Writing Effective Prompts

The key to unlocking the full potential of the AI-tool you are using comes down to one simple thing: writing effective prompts. AI tools like ChatGPT rely on refining and learning from different prompts, prompt techniques, and input data so they can adapt and minimize biases, confusion, and return more accurate information.  The more detailed and high-quality your prompts are, the more precise the tool is going to be in its response.

Considerations

Here are five things to consider when inputting your information into your AI-tool of choice:

1. Clarity and Specificity. Write prompts that are clear and specific about the task or information you are seeking.
   Example: "What are the common breeds of dogs?" instead of "Tell me about dogs."
2. Contextual Information. When writing prompts, be sure to include all the relevant information and details. 
   Example: "Explain the concept of gradient descent into machine learning." is more effective than "What is gradient descent?"
3. Structured Questions.  Be sure to break complex questions into smaller ones.
   Complex Example: "What caused WWII to start?"
   Structed Example: "How did the 1919 Treaty of Versailles contribute to starting WWII?"; "How did fascism contribute to WWII?"; "How did the Great Depression contribute to causing WWII?"; "How did appeasement contribute to causing WWII?"; and "How did Imperialism contribute to causing WWII?"
4.  Avoid Ambiguity. Be precise and specifically mention the person, place, or concept you're referring to.
   Example: "Who is the current CEO of McDonalds?" instead of "Who is in charge of McDonalds?"
5. Use of Open-Ended Prompts: Open-ended prompts encourages creative responses.
   Example: "What would happen to the planet if all humans disappeared and the only living things were animals and plants?"

Best Practices

These practices below can help you improve and/or refine your prompt writing for better output when working with AI-tools.

Make Adjustments

• Tone
• Length
• Voice 
• Creativity
• Build on previous responses.

Be Specific

• Provide examples
• Instruct AI to ask follow-up questions
• Provide more details if result is too vague
• Ask "Act as if..." it were a type a person, process, or object

Set Boundaries

• Use "Do" and "Don't"
• Tell it what it can and cannot write about
• Point out mistakes
• Repeat important instructions, if necessary

Resources: Prompt Literacy in Academics; Getting started with prompts for text-based Generative AI tools.