Interacting with Generative AI - Prompting Effectively

This activity will help you build a well-structured AI prompt. Remember, the key components of a good prompt are:

TASK Tell the AI what to do. This is the most important part of your prompt. Be specific about the task you want the AI to perform.   –  CONTEXT  Provide background information. Give the AI relevant details about the situation, topic, or audience to make the output more accurate and relevant. –  EXAMPLES Show what you’re looking for. Include a sample format or structure to guide the AI’s response.   –  PERSONA Assign a role or voice. Tell the AI who it is supposed to be or what perspective it should adopt.   –  FORMAT Specify the structure. Indicate how you want the output organized—bullet points, paragraphs, tables, etc.   –  TONE Set the voice or style. Define how formal, casual, or persuasive the AI’s language should be.

Instructions

1. Choose a task (e.g., create a study schedule, format a reference list, explain bias in AI).
2. Build your prompt using the structure strip sections below. Click the ? for tips.
3. Copy your final prompt by clicking the blue COPY button at the end.
4. Test your prompt by pasting it into two AI tools and compare the results.
   Perplexity AI is a popular choice, and MS Copilot is our campus-supported tool.
   ⛔  Warning: Do not enter any personal or sensitive information.
5. Reflect critically. This is the most crucial. Ask yourself:

• Is the response accurate and relevant?
• Does it meet your needs?
• Are sources provided and traceable?
• Should you revise your prompt for better results?

For more information on prompting visit the Copilot Prompt Gallery