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AI WRITING TIPS: Part 1—Don’t Make AI Think for You
To move beyond mediocre, “robotic” writing, stop asking the AI to think for you, instead ask it to build with you. Providing AI with vague commands like “write an essay,” requires it to guess what you want. When you give it structure—clear roles, constraints, and questions—it acts as a co‑author that assembles ideas with you. The following three frameworks illustrate how a little structure turns “write this for me” into “build this with me.”
Three Writing Frameworks
1. The Constraint Kickstart
The Constraint Kickstart solves “samey” drafts by requiring the model to write within deliberate limits—format, perspective, and lens.
Prompt template:
“I want to write about [Insert Topic], but I want to boost my originality using a constraint. Please help me draft this using the following rules:
- Format: Exactly 9 sentences
- Perspective: As a historian in the year 2120
- Lens: Evaluate only through the cost of the project
Example: “I want to write about AI in education. Draft exactly 9 sentences from the perspective of a community college instructor in 2035, focusing only on equity and access.”
The constraints guide the model toward concrete details over generic filler. [back to top]
2. The Question Ladder
The Question Ladder builds an argument step-by-step instead of asking for an instant essay.
Prompt template:
“I need to build an essay fast using a question ladder. I will provide the topic: [Insert Topic]. Please answer these five questions:
- What is the claim?
- What is the strongest evidence?
- What would a smart critic say?
- What is the rebuttal?
- Why does it matter?
Then, assemble those answers into a cohesive thesis, body, counterargument, and conclusion.”
By building each section separately, you can quickly adjust weak evidence, clarify the claim, or strengthen the rebuttal. [back to top]
3. The Editorial Template
The Editorial Template keeps opinion pieces from turning into unfocused rants by using a
Problem → Principle → Policy structure.
Prompt template:
“Help me write an editorial using the ‘Problem → Principle → Policy’ framework regarding [Insert Issue].
- Problem: Define what is happening and why it’s urgent.
- Principle: Identify the core value (e.g., fairness or efficiency) that should guide the decision.
- Policy: Propose a specific action, identifying who does it and the timeline.”
This prompt template forces clarity: what’s wrong, what value is at stake, and what concrete step you want readers or leaders to take. [back to top]