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Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) Resources for Students

Research and Writing

Writing Quality Prompts

Prompt engineering is about creating effective queries or instructions that steer a generative AI's output towards the desired outcome. Good prompts lead to more relevant, coherent, and useful results. Mastering prompt design allows educators to refine their questions, getting more precise and context-sensitive answers from AI tools. This skill is crucial for integrating AI into teaching, ensuring it meets educational objectives and delivers reliable content.

Practical Strategies for Prompts

  • Clarity and Specificity: Clearly articulate specific queries to avoid ambiguity
  • Examples and Context: Provide examples or context to guide the model in producing desired responses
  • Experiment with Length: Vary prompt length and detail to optimize results
  • Constraints and Guidelines: Set constraints (word count, format) to refine and narrow responses
  • Iterate and Refine: Adjust prompts based on initial results for continuous improvement
  • Understand Model: Know the model's strengths and limitations for effective prompt tailoring

Example Prompts

Generating Information on Renewable Energy:

  • Ambiguous Prompt: "Tell me about renewable energy."
  • Specific and Efficient Prompt: "Provide a concise overview of the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy compared to traditional energy sources."

Creative Writing Request:

  • Ambiguous Prompt: "Write a story."
  • Specific and Efficient Prompt: "Compose a short narrative set in a futuristic world where individuals communicate through holographic messages, exploring the impact on human relationships."

Historical Event Analysis:

  • Ambiguous Prompt: "Describe a historical event."

  • Specific and Efficient Prompt: "Analyze the geopolitical factors leading to the outbreak of World War II, focusing on the role of key nations and the series of events that unfolded in the years preceding the conflict."

This section was created using generative artificial intelligence. To view the transcript, click here (ChatGPT 3.5).

How to Acknowledge the use of AI

Regardless of which type of AI tool you use, you should acknowledge somewhere in your works cited page or another location specified by your instructor the use of AI. 

Your acknowledgement should include the following: 

  • A statement indicating the use of generative AI
  • Specify the tool used 
  • A description of how information was generated
  • Identify the prompt(s) used
  • Explain the output's role in the work

Formatting your Acknowledgement

Below is a pre-formatted example of what an AI acknowledgement could look like. 

I acknowledge the use of [insert AI system(s) and link] to [specific use of generative artificial intelligence]. The prompts used include [list of prompts]. The output from these prompts was used to [explain use].

 

See below for acknowledgement examples on various types of content and situations. 

Examples

I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT 3.5, November 21 version (https://chat.openai.com/) to generate a brief description of 1-2 sentences describing the purpose of a LibGuide on artificial intelligence. I entered the following prompt on November 28, 2023:

  • Original Prompt: Good afternoon! Before we get started, I want you to understand the scope of what I need. I'm creating a Springshare LibGuide on Artificial Intelligence resources for teaching faculty that will be maintained by a university library. The purpose of the guide is to provide teaching faculty with resources on what artificial intelligence is, how artificial intelligence is used, how it can be used, AI and academic integrity, and how to cite work created using artificial intelligence.
  • Follow-Up Prompt: Great! I need to write a brief description of 1-2 sentences to give further insight into what the guide is about. 
  • Follow-Up Prompt: Excellent. Now I want you to rewrite the above description using a more neutral tone. 

The output from this prompt was refined and used as the description of a library resource guide on artificial intelligence.

I acknowledge the use of Bing Image Creator powered by DALL-E (https://www.bing.com/images/create) to generate an image of a large library. I entered the following prompt on November 28, 2023:

  • "A library as the center for learning"

The output from these prompts was used as a decorative image on a library resource guide on artificial intelligence.

I acknowledge the use of Claude (https://claude.ai/) to improve the organization and academic tone of my CV. I uploaded the text of my CV through Claude's attach a file feature and I entered the following prompt on September 29, 2023:

  • "For the attached document, suggest potential revisions to improve the organization of information and academic voice."

The output from these prompts was used to edit my draft CV. I used the suggestions to reorder some content and break up other sections of text to improve organization and the overall tone of the document.

No AI tools/technologies were used in the completion of this assignment.

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