Use AI to... Help You Use AI
Ever wanted to use AI but didn’t know how to ask it to give you what you want?
Surprisingly, AI can help you with that.
Use this prompt:
I want to write a prompt to help me understand [topic] better. Show me how to write a good prompt. Ask me a few questions to clarify what exactly I'm looking for. After I answer your questions, present me with a well-honed prompt I can use.
The AI will walk you through crafting a prompt to give you the outcome you desire.
You can copy this prompt into your favorite AI here: ChatGPT Grok Gemini
Example:
I typed this into my favorite AI:
I want to write a prompt to help me understand a historical event better. Show me how to write a good prompt. Ask me a few questions to clarify what exactly I'm looking for. After I answer your questions, present me with a well-honed prompt I can use.
This is what it produced:
To craft a well-honed prompt for understanding a historical event, I’ll need a bit more information to tailor it to your needs. Here are a few questions to clarify what you’re looking for:
Which historical event are you interested in exploring? (e.g., the French Revolution, the Moon Landing, the Fall of the Berlin Wall, etc.)
What specific aspects of the event do you want to understand better? (e.g., causes, key figures, consequences, social impact, or a specific moment within the event)
What is your current knowledge level about this event? (e.g., beginner with little background, some general knowledge, or already familiar but seeking deeper insights)
Do you prefer a particular perspective or type of analysis? (e.g., political, economic, cultural, firsthand accounts, or a balanced overview)
How detailed or concise do you want the response to be? (e.g., a brief summary, a detailed explanation, or something in between)
Are there any specific sources or types of information you’d like included? (e.g., primary sources, academic analysis, recent posts on X, or web articles)
Please answer these questions, and I’ll create a tailored prompt that you can use to explore the historical event effectively.
I answered its questions by typing this:
I want to know about the battle of Thermopole. I want to know what happened, but most especially, why. My current knowledge is close to zero. Give a balanced overview. Provide a detailed response. Use primary sources and well-regarded scholarly sources.
Thank you for providing those details! Based on your input, you’re interested in the Battle of Thermopylae, with a focus on what happened and especially why it occurred, starting from little to no prior knowledge. You want a balanced overview, a detailed response, and information drawn from primary sources and well-regarded scholarly sources. Below, I’ll craft a prompt that reflects these preferences and ensures a clear, comprehensive, and well-sourced exploration of the event.
Crafted Prompt
"Provide a detailed and balanced overview of the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BCE), focusing on both what happened during the battle and why it occurred. Explain the key events, including the major actions, participants, and outcomes, as well as the underlying causes, such as political, cultural, and strategic factors that led to the conflict. Assume I have little to no prior knowledge of the event, so include necessary context about the Greco-Persian Wars and the key figures involved, such as the Greeks (e.g., Spartans, Athenians) and the Persians (e.g., Xerxes I). Emphasize the reasons behind the battle, including motivations of both sides and the broader historical context. Use primary sources, such as Herodotus’ Histories, and supplement with well-regarded scholarly sources to ensure accuracy and depth. Avoid modern biases or sensationalism, and present a clear, engaging narrative suitable for a beginner seeking a thorough understanding."
Explanation of the Prompt
Clarity and Specificity: The prompt names the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BCE) and specifies your focus on "what happened" and "why," ensuring the response addresses both the events and their causes.
Context for Beginner: It acknowledges your near-zero prior knowledge, prompting the inclusion of background information on the Greco-Persian Wars and key figures to make the response accessible.
Balanced Overview: It requests a balanced perspective, covering political, cultural, and strategic factors, and explicitly asks to avoid modern biases or sensationalism.
Detail Level: The prompt emphasizes a detailed response to match your preference for depth.
Source Requirements: It specifies primary sources (e.g., Herodotus’ Histories, the main contemporary account) and well-regarded scholarly sources to ensure credibility and rigor.
Engaging Narrative: It encourages a clear and engaging explanation to keep the response approachable despite your beginner-level knowledge.
You can use this prompt as-is to query for information about the Battle of Thermopylae, or let me know if you’d like any tweaks (e.g., focusing more on a specific aspect, like the Spartan perspective, or adjusting the length). If you’d like, I can also provide a sample response to this prompt using available sources, or I can refine it further based on additional input!