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Library - Mastering Generative AI: Essential skills for the digital age: Copilot

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.

Begin with the first step and proceed through to the final step.

Prompt engineering can serve as your helpful copilot in essay writing—like having a friendly guide to steer you through each step of the writing process.

Instructions

In these examples, imagine yourself as the prompt creator and the AI as your Copilot, generating outputs based on what you ask. Think of it like a conversation — you provide the direction, and the Copilot responds with helpful suggestions or ideas.

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

STEP 1: Prompt design

  • You: “Hello AI, I need some help with my essay on good essay writing. Can you assist?”
  • AI Copilot: “Of course! Let’s start by breaking down your task. What part of essay writing are you focusing on?”
  • You: “I’m working on the structure of the essay. Can you help me understand how to organise it?”
  • AI Copilot: “Great choice! To get started, let’s think about a clear prompt. You might say, ‘What are the key elements of structuring an argumentative essay?’ This helps me understand exactly what you need.”
     

  • You: “Okay, but what if I need more details on specific sections of the essay?”
  • AI Copilot: “You can be very specific in your prompts. For example, you could ask, ‘How should I write a compelling introduction for my argumentative essay?’ This will help me give you targeted advice for that section.”
  • You: “Got it! I’ll ask detailed questions to get the best guidance.”

You: “What if the first response isn’t quite right?”
AI Copilot: “No worries! You can refine your prompts. For instance, if you get a general response and need more detail, you could adjust your prompt to, ‘Can you provide examples of strong thesis statements for an argumentative essay aimed at first-year university students?’ This helps narrow down the response.”
You: “So, if I don’t get exactly what I need, I should try rephrasing my prompt?”
AI Copilot: “Exactly! Experiment with different ways of asking to get the best results.”

  • You: “How do I make sure the advice is relevant to my essay?”
  • AI Copilot: “Provide context in your prompts. For instance, you could say, ‘I’m writing an essay for a first-year university course. How can I effectively structure my arguments to meet academic standards?’ This gives me the background I need to tailor my response.”
  • You: “I’ll make sure to include the context to get more relevant advice.”

Using Examples

  • You: “Can examples help?”
  • AI Copilot: “Yes, examples are really useful. You could say, ‘Here’s an example of a thesis statement: ‘The rise of social media has transformed modern marketing strategies.’ Can you help me create a similar statement for an essay on academic writing?’ This helps clarify what you’re looking for.”
  • You: “I’ll include examples to make my prompts clearer.”

  • You: “How about making sure my essay is ethically sound?”
  • AI Copilot: “You can include ethical considerations in your prompts. For instance, you might ask, ‘How can I present arguments in my essay that are fair and balanced, without bias?’ This ensures your essay adheres to ethical standards.”
  • You: “I’ll keep ethical aspects in mind while designing my prompts.”
     

You: “What should I do after receiving the AI’s help?”
AI Copilot: “Always review the AI’s suggestions carefully. Check if the advice matches your essay requirements and revise your prompts if necessary. For example, if the AI suggests a structure that doesn’t fit your essay, you can adjust your prompt and try again.”
You: “I’ll make sure to review and revise to fit my needs.”
 

  • You: “So, how does the AI act as a copilot in all this?”
  • AI Copilot: “Think of me as a guide who helps you through the essay writing process. By asking clear, specific, and context-rich prompts, you’re steering the direction of our collaboration. I provide the insights and suggestions, and you refine and use them to craft your essay.”
  • You: “That makes sense! I can use the AI to get targeted help and improve my writing.”
  • AI Copilot: “Exactly! Together, we’ll navigate the journey of your essay, making sure you have the best support along the way.”