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Library - Mastering Generative AI: Essential skills for the digital age: Asking the right questions

This course on Generative AI Literacy is designed to equip you with the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to navigate the AI-driven landscape.

You’ve got an AI assistant ready to help, but to get the best results, you need to know how to ask it the right questions. Let’s go through some essential tips for designing your prompts.

Instructions

When using an AI assistant, it helps to break down the interaction into distinct parts to make it clearer how to craft effective prompts. Here’s what each element means and how it fits into the process:
1. YOU
•    Definition: This is you, the user, who is asking the AI a question or seeking assistance.
•    Role: You initiate the interaction with the AI by posing a question or requesting help.
2. AI Assistance
•    Definition: This refers to the AI's response or guidance based on the question you asked.
•    Role: The AI provides answers, suggestions, or information based on your prompt. The quality of its response depends on how clearly and specifically you frame your question.
3. Your Action
•    Definition: This is what you need to do based on the AI’s advice.
•    Role: After receiving guidance from the AI, you need to act on that information. This could involve refining your question, gathering data, or applying the AI’s suggestions to your task.
4. Example
•    Definition: This is a specific instance or illustration of how to apply the advice or prompt.
•    Role: An example shows how to practically implement the advice given. It provides a concrete case that helps you understand how to frame your prompts more effectively.
5. Outcome
•    Definition: This is the result or effect of using the AI's guidance and your actions.
•    Role: The outcome reflects how well the AI’s response and your subsequent actions met your needs. It shows the effectiveness of asking clear and specific questions and how well you utilised the information provided.
 

Click on the different tabs below to open the different steps.

STEP 1: Steps in asking the right questions

  • You: “So, how do I start?”
  • AI Assistant: “Begin by being clear about what you want. For example, instead of asking, ‘Tell me about essay writing,’ try something more specific like, ‘What are the key elements of a well-structured argumentative essay for a first-year university student?’”
  • You: “Got it! I’ll make sure my prompts are specific to avoid any confusion.”

  • You: “What should I know about the AI?”
  • AI Assistant: “It’s important to understand what the AI can and can’t do. For instance, the AI can provide information and generate ideas, but it might not always give you perfect examples or understand complex nuances. Setting realistic expectations will help you use it more effectively.”
  • You: “I’ll keep that in mind to make sure I’m not asking the AI to do things it’s not capable of.”
     

  • You: “How much detail should I give?”
  • AI Assistant: “Always provide enough context in your prompts. If you’re asking for essay structure tips, mention that it’s for a first-year university essay. For example, ‘Give me advice on structuring an argumentative essay, specifically for first-year university students who are new to academic writing.’”
  •  You: “I’ll include background information to help the AI understand what I need.”
     

  • You: “What if the AI’s first response isn’t quite right?”
  • AI Assistant: “That’s okay! Try experimenting with different ways of phrasing your prompts. If you don’t get what you’re looking for, tweak your questions and try again. For instance, if ‘How should I structure my essay?’ doesn’t work, try ‘What are some effective ways to organise arguments in a university-level argumentative essay?’”
  • You: “I’ll remember to test out different prompts to see what works best.”

  • You: “Should I include examples?”
  • AI Assistant: “Yes, examples are very helpful. If you want the AI to generate a thesis statement, you might include a sample like, ‘Here’s an example of a thesis statement: ‘The use of social media in marketing is effective because it allows for targeted advertising, real-time feedback, and broad reach.’ Now, create a similar thesis for an essay on academic writing principles.’”
  • You: “I’ll use examples to make my requests clearer.”
     

  • You: “What about ethics?”
  • AI Assistant: “Always consider the ethical aspects. Avoid prompts that could lead to biased or inappropriate content. For instance, instead of asking for controversial content, focus on creating balanced and informative material.”
  • You: “I’ll ensure my prompts are ethical and respectful.”
     

You: “How do I handle biases?”
AI Assistant: “Be aware that AI might have biases. Regularly review the AI’s responses to identify any potential bias and make sure the content is fair and objective.”
You: “I’ll review the responses carefully to catch any bias.”
 

You: “What about privacy?”
AI Assistant: “Avoid including any personal or sensitive information in your prompts. Keep your data appropriate and respect privacy guidelines.”
You: “I’ll be careful not to share any personal details."

  • You: “How do I keep the responses focused?”
  • AI Assistant: “Use parameters to guide the AI. For instance, you might say, ‘Focus on strategies for organising an essay introduction and conclusion, keeping the content relevant to first-year students.’ This helps keep the responses on-topic.”
  • You: “I’ll set clear parameters to get more focused responses.”
     

You: “Should I check the output?”
AI Assistant: “Absolutely! Always review the content for accuracy and quality. Revise your prompts if needed to ensure the output meets your standards.”
You: “I’ll make sure to review and refine the content.”

STEP 2: Asking the right questions PDF file

Download the complete PDF file to guide you in getting the best results when using prompt engineering.