Let’s get some reps in!
Types of Questions
Better questions get better answers. Learn how to get the best from the tools.
| Prompt Type | Description | Example | Why it Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific and Focused | Clearly define the desired outcome or information you seek. Avoid vague or ambiguous language. | Instead of “Write a blog post on volunteering,” ask “Write a blog post about the importance of volunteer engagement, targeting young adults and highlighting the various opportunities available.” | Enhances the LLM’s understanding of your intent and increases the likelihood of a relevant and informative response. |
| Action-Oriented | Phrase your question as a task or instruction for the LLM to complete. | Instead of “What are the benefits of using LLMs?” ask “Generate a list of 5 benefits non-profits can gain from using LLMs.” | Guides the LLM towards a specific output format and facilitates obtaining the desired information directly. |
| Context-Rich | Provide relevant background information or context to help the LLM understand the broader scope of your question. | Instead of “Write a blog post on volunteering,” ask “Write a blog post about the importance of volunteer engagement, targeting young adults and highlighting the various opportunities available.” | Equips the LLM with additional knowledge to tailor the response effectively and address the specific audience and purpose. |
| Open Ended (when appropriate) | Encourage exploration and creative thinking, especially for brainstorming or generating ideas. | Instead of “What should we do for our next fundraising campaign?” ask “Suggest innovative ideas for engaging our donor base in our upcoming fundraising campaign.” | Allows the LLM to leverage its creativity and generate diverse options, sparking further discussion and exploration. |
Microsoft has created a great cheat sheet.
Prompting in Action
Let’s get to work! After logging in, you’ll see a screen like this in CHatGPT.
To get more from the tools, we can modify the question. Append each question with these modifiers:
Exercises
Here are some pro tips to get even better results.
| Strategy | Description | Template | Exercise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ask a Better Question | When interacting with an LLM, the quality of your question can greatly influence the quality of the answer. Try to be specific, clear, and concise in your queries. | “Ask a better question about …..” or “…. Ask the question a better way.” | 1. “Ask a better question about what donor-advised funds are.” 2. “Tell me about donor-advised funds. Ask the question a better way.” 3. “Tell me about donor-advised funds. Ask the question a better way, then ask the better question and answer it.” |
| Adopt a Different Perspective | LLMs can adopt different personas or roles. For example, you can ask the LLM to respond as if it is a foundation programs officer. This can provide more tailored and relevant responses. | “Adopt the persona of a XYZ expert. When I ask you questions, respond as if you are an expert in this field.” or “As a …..” | “As a productivity coach, suggest ways for a remote worker to improve their productivity, including tips for time management, workspace organization, and work-life balance.” |
| Refine or Clarify Your Question | If you’re not getting the answer you want, try refining or clarifying your question. This can help the LLM better understand what you’re asking. | “Whenever I ask a question, ask me additional questions to clarify what I’m asking before you provide an answer.” or “When asked a question, follow these rules: Generate several additional questions that would help more accurately answer the question. Combine the answers to the individual questions to produce the final answer to the overall question.” | “When asked a question, follow these rules: Generate several additional questions that would help more accurately answer the question. Combine the answers to the individual questions to produce the final answer to the overall question. Tell me about donor-advised funds.” |
| Explore Alternative Approaches | LLMs can provide alternative ways of accomplishing a task. For example, if you’re asking how to deploy an application to a specific cloud service, the LLM can suggest alternative services and compare their pros and cons. | “I’m working on [task or project]. What are some alternative [tools, methods, services, etc.] I could use to accomplish this? Please provide the top [number] options and compare their [key factors or aspects relevant to the task or project]. Also, discuss the pros and cons of each [tool, method, service, etc.] in the context of [specific goal or requirements].” | “I’m working on a series of blog posts about sustainable living for a general audience. What alternative AI language models could I use to assist with researching, outlining, and drafting the posts? Please provide the top 3 options from the top five LLM tools, such as MS Copilot, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, Mistral, etc, and compare their key features, content generation capabilities, and ability to handle context and nuance in a table. Also, discuss each language model’s pros and cons in creating accurate, engaging, and well-structured blog content. Consider factors such as ease of use, output quality, and consistent tone and style. Display the information in a table. “ |
| Subdivide Your Question | If your question is complex, try breaking it into smaller, more manageable questions. The LLM can answer each part individually, providing a more comprehensive answer to the overall question. | “Please help me answer the question ‘[main question]’ by following these steps: Generate [number] sub-questions that break down the main question into more specific aspects, such as: [sub-question 1] [sub-question 2] [sub-question 3] [sub-question 4] Provide a concise answer to each sub-question you generated. Combine the answers to the sub-questions to create a comprehensive, well-structured response to the main question. Ensure a logical flow and smooth transitions between the different aspects covered. Please format your response with the sub-questions as subheadings and their respective answers as paragraphs below each subheading.” | Please help me answer the question “What are the key steps and considerations for starting a successful small business?” by following these steps: Generate 4 sub-questions that break down the main question into more specific aspects, such as: What are the essential elements of a strong business plan? How can I secure funding for my small business? What legal and regulatory requirements do I need to know when starting a business? How can I effectively market my small business to attract customers? Provide a concise answer to each sub-question you generated. Combine the answers to the sub-questions to create a comprehensive, well-structured response to the main question. Ensure a logical flow and smooth transitions between the different aspects covered. Please format your response with the sub-questions as subheadings and their respective answers as paragraphs below each subheading. |
