What is a prompt?

A prompt is the input (or question) you give to the genAI tool to generate a response. It can be a straightforward question, a command or a detailed description of a task you want the AI to complete.

Types of prompts

Select the tabs below to find out more information about various types of prompts that you can use:

Direct questions
Command prompts
Descriptive prompts
Clarification or follow-up prompts
Comparative prompts

Direct questions

Ask direct questions when you need specific information, detailed explanations or advice.

This approach is ideal for getting clear and precise answers or guidance.

Examples:

Gathering information: 'What are the main causes of climate change?'
Clarifying concepts: 'Can you explain the differences between mitosis and meiosis?'
Seeking opinions: 'What are the pros and cons of remote work?'

Command prompts

Give instructions when you want the AI to perform a specific task, generate content or solve a problem.

This method is best for directing the AI to create or complete something particular.

Examples:

Generating text: 'Write a summary of the book 1984 by George Orwell.'
Creating lists: 'List five strategies for improving time management.'
Problem-solving: 'Solve this math equation: 2x + 5 = 15.'

Descriptive prompts

Use detailed prompts to describe a scenario, topic or task, and ask the AI to respond based on the information provided.

This approach is ideal when you need a response that considers specific details or context.

Examples:

Scenario analysis: 'Imagine you're a manager and handling a team conflict. How would you resolve it?'
Creative writing: 'Describe a futuristic city in a sci-fi novel.'
Contextual responses: 'I'm writing a research paper on renewable energy. Can you provide an outline?'

Clarification or follow-up prompts

Use follow-up questions or commands to clarify, refine or expand on the AI's initial response.

This approach helps you get more detailed information or explore a topic further.

Examples:

Deepening understanding: 'Can you explain that in simpler terms?'
Requesting more detail: 'That was helpful, but can you elaborate on the economic impact?'
Correcting or adjusting: 'Actually, focus on the ethical implications instead.'

Comparative prompts

Comparative prompts request the AI to compare two or more concepts, ideas or items.

This approach is ideal for analysing, evaluating or contrasting different aspects of a topic.

Examples:

Analysis: 'Compare the leadership styles of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.'
Decision-making: 'Which is better for a small business: cloud storage or local servers?'
Evaluating options: 'What are the differences between renewable and non-renewable energy sources?'

Methods of crafting effective prompts

The quality of your AI prompt can significantly affect the quality of the AI's response.

Select each of the following tabs below that illustrate the different methods for crafting effective prompts:

Be clear and specific
Provide context
Ask for step-by-step help
Ask for examples and comparisons
Iterative refinement

Direct questions: ask specific questions. Instead of 'Help with my essay', ask, 'Can you help me draft an introduction for my essay on climate change?'

Focused requests: clearly state what you need, e.g. you want to understand a concept or proofread a paragraph.

Example:

Less effective: 'Explain this topic.'

More effective: 'Can you explain the key differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods?'

Subject info: state the subject or topic
Background info: background information may help the AI contextualise the subjects being compared.
Identify sources: identify the data sets to see if there are specific sources that you want the AI tool to consider.

Example:

'I am a student. What steps can I take to overcome procrastination and improve my productivity?'

Break it down: for complex tasks, ask the AI to guide you step-by-step.
Learn as you go: request simple explanations first, then dive into more details.
Avoid jargon: use language that is straightforward to avoid confusion.

Example:

'Can you walk me through solving this calculus problem step-by-step?'

Ask for examples: get a better grasp of concepts by asking for examples.
Compare ideas: to understand better, ask for comparisons between two ideas.
Criteria: specify the criteria or dimensions that you would like compared, e.g. costs, benefits and features.

Example:

'Can you give me an example of cognitive dissonance in marketing?'

Ask follow-up questions: if the first answer isn’t clear, ask for more details or a different explanation.
Refine responses: if you need more specifics, request additional details.

Example:

'That was helpful, but can you explain more about social media’s impact on consumer behaviour?'

Further strategies for writing effective prompts

Formatting outputs

Specify structure: request information in bullet points, lists or essay format. Do you want a trend analysis or a statistical analysis?
Focus on proofreading: specify if you want help with grammar, structure or clarity.

Example:

'Can you give me a bullet-point summary of this article?'

Request resources and references

Ask for more materials: request further reading or relevant articles.

Cite sources: get help with correctly citing sources.

Example:

'Can you suggest academic articles on sustainable business practices?'

Tone and style

Adjust your tone and style: a conversational tone encourages a more natural response.

Consider the audience: do you want the AI to tailor its response to a particular audience?

Example:

'Can you help me write a formal email to my professor asking for an extension?'

Test understanding

Quizzes and practice: ask for practice quizzes or questions.
Hypothetical scenarios: request scenarios to apply what you’ve learned.

Example:

'Create a practice test on the human reproductive system for a biology subject.'

Creative and analytical prompts

Brainstorm ideas: ask for help generating ideas for projects or essays.
Request analysis: ask for a breakdown of a theory or argument.

Example:

'Can you help me brainstorm project ideas for my final year engineering project?'

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