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

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.

Imagine having someone by your side who helps you brainstorm ideas, organise your thoughts, and polish your essay—your AI can do just that with the right prompts!

Instructions

In prompt crafting, YOU are the one who creates and provides the initial prompts, while the AI Writing Assistant responds and refines based on those prompts.

Click on the different tabs below to move from one step to the next.

STEP 1: Prompt design

  • You: “I have to write a 1500-word essay on ‘the principles of good essay writing,’ but I don’t know where to start.”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “No worries! I’m here to help. Let’s start by brainstorming some ideas. You could ask, ‘What are some key principles of good essay writing?’ I might suggest things like having a clear thesis, structuring your essay logically, and supporting your arguments with evidence.”
  • You: “That’s helpful! It gives me a starting point.”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “Exactly! Once you have those key principles, you can start thinking about how to organise them in your essay.”

  • You: “I have a few ideas now, but I’m not sure how to put them together.”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “Think of me as your guide for organising your thoughts. You could say, ‘Can you help me create an outline for my essay?’ I’ll suggest a structure like, ‘Start with an introduction that includes your thesis statement, then have body paragraphs for each principle, and finish with a conclusion that ties everything together.’”
  • You: “That outline gives me a clear path to follow!”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “That’s the idea! With a solid outline, you’ll find it easier to write your essay step by step.”
     

  • You: “Now that I have an outline, how do I actually start writing?”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “Great question! I’m here to help you get those words on the page. You could ask, ‘Can you help me write the introduction to my essay?’ I might suggest starting with a hook to grab your reader’s attention, followed by a brief overview of what your essay will cover, and then ending with your thesis statement.”
  • You: “I like that! It makes the introduction feel more structured.”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “Exactly! And remember, you can ask me to help with any part of your essay. If you’re stuck on a paragraph, just say, ‘Can you help me write about the importance of having a clear thesis?’ and I’ll give you some ideas to get you going.”

  • You: “I’ve written a draft, but I’m not sure if it’s polished enough.”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “That’s where I come in! Think of me as your editor. You can say, ‘Can you help me revise this paragraph for clarity and style?’ I’ll look at your writing and suggest ways to make it clearer, more concise, or more engaging.”
  • You: “That’s really useful! It’s like having a second pair of eyes on my work.”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “Exactly! I’ll help you refine your writing until it’s as strong as it can be.”

  • You: “I’m worried about making grammar mistakes. Can you help with that?”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “Absolutely! I’m your grammar and style checker. You could ask, ‘Can you check my essay for grammar and punctuation errors?’ I’ll go through your work and point out any mistakes or areas where you could improve the flow.”
  • You: “That’s reassuring! It’s nice to know I’m catching all those little mistakes.”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “Exactly! I’ll help you make sure your essay is not only well-written but also free of errors.”

  • You: “I think my arguments are okay, but I’m not sure if they’re strong enough.”
  •  AI Writing Assistant: “I can help with that too! You might say, ‘Can you help me strengthen my arguments in this essay?’ I’ll suggest ways to back up your points with evidence, make your reasoning more persuasive, or clarify your logic.”
  • You: “That makes my essay feel more convincing.”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “That’s the goal! I’m here to help you build strong, compelling arguments that support your thesis.”
     

  • You: “I’m almost done, but I want to make sure everything flows well together.”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “Great! Let’s do a final check. You could ask, ‘Can you help me check the overall flow and coherence of my essay?’ I’ll look at how your ideas connect from one paragraph to the next and suggest any final tweaks to ensure your essay flows smoothly.”
  • You: “That gives me confidence that my essay is well-organized and coherent.”
  • AI Writing Assistant: “Exactly! With my help, you can be sure your essay is not only well-written but also cohesive and easy to follow.”

STEP 2: Using generative AI as writing assistant