| Keep Trying Until You Get an A+ | Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the perfect answer on your first try. Keep refining your question and exploring different approaches until you get the answer that meets your needs. | “Keep trying until you get an A+.” or “[Your initial prompt or question] — Please rate your response from 1-10 based on how well it addresses my prompt or question. If the rating is below a 10, revise and improve your response. Repeat this process until you achieve a rating of 10/10. When you provide the improved response, please highlight the changes or additions you made to enhance the quality of the answer.” | Calling all Plant Parents! Let’s craft the ultimate guide to thriving houseplants for young adults (18-25) living in small apartments. We’re talking about trendy and unique plants that elevate your space, combat pollution, and chill you out after a long day. Here’s what we want to cover: * Plant Power 101: Explain the air-purifying benefits of houseplants and their impact on stress reduction, with a focus on creating a calming and zen vibe. * Style Squad: Explore various houseplant types that cater to different aesthetics, from minimalistic to boho to full-blown jungle vibes. * Small Space Sanctuary: Offer creative ways to display houseplants in compact apartments, including hanging planters, shelf arrangements, and space-saving macrame techniques. * Plant Parenthood Made Easy: Provide tips for choosing low-maintenance houseplants that are perfect for busy schedules. Focus on minimal watering and sunlight requirements to make even the most forgetful plant owner a success! —- Rate your response, and keep trying until you get an A+” Extra credit exercise: If the response isn’t an A+ (or 10/10), enter: “Keep trying until you get an A+, and show the changes” |
| Explain Your Reasoning | “Answer the question only if you know the answer or can make a good educated guess and explain your reasoning; otherwise, say you don’t know. “ | [Your question] If you can provide an answer based on factual information or a well-informed, educated guess, please do so and explain the reasoning behind your answer. Cite any sources used to support your explanation. If you don’t have enough information to answer the question confidently, state that you don’t know. | Answer the question only if you know the answer or can make a good educated guess and explain your reasoning; otherwise, say you don’t know. Why is the sky blue? If you can provide an answer based on factual information or a well-informed, educated guess, please do so and explain the reasoning behind your answer. Cite any sources used to support your explanation. If you don’t have enough information to answer the question confidently, state that you don’t know. |
| Rate Your Answer | This prompt is used to get the LLM to self-evaluate the quality of its responses. | “Rate your answer on a scale of 1 to 10 for the question ‘……'” or Please answer the following question: [Your question] After providing your answer, rate the quality of your response on a scale from 1 to 5, considering the following criteria: 1. Accuracy: Is your answer correct and factually accurate? 2. Completeness: Does your answer fully address the question and provide all the necessary information? 3. Clarity: Is your answer clear, concise, and easy to understand? 4. Relevance: Is your answer relevant to the question and on-topic? 5. Helpfulness: Does your answer provide useful information that helps the asker better understand the topic? For each criterion, provide a brief explanation of your rating. Finally, calculate the average rating across all five criteria to assess your answer quality overall. | Please answer the following question: What are regular exercise’s main benefits for physical and mental health? After providing your answer, rate the quality of your response on a scale from 1 to 5, considering the following criteria: Accuracy: Is your answer correct and factually accurate? Explain your reasoning and cite your sources. Completeness: Does your answer fully address the question and provide all the necessary information? Clarity: Is your answer clear, concise, and easy to understand? Relevance: Is your answer relevant to the question and on-topic? Helpfulness: Does your answer provide useful information that helps the asker better understand the topic? For each criterion, provide a brief explanation of your rating. Finally, calculate the average rating across all five criteria to assess your answer quality overall. |
| Only answer if you know for a fact. | This prompt can help identify if the LLM is ‘hallucinating,’ i.e. creating text or making an educated guess. | [Your question] If you can provide an answer based on factual information or a well-informed educated guess, please do so and explain the reasoning behind your answer. Cite any sources used to support your explanation. If you don’t have enough information to answer the question confidently, simply state that you don’t know. | What are the primary causes of deforestation, and what impact does it have on the environment? If you can provide an answer based on factual information or a well-informed, educated guess, please do so and explain the reasoning behind your answer. Cite any sources used to support your explanation. If you don’t have enough information to answer the question confidently, simply state that you don’t know. |
Exercise Habits
Here are some patterns that I suggest that you regularly use to get the most out of your time and the tools.
”What’s a better way of asking this question?
Rate the improved question, then ask it and get a 10/10.
Rate and critique the answer.
Then, show why the improved question uses best practice prompt techniques, bolding each technique.“
For example:-
“What are some good habits to develop? What’s a better way of asking this question?
Rate the improved question, then ask it and get a 10/10.
Rate and critique the answer.
Then, show why the improved question uses best practice prompt techniques, bolding each technique.“
Remember, these are just examples. The exact wording of your prompt can vary based on your specific needs and the context of your conversation with the LLM.
Additional resources:
- Better questions get better answers – prompt pro tips
- Extra practice exercises