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The Problem Isn't the AI — It's the Prompt
You have probably typed something like "help me write an email to a student" or "summarize this research" and gotten something generic that sounded like it was written for no one in particular.
That is not the AI's fault. AI is incredibly powerful — but it only knows what you tell it. The more specific you are, the better your results. Every single time.
❌ WEAK PROMPT
"Help me write an email to a student."
Output: Generic. Could be for any institution, any situation. Useless.
✅ STRONG PROMPT
"Write an email to an undergraduate student who missed three consecutive class sessions in my Introduction to Psychology course. I want to express concern, ask if everything is okay, and let them know about office hours. Tone should be warm and supportive, not punitive. Keep it under 150 words."
Output: Specific. Personal. Actually sendable.
The difference between these two prompts is everything. Let's learn how to write the second kind every time.