The Art of Prompting

A Simple Guide to Communicating with AI Effectively

Author

Clodagh Bastian
February 04, 2025

Ever wondered why you sometimes get amazing responses from AI and other times… not so much? It all comes down to how you "prompt." Don't worry, this isn't some high-tech secret. It's a simple process once you know the components. Let's explore this through two everyday scenarios that many people encounter: planning a birthday party and learning to cook a new cuisine.

What's a Prompt Anyway?

A prompt is just a message you give an AI to start a conversation. Think of it like giving instructions to a really smart assistant. The better your instructions, the better the results.

For example:

  • Weak Prompt: "Tell me about dogs."

  • Better Prompt: "Tell me about small dog breeds that are good with kids and easy to train."

Let's see how this applies to our scenarios:

  • Weak Prompt: "Help me plan a birthday party."

  • Better Prompt: "Help me plan a superhero-themed birthday party for my 8-year-old son who loves Spider-Man. The party will be at home for 12 kids, with a $200 budget."

  • Weak Prompt: "How do I cook Thai food?"

  • Better Prompt: "I want to learn how to cook authentic Thai food at home. I'm a beginner cook with basic kitchen equipment and access to an Asian grocery store. Please focus on vegetarian dishes."

See the difference? Let's explore the steps to perfect your prompting.

1. Be Specific and Clear (Don't Make AI Guess)

AI isn't a mind reader. The more details you give, the closer the response will be to what you want.

Party Planning Example:

Bad Prompt: "What should I buy for the party?"

Good Prompt: "Create a shopping list for a superhero-themed birthday party for 12 eight-year-olds, including decorations, snacks, and party favors, staying within a $200 budget. Focus on Spider-Man themed items."

Example from Thai Cooking:

Bad Prompt: "Give me a recipe."

Good Prompt: "Give me a beginner-friendly vegetarian Pad Thai recipe that serves 4, with a detailed ingredient list including substitutions for hard-to-find items, and step-by-step instructions focusing on proper noodle texture."

2. Use the ABC Rule: Action, Background, Context

This structure helps guide the AI.

Party Planning Example:

  • Action: Plan a birthday party

  • Background: 8-year-old boy, superhero theme, 12 kids

  • Context: Home setting, $200 budget

Final Prompt: "Design a superhero-themed birthday party plan for my 8-year-old son, hosting 12 kids at our home. Include activities, decorations, and food ideas that fit within a $200 budget."

Thai Cooking Example:

  • Action: Learn Thai cooking

  • Background: Beginner cook, basic equipment

  • Context: Vegetarian dishes, home kitchen

Final Prompt: "Guide me through learning vegetarian Thai cooking as a beginner with basic kitchen equipment, focusing on fundamental techniques and essential ingredients I can find at an Asian grocery store."

3. Assign Roles to the AI

You can tell the AI who to "be." Want marketing advice? Ask it to act like a marketing expert. Want a bedtime story? Ask it to be a children's author.

Party Planning Example:

Prompt: "As an experienced children's party planner who specializes in superhero themes, what are the most engaging activities you've found for 8-year-olds that won't break my $200 budget?"

Thai Cooking Example: 

Prompt: "As a Thai cooking instructor who specializes in teaching beginners, what are the three most important techniques I need to master first, and how can I practice them with simple vegetarian dishes?"

4. Break Big Tasks into Smaller Prompts

If you're asking for something complex, don't expect one giant prompt to do the job. Break it down into steps.

Party Planning Breakdown:

  1. "First, list decoration ideas for a superhero party that can be done within $50 of the budget."

  2. "Next, suggest 3-4 superhero-themed party games that 8-year-olds would enjoy."

  3. "Create a simple menu for superhero-themed snacks and cake options that can be made within $100."

  4. "Outline a 2-hour party schedule that includes time for games, food, and cake."

Thai Cooking Breakdown:

  1. "First, what are 5 essential Thai ingredients I should buy for my pantry?"

  2. "Show me a simple Pad Thai recipe suitable for beginners, with step-by-step instructions."

  3. "What are common mistakes to avoid when cooking Thai cuisine?"

  4. "How do I balance the four Thai flavors: sweet, sour, salty, and spicy?"

5. Provide Examples When You Can

AI loves examples! If you have a specific style or format in mind, show it.

Party Planning Example: "I want to create superhero-themed food labels for the party. Here's the style I like: 'Hulk's Power Punch (Green Lemonade)'. Please create 5 more names in this style for common party foods."

Thai Cooking Example: "I've made stir-fries before using this method: heat oil, add garlic, add vegetables in order of cooking time, add sauce at the end. How should I adapt this technique for Thai stir-fry dishes?"

6. Ask the AI to Clarify If Needed

AI can't read your mind, but it can ask for clarification!

Party Planning Example: "Help me design superhero-themed party invitations. I'll need details about my space and preferences, so please ask me any questions you need to create the perfect design."

Thai Cooking Example: "I want to make a spicy Thai curry. Please ask me about my spice tolerance and available ingredients before providing a recipe."

Another good idea is to end any prompt with “Please ask me for any information you need to produce a comprehensive answer to my question.”

7. Iterate and Refine

The first prompt isn't always perfect, and that's okay! Treat AI as your brainstorming buddy.

Party Planning Evolution:

  1. First Try: "Plan a superhero party."

  2. Review Result: Too vague, no specifics.

  3. Refine: "Plan a Spider-Man themed party for 12 eight-year-olds."

  4. Further Refine: "As a party planner, what activities should I prepare for a Spider-Man themed party for 12 eight-year-olds in case of rainy weather? Budget is $200."

Thai Cooking Evolution:

  1. First Try: "How do I make Pad Thai?"

  2. Review Result: Too basic, no context.

  3. Refine: "How do I make vegetarian Pad Thai as a beginner?"

  4. Further Refine: "My first attempt at vegetarian Pad Thai was too sweet. As a Thai chef, can you help me troubleshoot what might have gone wrong and how to fix it?"

Final Prompting Pro Tip

When in doubt, ask the AI for help crafting the right prompt! Here's an example:

Party Planning: "What specific details should I include when asking you to help plan a superhero-themed birthday party?"

Thai Cooking: "What information do you need from me to provide the most helpful guidance for learning Thai cooking at home?"

Let's Recap the Key Takeaways:

  • Be clear, specific, and give plenty of context

  • Assign roles when you need expertise

  • Break tasks into smaller, digestible prompts

  • Provide examples for the tone or format you want

  • Iterate and refine—don't be afraid to tweak things!

With these simple techniques and real-world examples, you'll go from beginner to AI-prompting pro in no time. Ready to give it a try? Start small, experiment, and have fun! 😊