14. Prompting: How to Work Effectively with AI

Prompting is the practice of explaining the task, context, constraints, and desired output. Strong prompts reduce ambiguity but cannot guarantee correctness.

14.1 The CLEAR prompt structure

Use CLEAR as a practical mnemonic: Context (what the situation is), Lens (the role or perspective to apply), Explicit task (what to do), Acceptance criteria (what a good answer must contain), and Response format (how the result should be presented). This is a practical framework, not a technical standard.

14.2 A reusable template

Context: [describe the situation and audience]. Task: [state the deliverable]. Use only: [supplied sources or approved evidence]. Requirements: [tone, length, structure, style guide, constraints]. Quality checks: identify uncertainty, do not invent facts or references, flag missing information, and distinguish evidence from inference. Output format: [email, table, report, lesson plan, code, or other format]. Before finalising, provide a short list of assumptions and items requiring human verification.

14.3 Iterative prompting

Do not expect a single prompt to solve a complex task perfectly. Work in stages: clarify the task, propose an outline, review the outline, draft a section, verify claims, revise for coherence, and perform a final audit. Give precise feedback such as “keep the evidence unchanged but reduce repetition” or “separate findings from recommendations.”

14.4 Prompting for research integrity

Useful constraints include: “Use only the attached sources”; “Do not create references”; “Mark information that is not stated as ‘not reported’”; “Provide page numbers for quotations”; “Distinguish direct evidence, interpretation, and recommendation”; and “List every factual claim that needs independent verification.” These instructions improve transparency but do not eliminate the need for checking.

14.5 Prompting for critique

Ask the assistant to act as a critical reviewer rather than a cheerleader. For example: “Identify the three most serious weaknesses in this argument. Explain why each matters, cite the exact passage, and propose a proportionate revision. Do not rewrite the whole document or introduce unsupported claims.” Then assess the critique yourself.