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Writing Effective Prompts for Generative AI

Generative AI is a tool that relies heavily on the instructions, or 'prompts,' that users provide. Imagine giving directions to a driver; the more precise your instructions, the better the driver knows where to go. Similarly, with generative AI, the more specific your prompt, the better the AI understands and accomplishes the task.

Four Pillars of Effective Prompting

There are four key elements to consider when crafting these prompts to ensure the AI produces the desired outcome: 

  1. Task: Clearly state what you need the AI to do. Use specific action words like 'create,' 'translate,' or 'analyze.' These action words tell the AI precisely what work you're asking it to perform. 
  2. Format: Describe how you want the AI's work to be presented. For example, if you want a poem, report, or diagram, state the format. This helps the AI shape its output to fit your requirements. 
  3. Voice: Indicate the tone or style of the output. Whether it should be formal, casual, persuasive, or neutral, this guides the AI in matching the voice to the intended audience or purpose. 
  4. Context: Give as much background information as necessary. If the AI is to mimic a particular writing style or consider specific facts, providing examples or detailed descriptions can lead to more accurate results. For instance, I can provide the criteria for a particular assignment by uploading a rubric or provide feedback examples by providing a writing sample for the generative AI to consider. 

Example 

Consider the following prompt: "Write about the French Revolution." 

This prompt is vague and open-ended. It doesn't specify the task, format, voice, or context, which could lead to a wide range of outputs from the AI.

Let's apply the four Pillars: 

  • Task: "Summarize the key causes of the French Revolution, focusing on the socioeconomic factors." 
  • Format: "Please format the summary as a bulleted list." 
  • Voice: "The tone should be informative and educational, suitable for a high school history class." 
  • Context: "The summary should draw parallels to modern-day socioeconomic disparities without going into too much depth. Assume the reader has basic knowledge of European history."

Revised Prompt Using Four Pillars: 

"Create a bulleted list summarizing the key socioeconomic causes of the French Revolution. The tone should be informative and educational, like a high school history textbook. The summary should also briefly touch upon modern socioeconomic disparities to provide contemporary relevance. Assume the reader has a foundational understanding of European history." 

This revised prompt is much clearer and is likely to yield a more precise and useful output from the AI, tailored to the specific needs of the task. By carefully combining these four 'pillars'—Task, Format, Voice, and Context—you can craft effective prompts that guide generative AI to produce high-quality and relevant outputs tailored to your specific needs. 

Conclusion

Whether you're exploring the potential of AI in academic settings or looking to integrate AI tools into your curriculum, understanding how to craft effective prompts is key. The more we engage in crafting effective prompts, the better we will get. These strategies not only enhance the teaching and learning experience but also prepare students for a future where AI plays a central role in many professions.

References

ACUE (2023). AI Quick Study Series.
Forbes Advisor. How Businesses Are Using Artificial Intelligence In 2023. 
OpenAI (2024). ChatGPT 4 [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Contributors

  • Dr. Jessica Sanchez, Center for Online Learning & Teaching Technology
  • Raymundo Garza, Center for Online Learning & Teaching Technology