list_courses

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, so safety and externality are covered. The description adds only the scope of the account; it says nothing about ordering, pagination, or whether archived/completed courses are included, so the agent learns nothing beyond what the annotations and the sentence already imply.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

A single front-loaded sentence with no filler; the scope constraint is stated immediately. It is efficient, though it leaves no room for the disambiguation that would make it stronger.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With no parameters and a published output schema, the description does not need to explain return values, and it is adequate at that minimum. The remaining gap is contextual: given four course-listing siblings, it should say what makes this the right one to call (e.g. the complete enrollment list with no filtering).

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The tool takes zero parameters, so the baseline is 4. There is nothing parameter-related the description could add or omit.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a clear verb+resource ('List the courses') plus the scope qualifier 'the logged-in PLATO account is enrolled in', which pins down whose courses are returned. It does not, however, distinguish this from sibling tools like search_courses, get_recent_courses, or get_starred_courses, which an agent could easily confuse it with.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Usage is only implied: the 'enrolled in' framing suggests it is the unfiltered full-enrollment listing, contrasted implicitly with filtered search/recent variants. No explicit when-to-use or when-not-to-use guidance, and no sibling is named as an alternative.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.