Prompt Architects for Students

ChatGPT defaults to either too basic (Wikipedia introduction) or too advanced (assumes prerequisites you don't have). Without specifying your level, output mismatches your need.

Citations that don't exist, dates that are wrong, paper titles that are invented. Without grounding or 'cite specific sources or say I don't know' instructions, AI makes things up.

Even when you write your own essay and use AI only for brainstorming or grammar, detection tools have 15-30% false positive rates. Knowing how to prompt for human-style output helps.

'Explain X to a [your level] student who knows Y but not Z' — produces explanations tuned to what you already know.

Generate 10 practice questions on a topic at increasing difficulty, with worked solutions. Active recall beats passive re-reading.

Paste 5 paper abstracts, extract: shared findings, contradictions, methodology differences, gaps for further research.

Outline only — thesis, 3-5 supporting sections with H3 sub-points, counter-argument, conclusion. You write the prose. Stays within most academic policies.