How do I write an effective AI prompt?
What is an AI prompt?
What makes a good prompt?
Do I need to include the prompts when referencing the use of AI in my assessment?
Answer
What is an effective AI prompt?
An AI prompt is the message or instruction you give an AI tool (such as ChatGPT) to help it understand what kind of information or response you’re looking for. Effective prompts provide enough context and detail to guide the AI toward producing useful, targeted and relevant responses.
Basic prompt formula:
Define a [ROLE]. Create a [TASK]. Give [CONTEXT] and Specify [FORMAT] & [STYLE].
Key elements of an effective AI prompt:
| ELEMENT | EXAMPLE |
|
The ROLE the AI should play "you are a..." (student, project manager, teacher, etc.) |
You are a mentor helping a student reflect on their film project. |
|
TASK Instructions "create a(n)..." (reflection, summary, analysis, script, etc.) |
Create a set of reflection prompts to help me evaluate my creative choices and learning process. |
|
CONTEXT "for context:.." (I have been studying...) |
For context: I’ve just completed a short film project exploring identity through experimental sound design and minimal dialogue. |
|
FORMAT "show as..." (bullet points, HTML code, social media post, etc.) |
Show as short, open-ended questions grouped under themes like ‘creative decisions’, ‘collaboration’, and ‘technical challenges’. |
|
STYLE "use.." (a formal tone, scholarly sources, etc.) |
Use a reflective and supportive tone suitable for a university-level creative practice journal. |
| POOR PROMPT | IMPROVED PROMPT |
| “Write reflection questions for my animation project.” |
“You are an animation mentor. Create reflection questions to help me critically evaluate my short 3D animation project. For context: I focused on lighting, pacing, and character movement. Show as bullet points grouped by theme (technical, creative, collaborative). Use a reflective, constructive tone suitable for student learning journals.” |
| ❌ Lacks context, audience, and format; AI may produce generic questions. | ✅ Clear, detailed, structured prompt that supports your learning. |
Do I need to include the prompts when referencing the use of AI in my assessment?
You should document the prompts used with AI tools for your own records. If it benefits readers, prompts may be included where the use of AI is disclosed, or in another suitable location, such as an appendix or supplementary material. Check with your instructor to decide what works best for your assignment. Just remember, the reference you create is for the AI chat/output, not the prompts. Prompts can be described in the text, but they are not included in the reference.
For information on how to reference generative AI tools, see the section AI-generated content in the APA7 Referencing Guide.
For further information on generative AI tools and the guidelines on how to use the tools responsibly and efficiently, see the guide on Generative AI.