7 Chapter 7: Practice of Art of Prompting

What Is a Prompt?

A prompt is just a message or question you type into an AI tool like ChatGPT or Gemini. It’s how you “talk” to the AI and ask it to help you. The better your prompt, the more helpful the AI’s response will be.

You can ask about:

• Writing (letters, stories, or poems)
• Everyday help (recipes, schedules, or travel ideas)
• Tech support (how to use your phone or email)
• Fun things (jokes, trivia, art ideas)

How to Write a Good Prompt

1. Be Clear

Say exactly what you want. You don’t need fancy words. Just be specific.

✅ Good: “Write a thank you note to my daughter for helping me move.”

🚫 Not as clear: “Write something nice.”

2. Add Details

The more details you give, the better the answer.

✅ Good: “Give me a chicken soup recipe with no onions, using a slow cooker.”

🚫 Too vague: “Give me a soup recipe.”

3. Try Conversation Style

You can type like you’re talking to a friend. AI tools understand casual language.

✅ Example: “Hi! Can you help me write a short story about a cat who finds a treasure in the garden?”

Example Prompts for Seniors

Everyday Tasks

• “Remind me how to write a formal email to my doctor.”
• “What should I pack for a 5-day trip to Seattle in the spring?”
• “Give me a grocery list for a week of healthy meals for one person.”

Creative Fun

• “Write a poem about autumn leaves and hot tea.”
• “Help me write a short letter to my grandson who just started college.”
• “Give me an idea for a watercolor painting I can try this weekend.”

Games & Jokes

• “Tell me a clean joke I can share at lunch.”
• “Give me a trivia quiz with 5 questions about classic movies.”

Tech Help

• “Explain how to take a screenshot on my Android phone.”
• “How do I print a document from my email?”