How to Prompt: A Mini Course on Effective Prompting

Prompting is the art of asking the right questions to get the best answers from AI tools like ChatGPT. The better you prompt, the better the results. In this mini course, we’ll explore simple but powerful techniques to improve your prompting skills and make AI your ultimate assistant.

1. Basic Prompting: The Foundation

Start with the basics. A good prompt includes CSI — Context, Specific Instruction, and Intent.

Context gives background information.
Specific Instruction tells the AI exactly what to do.
Intent explains why you want the output.

Also, use precise language, add contextual information, and try creative phrasing. Analogies and examples can make your prompt even clearer.

2. Chain-of-Thoughts: Break Down Complex Queries

When your question is complex, don’t ask it all at once. Instead, break it into smaller, simpler steps — a process known as Chain-of-Thought prompting.

Level 1: Break down the main problem.
Level 2: Divide it into sub-problems.
Level 3: Ask for specific tasks or answers.

This approach helps the AI reason step-by-step, reducing confusion and improving accuracy.

3. Chunking: Simplify Big Tasks

Chunking means breaking a large, complex task into smaller, manageable parts. This technique is especially useful for areas like:

Financial analysis
Research
Tool creation
Problem solving
Writing

By handling one piece at a time, the AI can focus better and provide deeper insights for each part.

4. Explicit Reasoning and Agent Prompting

Explicit Reasoning is when you ask the AI to explain its thinking in clear steps. For example: “Explain how you reached this answer.” This helps ensure logical and transparent reasoning.

Agent Prompting, on the other hand, treats the AI as if it contains multiple ‘agents’ or roles. You can assign tasks as if each agent has a specific function — for example, one agent for research, one for editing, and another for fact-checking.

5. Team Prompting: Work Like a Team of Experts

Imagine your AI as a team rather than one single assistant. In Team Prompting, you define multiple roles with distinct skills and assign each a part of the job.

Steps include:

Define the agents and their roles.
Assign specific tasks to each.
Facilitate collaboration between them.

This creates a structured workflow and produces richer, more balanced results.

6. Socratic Prompting and Meta-Cognition

Socratic Prompting is about deep thinking. It helps you explore topics, question assumptions, and find better answers.

Level 1: Ask open-ended questions.
Level 2: Challenge assumptions.
Level 3: Seek clarification.

Meta-Cognition goes one step further. It means asking the AI to reflect on its own reasoning — to evaluate, rate, or refine its responses. This leads to more thoughtful and self-aware outputs.

7. Prompt Optimization and Expansion

Never stop improving your prompts. Start with a simple version, then ask the AI to make it better. You’ll learn how phrasing, tone, and structure affect the results. This method helps you discover the most effective ways to communicate your goals.

8. Fact Checking and Iterative Inquiry

Finally, accuracy matters. Always verify what the AI says. Use prompts to:

Question the source.
Cross-check information.
Ask for recent data.
Seek third-party verification.

Combine this with Iterative Inquiry — asking follow-up questions step by step. Each iteration refines the result and deepens understanding.

Final Thoughts

Effective prompting is both a skill and a mindset. By applying these techniques — from chunking and team prompting to meta-cognition and fact-checking — you can turn any AI interaction into a productive, insightful, and accurate collaboration. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes to guide AI like a pro.

By Nicolas Boucher