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The Five S Model: A Student Guide to Prompting

Writing Great AI Prompts

To get the most helpful and accurate answers from Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, you have to know how to ask the right questions. Just like giving directions to a friend, the clearer and more specific you are, the better the result will be.

Here is a guide to help you master writing prompts and turn AI into your ultimate learning coach.

  1. Use the FIVE "S" Model

    When starting a conversation with an AI chatbot, use the Five "S" Model to structure your request for the best results:

    • Set the Scene: Tell the chatbot what role you would like it to take so it can give you a targeted answer.
      Example: "You are a Shakespeare expert and are great at helping high school students study..."
    • Specific: Be specific in your instructions, clearly define what you want the AI to do, and provide important details.
      Example: "Create a list of five debate topics on recycling for a 9th grader..."
    • Structure the Output: Tell the chatbot exactly how to structure its answers, such as using bullets, formatting a chart, or even using emojis.
      Example: "Create a quiz with multiple choice and open-ended questions for me..."
    • Simplify Your Language: Chatbots work best when you use simple language, so avoid building out overly complex prompts.
      Example: "Explain the Pythagorean Theorem to me like I’m a 5th grader..."
    • Share (Feedback): Chatbots make mistakes and do not always get it right on the first try, so you must provide feedback and directions throughout your chat.
      Example: "Change the format of the quiz to a study guide..."

  2. Pro-Tips for Better AI Interactions

    • Get creative with constraints: Ask the AI to adopt different perspectives (like a historical figure) or change its output style (like a mind map, a poem, or a persuasive essay) to explore novel ideas.
    • Interact in a back-and-forth dialogue: Do not rely on a single prompt to get everything you need. Engage with the AI by refining your questions based on its responses, and ask it to simplify things if the output is too complex.
    • Ask the AI to help you prompt: You can actually describe your problem to the AI and ask it what information it needs from you to give you the best help.

  3. Power Prompts to Try Today

    Instead of asking AI to just "write an essay" (which hurts your own learning), use these powerful prompts to make AI your personal tutor and feedback engine:

    • The "Explain It To Me" Prompt: "I do not understand [complex topic], but I do understand [familiar topic]. Explain [complex topic] to me in terms I understand."
    • The Essay Feedback Engine: "Give me feedback on this essay using the rubric I have provided. List all spelling mistakes, all grammar issues, and list rubric concerns separately and suggestions for how I can improve my writing without rewriting it for me. Make a bulleted list I can follow."
    • The Presentation Coach: "Give me feedback on these slides using the rubric I have provided... give me suggestions on my opener based on the rubric. Also estimate the amount of time this presentation may take to give and give me suggestions for making things more concise..."

  4. The Golden Rule: Always Verify!

    • Never accept AI-generated content at face value. AI systems are not infallible and can produce biased, inaccurate, or incomplete information.
    • Watch out for "Hallucinations": AI models are designed to predict words, not verify facts, meaning they can confidently generate completely fabricated information or fake citations.
    • Cross-check your facts: Always verify the claims the AI makes by cross-referencing them with credible, human-reviewed sources.
    • Question the logic: Critically evaluate the reasoning behind the AI's output and look for any inconsistencies or societal biases it might have learned from its training data.