Write a Prompt for Gen AI
Before using AI for a writing assignment, make sure you are familiar with your instructor’s policy for AI use on that assignment. In addition, consider reading the Writing Center’s Introduction to AI and Using AI in the Writing Process guides.
The prompt you write for a gen AI chatbot has an impact on the quality of the chatbot’s output. There are many specialized resources on prompt engineering, but you don’t have to be a computer science expert to compose an effective prompt for a gen AI chatbot. Basically, the more specifics you include in your prompt, the higher the quality of the output.
The more you know about the rhetorical situation (audience, purpose, genre) of your writing task, the better the prompt you can craft.
Strategies for writing a prompt for gen AI
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- Give the chatbot a role
Examples: “You are a learning assistant” or “Act as a brainstorming partner.”
If you give the chatbot a role as a learning assistant or tutor, it is more likely to provide explanations and takeaways you can use in future writing projects. - Describe the rhetorical situation
Describe the purpose or objective of the task you are working on - Example: “I am writing a research paper that should take a position for or against cell phone use in high schools. The paper should include points in support of my thesis as well as counterarguments.”
Describe the audience – Example: “The audience for the memo is the CEO of the company. They want a clear, concise summary.”
Describe the genre of writing – Example: “The issue brief is 1 – 2 pages, with the following sections: a background section that provides context, a problem description that lays out the various aspects of the problem, and a recommendations section that presents a coherent set of steps toward a solution. The tone is professional and objective.”
Describe other constraints, as appropriate – Example: “The abstract must be a maximum of 250 words.” - Break down complex procedures into step-by-step tasks
Example: “First, identify the key points in my draft. Then, suggest an order for presenting them to my audience.” - Provide the tone or style you want
Example: “Explain the concept of “synthesis,” using language appropriate for a tenth-grader.” - Tell the chatbot how to organize and/or format its output
Example: “Explain the concept of ‘synthesis’ in 250 words or less, using language appropriate for a college sophomore.” - Provide models for the chatbot
Example: “Use the style and structure in the attached [or following] examples.” - Follow up with additional prompts/refinement/iteration
Example: “You suggested presenting the point about economic impacts before the point focused on legal implications. Explain why you suggested this order of points.”
Attaching files to your prompt
If you have a document for the chatbot to reference or comment on, you can attach the file to the prompt using the chatbot’s attachment feature. If your chatbot does not have such a feature, you can paste the text of your document into the prompt textbox.
Additional resources on prompting gen AI
Open AI’s “Best Practices for Prompt Engineering with the OpenAI API”
NebulaOne resource “Common Prompting Mistakes & How to Fix Them”