list_qna

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds nothing beyond the one-line purpose: no mention of result ordering, pagination, or whether the Q&A board maps to a forum. With annotations handling safety, this leaves the behavioral surface essentially bare.

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?

One front-loaded sentence with no filler. It is efficient, though arguably too terse to earn a 5 given the surrounding tool set's complexity.

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?

An output schema exists, so return values needn't be described, and there is only one well-documented parameter. However, for a list operation the description omits pagination/result-size behavior and any hint about how the Q&A board relates to the forums tools, leaving a few agent-relevant gaps.

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?

There is a single parameter at 100% schema description coverage, and the schema already explains that course_id is a 'PLATO/Moodle numeric course id, e.g. from list_courses.' The description adds no further semantics, so baseline 3 applies.

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 specific verb ('List') and resource ('questions posted to a course's Q&A board'), which is clearly distinguishable from get_qna_detail and post_qna_question. It doesn't explicitly name the sibling alternatives, but the read/list scope is unambiguous.

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 by the phrase 'a course's Q&A board' – there's no statement of when to use this versus get_qna_detail, list_forums, or get_forum_discussions, nor any prerequisite or exclusion. An agent can infer the intent but gets no routing guidance.

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