To use Claude, open a conversation, type what you need help with and send the message. Include the text you want it to work on. You can then ask questions about the answer or request a revision in the same chat.
- Open Claude and sign in or create an account.
- Start with one task, such as comparing two short descriptions.
- Paste the material, send your request and check the reply against it.
Give Claude a task and something to work with
You do not need to begin with a large document. A few paragraphs are enough to practise. Tell Claude what you are trying to decide and which information matters to you.
For example, “Compare these plans” leaves the criteria open. “Which plan supports an automatic weekly CSV export?” gives the comparison a purpose. Claude’s getting-started guide explains the basic conversation flow; the exercise below gives you a complete first message to try.
Try it: compare two plans
Imagine your team needs a weekly export without someone remembering to run it. You have the two fictional descriptions below. Read them once before you send them to Claude.
Plan Cedar
Exports completed records as CSV. Support replies within one business day.
The description does not mention scheduled exports.
Plan Harbor
Schedules a weekly CSV export. Live chat runs Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00 ET.
No response-time commitment is stated.
The full prompt includes both descriptions. Copy it into a new conversation and send it.
Compare the two plans
Help me choose a plan for a team that needs an automatic weekly CSV export.
Source A: Plan Cedar exports completed records as CSV. The note does not mention scheduled exports. Support replies within one business day.
Source B: Plan Harbor schedules a weekly CSV export. Live chat runs Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00 ET. No response-time commitment is stated.
Compare the plans in a table with these columns:
Requirement | Cedar | Harbor | Supporting words
Use only these descriptions. Write "Not stated" for missing information. Do not assume prices, security features or support outside the stated hours.
After the table, say which plan fits the weekly-export requirement and what I still need to ask before choosing.Read the comparison before accepting the recommendation
The descriptions support the following comparison. This is a worked example for the exercise; Claude may phrase its answer differently.
| Requirement | Cedar | Harbor |
|---|---|---|
| CSV export | Completed records | Scheduled weekly |
| Automatic weekly export | Not stated | Yes: “schedules a weekly CSV export” |
| Support response time | Within one business day | Not stated |
| Live chat hours | Not stated | Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00 ET |
Harbor fits the stated weekly-export requirement. Before choosing, ask about pricing, export limits and your security requirements. The descriptions do not answer those questions.
Watch for a small but important leap: “Cedar does not mention scheduling” is different from “Cedar cannot schedule exports.” You would need to ask the vendor to establish that. The same care applies to support: chat availability does not tell you how quickly someone will reply.
Ask a useful follow-up
Once the comparison is sound, turn it into an action. For this example, ask for the questions you would send to the vendor.
Prepare the vendor questions
Write a short email to the Harbor team. Ask about the price of the plan with weekly CSV exports, any export limits and where I can find their security documentation. Do not say we have decided to buy.Read the email before sending it. It should ask for missing information without adding a purchase commitment. If the answer becomes too formal, reply: “Use plain language and keep it brief.”
When should you use Projects or Artifacts?
A chat is enough for the exercise above. If your work grows, these guides cover two more specific uses of Claude:
Work with the same background
A Project can hold context and instructions for related chats. Use it when you repeatedly work with the same approved material.
How to use Claude ProjectsDevelop a separate deliverable
Artifacts give you a separate space for content you want to work on, such as a document or an interactive item.
How to use Claude ArtifactsQuestions about getting started with Claude
Do I need to upload a file?
No. This exercise uses short descriptions pasted directly into the conversation. Start there so you can see exactly what information Claude has.
What if Claude fills in missing information?
Point to the unsupported detail and ask it to replace that claim with “Not stated.” Check the revised answer against the original descriptions, including rows that looked correct before.
Can Claude choose the best plan for me?
In this exercise, it can suggest which plan fits one requirement using the supplied descriptions. A buying decision still needs the missing price, limits and security information.
How can I practise with a different task?
Choose a short document you are allowed to share. Ask a question you can answer by reading it yourself, then compare Claude’s response with the relevant passage. Our Claude prompts offer more tasks to try.
For guided practice, start the WexAI Claude course. For a longer research task, follow the AI market research workflow.