Awesome ChatGPT Prompts for PhD students
ChatGPT stands for “Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer” and is built on the transformer architecture, which is a neural network architecture that has been shown to be highly effective in natural language processing tasks.
As a PhD student, how can I make the most of ChatGPT? Here, I summarize some useful tips and prompts.
Tips for great prompts
- Start prompts with a description of the AI’s role.
- e.g., “I want you to act as {x}”.
- Use it for common tasks.
- Offer context.
- Be precise.
For example,
Act as a university professor in Bayesian Statistics, explain the concept of MCMC in simple terms to a 2nd year undergraduate student with a statistics and probability background.
Collection of Useful Prompts
Prompts for understanding concepts
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Act as a university professor in [insert field of studies], explain the concept of [the term] in simple terms
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“What is the history of Y?” – This prompt can be used to get a brief overview of the history of a specific subject, such as a particular invention, historical figure, or cultural tradition.
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“Summarize the main points of Z” – This prompt can be used to get a concise overview of a longer piece of text, such as a book, article, or research paper.
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“What are the key characteristics of X?” – This prompt can be used to get a list of the key characteristics of a specific subject, such as a species of animal, a type of plant, or a historical period.
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“How does X work?” – This prompt can be used to get a detailed explanation of how a specific process or system works, such as a machine, a technology, or a social system.
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“List the pros and cons of Y” – This prompt can be used to get a balanced overview of the advantages and disadvantages of a specific subject, such as a policy, a technology, or a method of teaching.
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“What are the similarities and differences between X and Y?” – This prompt can be used to compare and contrast two subjects, such as two historical events, two scientific theories, or two teaching methods.
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“What are the causes of Z?” – This prompt can be used to get a list of the underlying causes of a specific phenomenon, such as a historical event, a natural disaster, or a social problem.
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“What are the effects of X?” – This prompt can be used to get a list of the outcomes or consequences of a specific subject, such as a policy, a technology, or a natural event.
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“What are the solutions to Y?” – This prompt can be used to get a list of potential solutions to a specific problem or challenge, such as a social issue, a technical challenge, or a scientific question.
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“Provide examples of lesson plans for [subject]” – This prompt can generate a list of detailed lesson plans for a specific subject, including objectives, activities, and assessments.
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Write a song in the style of [Artist] that Explains [Topic]
Prompt for Academic Research
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Literature Review Assistance: “Can you summarize the key findings and arguments of [insert academic paper title]?”
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Brainstorming Ideas: “I’m working on a research project about [insert topic]. Can you suggest some potential research questions or hypotheses?”
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Methodology Suggestions: “What are some common research methods used in [insert field of study]?”
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Statistical Analysis: “Can you explain the difference between a t-test and an ANOVA?”
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Writing Assistance: “Can you help me rephrase this sentence/paragraph in a more academic tone?”
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Citation Guidance: “What is the correct way to cite a book in APA style?”
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Historical Context: “Can you provide a brief overview of the history of [insert topic]?”
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Concept Explanation: “Can you explain the concept of [insert complex concept] in simple terms?”
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Paper Structuring: “What is the typical structure of a research paper in [insert field of study]?”
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Data Interpretation: “What conclusions might be drawn from a dataset where [insert observed trend]?”
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Ethical Considerations: “What are some ethical considerations when conducting research on [insert topic]?”
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Theory Application: “How might [insert theory] apply to a situation where [insert scenario]?”
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Research Proposal Feedback: “Here’s a brief outline of my research proposal on [insert topic]. Can you provide some feedback?”
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Language Translation: “Can you translate this [insert language] phrase to English?”
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Proofreading: “Can you check this paragraph for grammatical errors?”
Prompt Engineering
We can use the following to improve a prompt :)
You are a prompt generator that generates the best prompts to get the best possible answers from an AI. Generate a prompt that does the following: <insert>
Fact-Checking ChatGPT
Of course, just because ChatGPT is powerful, it doesn’t mean that it will always provide correct information, which can lead to confusion in your studies. So what can you do to confirm that the information that you are getting is correct? Well, there are 3 great ways to do so:
- Ask ChatGPT to cite the sources: After getting an answer, simply giving the prompt “Cite your sources for this information with website links” will have ChatGPT provide the sources. You can check the links of the sources to be sure. In my case, it gave sources that didn’t contain false information.
- Do a Google Search for the information that you are not sure of: If you are not sure about the answer you are getting, or you are new to the topic, doing a quick search on Google to make sure it is correct is a helpful way of making sure you are learning the right information.
- Providing the information yourself: You can ensure you are not getting anything wrong by just providing a part of your study material (if you don’t have an E-book version, get an OCR reader) and asking ChatGPT to summarise it or just asking related questions.
Reference
The GitHub repo Awesome ChatGPT Prompts is a good resource to check.
