Mastering AI Prompts
Learn the Okay-Good-Great framework and six core strategies for effective AI communication. Get better results from ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI tools.
Why Prompting Matters
The difference between a frustrating AI experience and a powerful one often comes down to how you ask. The same AI that gives you a useless, generic response can provide exactly what you need—if you know how to communicate with it.
Think of prompting as a skill, like asking good questions in class or giving clear instructions to a study partner. The more specific and thoughtful your input, the more useful the output.
Six Core Prompting Strategies
Master these six strategies to transform your AI interactions. Each one addresses a common reason why AI outputs disappoint.
1. Be Clear and Specific
Vague prompts get vague answers. Tell the AI exactly what you want, including format, length, and style.
Explain photosynthesisExplain photosynthesis in simple terms for a high school biology classExplain photosynthesis in 3 paragraphs for a high school biology student. Cover the light reactions and Calvin cycle. Use an analogy to make it memorable.2. Provide Context
AI can't read your mind. Share relevant background: your assignment, audience, knowledge level, and constraints.
Help me write about climate changeHelp me write a 500-word essay about climate change for my environmental science classI'm writing a 500-word argumentative essay for Environmental Science 101. My thesis is that carbon taxes are the most effective policy for reducing emissions. Help me outline 3 supporting arguments with evidence I should look for.3. Assign a Role
Telling AI to act as an expert, tutor, or specific persona shapes its responses to be more relevant and appropriately detailed.
Check my essay for problemsAct as an English teacher and review my essay for clarity and grammarAct as a college writing center tutor. Review my introduction paragraph and give me specific, actionable feedback on my thesis statement, hook, and transitions. Focus on clarity and argument strength rather than grammar.4. Break Down Complex Tasks
For complex work, break it into steps. This gives you more control and produces better results at each stage.
Write me a research paperHelp me create an outline for my research paper on renewable energyLet's work on my research paper step by step. First, I need to narrow my topic from 'renewable energy' to a specific argument. Here are my interests: solar vs wind efficiency, grid integration challenges, and economic viability. Which angle would make the strongest 2,000-word argumentative paper?5. Give Examples
Show AI what you want by providing examples. This is especially powerful for formatting, style, or specific output structures.
Write a thesis statementWrite a thesis statement like: 'While X seems beneficial, its hidden costs make it problematic'Write a thesis statement for my paper on social media. I want it to follow this structure: 'Although [common belief], [my argument] because [reason 1], [reason 2], and [reason 3].' Make it argumentative and specific.6. Request Specific Formats
Tell AI exactly how to structure the output: bullet points, numbered lists, tables, specific sections, or particular formatting.
Compare democracy and authoritarianismCreate a comparison table of democracy vs authoritarianism with pros and consCreate a comparison table of democracy vs authoritarianism with these columns: Characteristic | Democratic Approach | Authoritarian Approach | Impact on Citizens. Include 5 rows covering: leadership selection, individual rights, press freedom, economic policy, and accountability.Complete Prompt Progressions
See how combining multiple strategies transforms prompts for common academic tasks.
Essay Brainstorming
Give me essay topics about technology
Give me 5 essay topics about technology's impact on education for a college sociology class
I'm writing a 2,000-word argumentative essay for Sociology 200. The topic is technology's impact on education. I need to take a debatable position with evidence. Give me 5 specific thesis statements that: (1) are debatable, (2) can be supported with research, (3) focus on a specific aspect like equity, learning outcomes, or social development.
Understanding a Concept
Explain supply and demand
Explain supply and demand like I'm a high school student who's never taken economics
I'm a college freshman struggling with supply and demand curves in Econ 101. I understand the basic concept but get confused when the curves shift. Explain: (1) what causes each curve to shift, (2) how to predict price changes, and (3) give me a memory trick for remembering the difference between movement along vs. shift of the curve.
Prompting Best Practices
Recommended Practices
- Include your specific context: class, assignment type, length requirements
- Tell AI your current understanding and where you're stuck
- Ask for specific formats: outlines, tables, bullet points
- Iterate—follow up when the first response isn't quite right
- Break complex tasks into smaller, focused prompts
Practices to Avoid
- Use vague words like 'good' or 'better' without defining them
- Assume AI knows your assignment requirements
- Accept the first response if it's not helpful—refine your prompt
- Ask for everything at once in complex tasks
- Copy prompts without adapting them to your specific situation
Quick Prompt Templates
Use these templates as starting points, then customize for your specific needs:
Concept Explanation
"Act as a [subject] tutor. Explain [concept] to a [level] student. I understand [what you know] but I'm confused about [specific confusion]. Use [analogies/examples/diagrams] to help me understand."
Essay Brainstorming
"I'm writing a [length] [type] for [class]. The topic is [topic]. I need to [argue/analyze/compare]. Give me [number] specific thesis options that are: (1) debatable, (2) can be supported with evidence, (3) are appropriately scoped for my length requirement."
Writing Feedback
"Act as a writing tutor. Review my [paragraph/section] and give specific feedback on [thesis/arguments/clarity/transitions]. Focus on [priority area] rather than [lower priority]. Here's my text: [paste text]"
Apply Your Prompting Skills
AI-Powered Brainstorming →
Use prompting techniques for idea generation and topic exploration
AI Research Assistance →
Effective prompts for finding and understanding sources
AI Writing Support →
Prompting techniques for drafting and revision