When presenting Claude with a complex, multi-part task, what prompting strategy generally produces the best results?

For complex multi-part tasks, structured prompting significantly improves results. Effective approaches include: numbered steps defining the exact sequence, clear markers between sections (e.g., 'First, do X. Then, do Y. Finally, do Z.'), explicit output expectations for each step, and requesting intermediate outputs or chain-of-thought reasoning. This maps the task structure directly in the prompt so Claude can follow it methodically. Option A (unstructured paragraph) forces Claude to infer structure, leading to missed steps. Option C gives no guidance. Option D loses inter-task context by fragmenting into disconnected calls.