What is a Prompt?

You've probably heard the word "prompt" in conversations about AI. In this lesson, we'll demystify this term and explain why understanding prompts matters for getting great results from ChatGPT.

The Simple Definition

A prompt is simply the message you type to ChatGPT. That's it!

Every time you type something and press Enter, you've written a prompt. It can be:

• A question: "What's the capital of France?"
• A request: "Write a birthday poem for my sister."
• An instruction: "Summarize this article in 3 bullet points."
• Just conversation: "I had a really stressful day at work."

Why "Prompt" and Not "Question"?

The word "prompt" is used because you're not always asking questions. Sometimes you're:

• Giving instructions
• Providing information
• Having a conversation
• Making requests

"Prompt" covers all these situations.

A Prompt Can Be Simple or Detailed

Simple Prompt

What's a good recipe for dinner?

Detailed Prompt

I'm looking for a healthy dinner recipe that:
- Takes less than 30 minutes
- Uses chicken as the main protein
- Is suitable for someone with a dairy allergy
- Serves 4 people

Both are valid prompts. The second one gives ChatGPT more information to work with, so the response will be more tailored to what you need.

The Parts of a Prompt

A prompt can include several elements. You don't need all of them every time, but knowing what you can include helps you get better results.

1. The Task

What do you want ChatGPT to do?

Examples:

• "Write..."
• "Explain..."
• "List..."
• "Summarize..."
• "Compare..."

2. Context

Background information that helps ChatGPT understand your situation.

Examples:

• "I'm a beginner..."
• "This is for a professional setting..."
• "I'm planning a children's party..."

3. Specifics

Details about what you want.

Examples:

• "Keep it under 100 words"
• "Use a formal tone"
• "Include 5 examples"

4. Format

How you want the response structured.

Examples:

• "As a bullet list"
• "In a table"
• "Step by step"

Putting It Together

Here's how these parts combine:

Part	Example
Task	Write a cover letter
Context	I'm applying for a marketing manager position
Specifics	Highlight my 5 years of experience and digital marketing skills
Format	Keep it to one page

Combined prompt:

Write a cover letter for a marketing manager position. I have 5 years of experience and strong digital marketing skills. Keep it to one page and make it professional but personable.

Why Better Prompts Get Better Results

ChatGPT doesn't know anything about you unless you tell it. Compare these two scenarios:

Scenario A: Vague Prompt

Help me write an email.

ChatGPT has to guess:

• What kind of email?
• To whom?
• For what purpose?
• What tone?

The result? A generic email that might not fit your needs.

Scenario B: Specific Prompt

Help me write a polite email to my landlord asking if I can get a new refrigerator. The current one makes loud noises and doesn't keep food cold enough. I've been a tenant for 3 years and always pay rent on time.

Now ChatGPT knows:

• The recipient (landlord)
• The purpose (request new refrigerator)
• The problem (noise, poor cooling)
• Relevant context (good tenant history)
• The tone (polite)

The result? A much more useful, targeted email.

You Don't Have to Be Perfect

Here's the good news: you don't need to write perfect prompts. ChatGPT is forgiving and can understand imperfect requests. You can always:

1. Start simple and add details if the response isn't quite right
2. Ask follow-up questions to refine the output
3. Tell ChatGPT what was wrong and ask it to try again

Example Conversation Flow:

You: "Write a thank you note."

ChatGPT: writes a generic thank you note

You: "Make it for my neighbor who watched my cat while I was on vacation."

ChatGPT: writes a more specific note

You: "Add that she went above and beyond by sending me daily photo updates."

ChatGPT: writes an even more personalized note

This iterative approach works great!

Common Prompt Types

Here are prompts patterns you'll use often:

The Question

What is quantum computing?

The Request

Write a birthday message for my daughter who's turning 10.

The Instruction

Summarize the main points of this article: [paste article]

The Comparison

Compare the pros and cons of working from home vs. working in an office.

The Role Play

Act as a fitness coach and create a beginner workout plan for me.

The Brainstorm

Give me 10 creative ideas for a team-building activity.

Try It: Improve a Prompt

Look at this basic prompt and think about how you could improve it:

Basic:

Write something about dogs.

Improved version:

Write a short paragraph explaining why dogs make great pets for families with young children. Focus on loyalty, patience, and playfulness.

Key Takeaways

• A prompt is just the message you send to ChatGPT
• Prompts can include: task, context, specifics, and format
• More specific prompts get more useful responses
• You don't need perfect prompts - you can refine through conversation
• Practice makes you better at prompting naturally

In the next lesson, we'll dive deeper into writing clear, effective prompts that get you exactly what you need.