CH4: Prompt Engineering for LLM’s Flashcards
(7 cards)
What is Prompt Engineering?
Prompt engineering means writing very clear and specific instructions for the AI so it knows exactly what you want. It’s like talking to a very smart robot and giving it just the right directions so it helps you better.
Example:
Instead of saying ‘Tell me about AI’, you say, ‘Explain how neural networks work, focusing on backpropagation.’
Why is Prompt Engineering important?
Prompt engineering helps in four ways:
1. Makes the answers better by being clear.
2. Gives you control over how the answer looks or sounds.
3. Saves time because you don’t have to fix bad answers.
4. Unlocks complex tasks like doing step-by-step math or logical thinking.
Example:
If you want a list in bullet points or want it to sound like a teacher, you can ask for that directly.
What are the best practices for writing good prompts?
To write great prompts:
- Be specific and add details or examples.
- Use separators like ### to show input and output clearly.
- Give sample inputs and outputs to show what you expect.
- Keep improving the prompt after testing it.
Example:
‘Summarize this paper in 3 bullet points for a high school student’ is a good detailed prompt.
What are some examples of advanced prompting techniques?
Smart ways to prompt include:
- Chain-of-Thought Prompting: Asking the model to solve step-by-step.
- Role-Based Prompting: Telling the model who it should act like (e.g., ‘You’re a historian. Explain WWII.’)
Example:
Instead of just asking for an answer, say ‘Think through this step by step like a math teacher.’
Where can Prompt Engineering be used in real life?
Prompt engineering is used in many areas:
- Writing polite replies for customer service
- Making blog posts with a certain voice or tone
- Analyzing data and turning it into readable tables
Example:
You can tell the model: ‘Take this complaint and write a kind response in 3 sentences.’
Why does Prompt Engineering work so well?
It works because giving clear instructions helps the AI understand better, reduces errors, gives structure, and allows for more complex thinking.
Example:
If you give a messy question, you get a messy answer. But with a clean, clear prompt, you get better results.
What’s the overall benefit of using Prompt Engineering?
Prompt engineering makes the AI way more useful. It helps you get more accurate answers, save time editing, and lets the AI do smart things like thinking through problems or doing data work.
Example:
It’s the difference between a basic chatbot and a powerful writing or support assistant.
