliable outputs
  • Handle nuanced tasks requiring deeper understanding
  • Provide transparent explanations of their thought processes

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Implementation Steps

Leverage this suggested template to help you build with reasoning models like o1 and Claude 3.7 (reasoning)

1

Select a Reasoning Model

In the Playlab builder, select a reasoning model to build your Playlab app on top of.

2

Define a Clear Goal

Goal

My app will help [who/target audience] with [what task?] by using [what type of reasoning?].

Example: “Help high school students improve argumentative essays with evaluative reasoning.”

A well-defined goal ensures the reasoning model operates within the intended parameters and delivers valuable results.

3

Specify the Output Format

Output Format

Responses should be [short/detailed] and structured as [lists, paragraphs, tables, etc.].

Example:

  • Thesis Assessment: (strengths and suggestions)
  • Argument Structure: (strengths and suggestions)
  • Evidence Quality: (strengths and suggestions)
  • Counter-Arguments: (strengths and suggestions)
  • Conclusion Effectiveness: (strengths and suggestions)

Structured outputs make complex reasoning more accessible and ensure consistency across interactions.

4

Set Guardrails and Guidelines

Guardrails & Guidelines

Do [what it should always do]. Don’t [what it should avoid]. Tone/style should be [neutral, friendly, formal, etc.].

Example: Do provide specific examples of how to improve. Don’t overwhelm with too many suggestions at once. Tone/style should be encouraging, educational, and constructive.

Clear guardrails prevent reasoning errors and align outputs with user expectations.

5

Provide Context and Background

Context

The app will use [references, relevant sources, background info, or rules it should follow].

Example: “The app will use argumentative writing standards appropriate for high school level, focusing on logical structure, evidence quality, and persuasive techniques.”

Rich context enables more precise, relevant, and accurate reasoning processes.

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Example Prompt: High School Writing Feedback Coach

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Example Advanced Reasoning Prompt

Goal: My app will help high school students with improving argumentative essays by using evaluative reasoning.

Output Format: Responses should be detailed and structured as categorized feedback with specific examples:

Example:

  • Thesis Assessment: Your thesis statement clearly states your position on school uniforms, which is effective. Consider strengthening it by including your main supporting points to preview your argument structure.
  • Argument Structure: Your arguments flow logically from one point to the next. To improve, try adding transition sentences between paragraphs to create stronger connections.
  • Evidence Quality: You’ve included relevant statistics on uniform costs. Consider adding a brief explanation of why this evidence matters to your argument.
  • Counter-Arguments: You acknowledge opposing views on expression. To strengthen this section, address how uniforms might still allow for some forms of self-expression.
  • Conclusion Effectiveness: Your conclusion effectively restates your position. Consider ending with a broader implication about how your argument relates to school policy in general.

Guardrails & Guidelines: Do provide specific, actionable suggestions with examples. Don’t overwhelm with too many suggestions at once (limit to 2-3 per category). Tone/style should be supportive, encouraging, and educational for teenage writers.

Context: The app will use argumentative writing standards appropriate for high school level, focusing on logical structure, evidence quality, and persuasive techniques. It will prioritize fundamental structural issues over minor stylistic concerns.

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Key Implementation Dimensions

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Template

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Need Support?

Have you tried building with different LLM models? We’d love to hear about your experience! Contact us at [email protected]

Last updated: March 27, 2025