How do I ask Generative AI (GenAI) useful questions, or prompts?

If you are using generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), you will be able to generate the most effective results if you have used thoughtful and clear questions (or prompts). A ‘prompt’ is the question or instruction you give to a GenAI tool. You do not need to write a perfect prompt, but clear instructions will lead to better responses. Therefore it is worth spending time considering how best to interrogate GenAI to obtain the most appropriate response.

To help you write clear prompts, you can use the GCSE format: Goal, Context, Source information and Expected outcome.

For example:-

Your Goal: what you want help with:

eg. Help me understand this concept or create revision questions.

The Context: what the task is and your level of study:

eg. I am a first-year university student preparing for a seminar.

The Source information to use:

eg. Material the AI should base its answer on.

The Expected Outcome you want: how the answer should look:

eg. Use only the notes I have pasted in this chat.

An example of a simple prompt could be "Explain this in simple language or summarise this in key bullet point".

An example of a more detailed prompt could be “I am a first-year university student preparing for a seminar. Help me understand this concept using the notes below. Explain it clearly, then give me three questions to test my understanding. Do not add extra sources unless I ask for them”.

Remember: Do not upload personal, sensitive, confidential or assessment-related information unless you have been told that this is allowed.

Always check the response for accuracy rather than accepting it at face value. 

You can find the guidance you need on studying with GenAI and information about Surrey-approved tools on our SurreyLearn pages AI - using GenAI tools in your studies. 

You can also read our Gen AI student guidance.