AI Literacy: Building Good Prompts

Be clear and specific

Use complete sentences with clear/direct language. AI is trained on natural language, so complete sentences will be the best way to translate your prompt into a desired output.

It also helps to think of the result you would like from your prompt and write it out. Be specific about every little detail.

• Example: if you want ChatGPT to "generate a picture of a light brown leather bound book sitting on a dark oak wooden lectern", say so. Asking for "pic of book" will not get you the results you want. 

Use keywords and phrases, especially some professional jargon that could help guide AI in generating information specific to a chosen field. 

Include Action Verbs

Instructing AI with an action that it needs to complete will guide it to the output you want. Include action verbs early on in your prompt. 

Common action verbs include: Generate, Write, Create, Draft, List, Brainstorm, Analyze, Compare & Contrast, Explain, Refine, Summarize, Identify, Translate, Condense, Expand, Simplify, Organize, Categorize, Outline, etc.

• Example: "Translate this text from Japanese to English."

Give context

Giving context will help deliver the appropriate tone and language in the output.

• Example: "I'm drafting an email to my professor about why I missed class on Thursday, analyze what I've written and tell me if it is appropriate" is more likely to provide feedback focused on a professional, apologetic tone. 

It is also helpful to give AI a role.

• Example: "Imagine you're a currently employed forensic investigator in New York City. List the top 5 requirements for your line of work, including tangible and intangible qualities."

Specify the format

The format of a chatbot's output can vary depending on the question, but you can always request a specific format to best suit your needs.

You can ask for outputs to be concise, wordy, detailed, simplistic, etc.

You can ask for a summary, bulleted list, poem, script, etc. 

• Example: "write a haiku about the importance of brushing your teeth". 

Follow-up

Most AI chatbots are tracking your inputs like a conversation and will be able to reference recent activity. 

• Example: "What is the secret to making flavorful vegan chocolate chip cookies?" can be followed up with "What recipe is best?" without needing to clarify the kind of recipe.  
• Example: Follow up an output with context or formatting specifications: "make it more concise", "now explain it at an 8th-grade level", or "make that a five sentence elevator pitch".

Check your own bias

The way you phrase a prompt affects the viewpoint of the information in an output. If you're not looking for persuasive/opinionated information, use neutral phrasing and don't ask leading questions.   

• Example: "Explain why AC/DC is the greatest band of all time?" vs. "List the top 5 most popular musical artists of all time and common metrics used in popular publications like Billboard and Pitchfork to determine their cultural impact."

Ask open-ended questions

Chatbots don't stop at "yes" or "no" for answers, even when you phrase your questions that way. Open ended questions allow you to guide generative AI to suit your intentions for the output.

• Example: "Is this opening statement for my presentation good?" vs. "What are the strengths of this opening statement for my presentation?" 

Break down complex tasks

Some tasks require multiple steps to be completed. Break down your request into manageable chunks so the important details don't get missed in the process. This also gives you more oversight throughout the process.

• Example: "Review my speech and tell me what I did wrong." vs. "Here is the outline for my informative speech on making chocolate chip cookies. First, analyze my outline and tell me if I missed any important steps according to my source material: https://www.marthastewart.com/344840/soft-and-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies. Ask me questions I can reflect on to make this speech better. We will move on to step two when I indicate that I am ready".