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Empower - Module 9 - Searching with Artificial Intelligence

Prompt Engineering

CLEAR Prompts

The Best Prompts for the Best GenAI Responses

 

C.L.E.A.R., the acronym “clear”, represents the five characteristics of effective prompts for generative AI technology. C stands for “Concise”, meaning that one should avoid confusing the generative AI with unnecessary information. L stands for “Logical”; list what you want the generative AI to do in a logical order. E stands for “Explicit”; be specific about the output you want (i.e. how long; how many times, etc.). A stands for “Adaptive”; be ready to rephrase or expand on your prompt if you do not receive the results you wanted. Finally, R stands for “Reflective”. Reflect on and analyze the output you received before using it.

Adapted from:  Lo, L. S. (2023). The CLEAR path: A framework for enhancing information literacy through prompt engineering. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 49(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2023.102720

Library 2.0. (2024, March 25). Using AI for teaching and information literacy [Lecture video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/hb0Lh2HnnXc?si=HmreouM3Re4eRqXW

Weak vs. CLEAR Prompts

Below are examples of weak GenAI prompts with CLEAR alternatives.

 
CLEAR Prompts are

Concise •  Logical  • Explicit  • Adaptive •  Reflective

Suppose a user wanted a generative AI like ChatGPT to recommend a type of dog to adopt. There are many ways the user could present the question, “What dog should I get?”, in the prompt box. One way is to simply type, “Dog?”. This prompt is weak because of its ambiguity. It is vague and lacks context and clarity. A Clear alternative to this prompt would be, “I’m considering getting a dog, but I’m not sure which breed would suit me best. Can you provide some advice based on my active lifestyle and living in a small apartment?” Another way to present the question is to enter the phrase, “Recommend a dog breed?”, which is also weak due to its lack of context. The AI model, in this case, does not have enough information to offer relevant advice. A Clear alternative to this prompt would be, “I’m looking for a medium-sized dog breed that’s good with kids and doesn’t shed much due to allergies. Any recommendations?” The final example of how to present the initial question is to type, “What’s the perfect god for a telepathic companion?” This prompt is weak because it ignores the current capabilities of AI models, which are not able to understand or generate responses about telepathic abilities or fictional scenarios. A Clear alternative to this question would be, “Based on my love for hiking and desire for a loyal and energetic companion, which dog breed would you recommend for me?”

Linsinbigler, V., Scotti, K., Brungard, A. (April 2024). Creating a CLEAR Prompt. Licensed under CC-BY 4.0.

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Explore More GenAI Prompt Examples at the Link Below

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