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Artificial Intelligence
Introduction to Prompting
What is prompting?
Interacting with an AI like UT Verse is much like having a conversation with a knowledgeable assistant. Unlike traditional search engines that rely on keywords, UT Verse understands natural human language, making it more intuitive and responsive.
When engaging with UT Verse, think of it as a research assistant, tutor, collaborator, or even a creative partner—not just a chatbot. Unlike rigid systems that require precise commands, UT Verse can interpret context, understand nuances, and even refine its responses based on your feedback.
To maximize its usefulness, approach it conversationally:
- If it misunderstands your request, clarify or refine your prompt.
- If the response isn’t quite what you need, ask it to improve or rephrase.
- If you need more detail, request deeper analysis.
The more thoughtfully you engage with UT Verse, the better your results will be.
Your first prompt
To familiarize yourself with AI interaction, start with a simple prompt. You don’t need to worry about the answer—just observe how it responds. Try asking:
- “What’s an interesting fact about the University of Tennessee?”
- “Tell me a joke about artificial intelligence.”
- “Describe a day in the life of a university professor.”
After receiving a response, continue the conversation. Ask follow-up questions, request clarifications, or even challenge it to generate responses in different styles (e.g., “Explain that like I’m five.”). The more you experiment, the better you’ll understand UT Verse’s capabilities.
Crafting Effective Prompts
Because UT Verse understands human language, the quality of your prompt directly affects the quality of the response. Instead of vague requests, be specific about what you need.
Consider these two prompts:
(Bad) “Write an email response.”
(Good) “Draft an email reply to a student requesting an extension on an assignment. The response should be professional, firm but empathetic, and include a policy reference from the syllabus.”
See the difference? The more context you provide, the better the output.
Example of an Advanced Prompt:
“Write an email response to my colleague, Dr. Stevens, declining a collaboration request politely but firmly. Keep it under three paragraphs, reference workload constraints, and offer an alternative suggestion. Use a professional yet friendly tone.”
By clearly defining the goal, the tone, and any important details, you ensure UT Verse generates a useful response.
Practical Applications of Prompting
Now that you understand how to interact with UT Verse, let’s explore practical ways it can assist students, faculty, and staff.
Brainstorming Ideas
Need inspiration for a paper, project, or lesson plan? UT Verse can help generate ideas, refine concepts, and explore possibilities.
Example Prompt:
“I’m developing a seminar on ethical AI in education. Help me brainstorm key discussion topics and engaging classroom activities.”
Writing & Editing Assistance
UT Verse can review documents, suggest edits, and improve clarity and structure. Whether you’re working on an essay, syllabus, research paper, or grant proposal, it can offer useful feedback.
Example Prompt:
“Review this abstract for conciseness and clarity. Suggest improvements while maintaining a formal academic tone.”
Note: UT Verse’s recommendations should not replace academic peer review but can serve as a valuable initial review tool.
Coding & Technical Support
Faculty and students in computer science, engineering, and IT can use UT Verse for coding help, debugging, and explanations.
Example Prompt:
“Generate a Python script that automates email reminders for assignment deadlines. Include inline comments explaining the logic.”
Tip: If you want to preview code, ask UT Verse to format it in a single code block for easy copying and execution.
Research & Information Retrieval
UT Verse can consolidate information from multiple sources to assist with academic research.
Example Prompt:
“Summarize recent research on the impact of AI in higher education. Highlight key findings from peer-reviewed studies.”
Note: Always verify AI-generated research summaries with primary sources.
Learning How-To’s & Technical Guidance
UT Verse is an excellent instructional guide for learning new tools, university systems, and academic workflows.
Example Prompt:
“How do I connect to UT’s VPN? Explain step-by-step for both Windows and macOS.”
You can also request creative variations, like:
“Explain UT’s VPN setup in the style of a medieval quest.”
Customizing Responses for Better Outputs
UT Verse can present information in different formats, such as:
- Tables for structured data
- Bullet points for clarity
- Charts for visual representation
- Summaries for quick insights
Example Prompt:
“Summarize the key points of this research paper in a two-column table: one side for key arguments, the other for supporting evidence.”
Tip: If you need a document for later use, you may download the response as a Word document.
Going Beyond: Mastering AI-Assisted Workflows
Prompting is a skill that improves with practice. The more you interact with UT Verse, the more you’ll discover how it can:
- Enhance productivity
- Support academic and professional tasks
- Encourage creativity and problem-solving
- Streamline research and writing
As AI tools become integral to education and the workplace, mastering effective prompting will give you a competitive edge in leveraging AI ethically and efficiently.
Challenge: Try experimenting with UT Verse this week. Engage with it in three different contexts—brainstorming, writing, and research. Notice how your prompts evolve and how the AI responds.
Happy prompting!