Types of Prompts

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Types of Prompts. No pictures

Prompts can be broadly categorized into two main types:

    Instructional Prompts: These provide guidance or assistance to complete a task or elicit a desired response. They can be further broken down into:
        Verbal Prompts: Spoken instructions, hints, or questions that guide the recipient. ("What's the capital of France?")
        Gestural Prompts: Non-verbal cues like pointing, nodding, or making eye contact to direct attention. (Pointing to a specific answer choice)
        Visual Prompts: Images, diagrams, or written instructions that provide a visual reference. (A checklist for completing a task)
        Modeling Prompts: Demonstrating the desired behavior for the recipient to imitate. (A teacher showing how to solve a math problem)

    Creative Prompts: These spark ideas and initiate creative thinking. They can be:
        Open Ended Prompts: Broad starting points that allow for a wide range of interpretations. ("Write a story about a robot who falls in love")
        Specific Prompts: Provide some parameters to guide the direction of the creative output. ("Write a poem about a lost friendship, using only metaphors")

The type of prompt used depends on the situation and desired outcome.
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Here's more on prompts, diving deeper into specific categories and their applications:

    Educational Prompts:
        Fading Prompts: These gradually decrease the level of assistance provided as the learner gains mastery. (Starting with a full physical prompt to guide writing a letter, then transitioning to a visual prompt with the alphabet, and finally requiring independent writing)
        Response Prompts: Designed to elicit a specific answer or action from the learner. (True or False questions, fill-in-the-blank exercises)

    Therapeutic Prompts: Used in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to help individuals develop skills.
        Positional Prompts: Arranging the environment to encourage a desired behavior. (Placing toys within reach to promote independent play)
        Physical Prompts: Hands-on guidance to assist with motor skills or task completion. (Guiding a hand to write a letter)

    AI Prompts: Instructions given to large language models like me to generate specific outputs.
        Closed Prompts: Have a clear and well-defined answer. ("What is the capital of France?")
        Open Ended Prompts: Allow for creative exploration and diverse responses. ("Write a story about a talking animal")
        Few-Shot Prompts: Provide a few examples or starting points to guide the AI's response. ("Write a news headline in the style of The New York Times about a robot winning a chess tournament")

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examples
More Examples of Prompts:

Here are some specific examples to illustrate the different prompt types:

Instructional Prompts:

    Verbal Prompt: "Can you please summarize this article for me?" (Teacher to student)
    Gestural Prompt: A waiter nods towards a menu item on the specials board. (Non-verbal cue)
    Visual Prompt: A traffic light with red, yellow, and green signals.
    Modeling Prompt: A fitness instructor demonstrates a new exercise.

Creative Prompts:

    Open Ended Prompt: "Imagine a world where time flows backward. Write a story about the challenges and opportunities this presents."
    Specific Prompt: "Compose a haiku about a cat chasing a laser pointer, using vivid verbs and imagery."

Educational Prompts:

    Fading Prompt: A teacher starts by physically guiding a child's hand to write a letter "A," then transitions to showing a flashcard with the letter, and finally allows the child to write independently.
    Response Prompt: "What are the three branches of the U.S. government?" (Multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank format)

Therapeutic Prompts:

    Positional Prompt: Arranging toys on a low shelf so a child with limited mobility can easily reach and play with them.
    Physical Prompt: A therapist gently guides a patient's hand through a range of motion exercises.

AI Prompts:

    Closed Prompt: "What is the scientific name for a dog?"
    Open Ended Prompt: "Compose a science fiction poem about a robot uprising."
    Few-Shot Prompt: "Write a factual blog post in the style of National Geographic about the discovery of a new species of deep-sea creature. Include details about its habitat, physical characteristics, and potential threats."

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Certainly! Here's more on prompts, venturing into some niche areas and exploring how prompts can be tailored to different audiences:

Advanced AI Prompts:

    Conditional Prompts: These specify certain conditions the AI response should meet. ("Write a children's story with a moral lesson, and make sure the main character is a brave and resourceful rabbit.")
    Instructional Conditioning Prompts: Training an AI model on specific prompts and desired outputs to improve its performance over time. (Feeding an image recognition AI with labeled data to enhance its ability to identify objects)

Content Creation Prompts:

    Call to Action Prompts: Designed to elicit a specific response from the audience, like making a purchase or signing up for a service. ("Download our free ebook and learn the secrets to success!")
    Clickbait Prompts: Intriguing headlines or questions crafted to capture attention and encourage users to click. ("You Won't Believe What This Celebrity Looks Like Now!")

Social Media Prompts:

    Engagement Prompts: Questions or prompts designed to spark conversation and interaction on social media platforms. ("What's your favorite thing about summer?")
    Challenge Prompts: Encourage participation in specific activities or trends, often using a designated hashtag. ("Join the #IceBucketChallenge and raise awareness for ALS!")

Even More Creative Prompts:

    Sensory Prompts: Evoke specific sensations or emotions through descriptive language. ("The rain pattered rhythmically on the windowpane, creating a sense of cozy seclusion.")
    Moodboard Prompts: Using a collection of images or references to inspire creative work. (Creating a collage of vintage photographs to spark ideas for a historical fiction novel)

Remember, effective prompts depend on understanding your audience and the desired outcome. The more specific and well-crafted your prompt, the better the results you'll achieve.
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Show drafts
More Examples of Prompts:

Here are some additional examples to showcase the concepts we discussed:

Advanced AI Prompts:

    Conditional Prompt: "Write a news article from the perspective of a dog, reporting on the daily struggles of chasing squirrels and the injustice of short walks."
    Instructional Conditioning Prompt: Continuously feeding a music generation AI with prompts and examples of classical music to improve its ability to compose original pieces in that style.

Content Creation Prompts:

    Call to Action Prompt: "Intrigued by the mystery of Stonehenge? Sign up for our exclusive webinar and unlock the secrets of this ancient monument!"
    Clickbait Prompt: "5 Foods You Won't Believe Are Actually Bad for You (Number 3 Will Shock You!)"

Social Media Prompts:

    Engagement Prompt: "What's the most embarrassing song on your playlist? Share yours in the comments!"
    Challenge Prompt: "Post a picture of your workspace using #WFHstyle and show us how you stay productive at home!"

Creative Prompts:

    Sensory Prompt: "The crisp autumn air sent shivers down her spine as the leaves crunched underfoot, and the scent of burning cinnamon filled the air."
    Moodboard Prompt: A collection of faded black and white photographs, vintage travel posters, and cryptic newspaper clippings to inspire a story about a secret society.