Adapted from "Fine Tuning Prompts for AI Tools" from the "Artificial Intelligence Guide" by Bronte Chang, University of Calgary Library which is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Prompts are the instructions used to ask a large language model to perform a task and create an output. The more specific instructions you can give the generative AI, the better output you're going to get. Prompting generative AI each step of the way guides it to ensure consistency and keeps the AI on topic.
Whether you're asking a question or providing additional context, you are prompting the language model to perform a task for you. A prompt consists of a few words, a single sentence or paragraphs. Successful prompt crafting influences the quality and relevance of the generated output and the user's satisfaction in the answer. Providing as much instruction and context as you can to a large language model, like ChatGPT, will bring back a more helpful output to the task you've asked.
Some common tasks we ask large language models to perform for us are:
The information above is adapted from the following article:
Lo, Leo S. "The CLEAR Path: A Framework for Enhancing Information Literacy Through Prompt Engineering." The Journal of Academic Librarianship, vol. 49, no. 4, July 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2023.102720.
If you want the language model to perform a specific task for you, try using these words in your prompt:
If you want the language model to answer a specific question for you, trying using these words in your prompt:
You may need to direct the language model to write in a specific context. For example, you may want it to write in a certain tone, or for a particular type of setting. Below are some examples of wording that you might use: