Mastering AI: Prompting with Purpose #6

General Principles of Prompting

Be clear and specific: The more detail you provide, the better the result. Avoid ambiguity.
Give context: Explain the background, purpose, or role you want the AI to adopt.
Specify format and constraints: Tell the AI exactly how you want the output formatted (e.g., bullet points, a table, a specific tone).
Provide examples: For complex or creative tasks, a few good examples can make a huge difference.
Break down complex tasks: For a large project, break it into smaller, manageable steps.

For an article/blog post:
"Write a [word count] article about [topic]. The target audience is [audience], and the tone should be [tone]. Include a clear introduction, 3-4 body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The key points to cover are: [list of points]."
For a social media post: "Create a [platform, e.g., Twitter, LinkedIn] post about [topic]. The post should be [length, e.g., short and engaging] and include [specific elements, e.g., relevant hashtags, a question, an emoji]. The goal is to [e.g., drive traffic, announce a product]."
For an email: "Write an email to [recipient] about [purpose]. The email should be [tone] and [length]. Include a clear call to action: [CTA]."

For summarizing a document/text: "Summarize the following text in [number] bullet points. Focus on the main arguments and conclusions. The target audience is [audience]."
For a SWOT analysis: "Perform a SWOT analysis for [company/product/idea]. Identify at least 3 strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Explain each point clearly."
For a case brief: "Create a legal case brief for the following case, following the provided format: 1. Citation, 2. Facts, 3. Issue, 4. Decision, 5. Reason."

For generating ideas: "Brainstorm [number] creative ideas for [task or project]. Consider [specific constraints or factors, e.g., a limited budget, a family audience]. The output should be a numbered list with a brief explanation for each idea."
For naming something: "Generate 10 potential names for a new [product/business type]. The names should be [style, e.g., catchy, professional, modern] and be relevant to [purpose/product]. Also, include a brief note on why each name works."

For explaining a concept: "Explain [complex concept, e.g., quantum computing, the Socratic method] to a [audience, e.g., 5th grader, a college student]. Use an analogy or a simple example to make the explanation easy to understand."
For a study guide: "Create a study guide for [topic, e.g., a biology test on cell division]. The guide should include key terms and definitions, a summary of the main processes, and 5 practice questions with answers."

For writing code: "Write a [language, e.g., Python] script that [task, e.g., scrapes data from a website, creates a simple calculator]. The code should be well-commented and efficient."
For debugging code: "Debug the following [language] code and explain the error. The goal of the code is to [intended purpose]. [Insert code snippet here]."
For API calls: "Using the [API name] API, show me how to [task, e.g., get a list of all products, create a new user account]. Provide the request URL, headers, and an example of the expected JSON response."

Adopting a persona: "Act as a [persona, e.g., seasoned travel agent, a skeptical journalist]. Your task is to [task]. All your responses should be in character, reflecting [specific traits, e.g., a friendly and knowledgeable tone, a curious and critical perspective]."