Learning Timeline
Key Insights
Word Count Accuracy in AI
AIs often cannot provide an exact word count. If you ask for 100 words, the result might range between 80 to 120 words, but it typically won't drift as far as 300 words.
Tips for Easy-to-Understand Summaries
Using a 'style of an 11-year-old' tone is the best way to get a concise summary that is easily understood by everyone.
Adjusting Prompt Content
Always adjust your instructions based on the type of article. If the article is from Wikipedia and lacks dialogue, it's best to remove the 'Quotes' instruction to avoid confusing the AI.
Prompts
Level 2 Summary Customization
Target:
ChatGPT / Claude
Summarize the following text using these building blocks:
- Tone: In the style of an 11-year-old
- Goal: Focus specifically on [Insert Specific Topic/Century]
- Length: Approximately [Insert Number] words or 5 bullet points
- Quotes: Include direct quotes from the text (if applicable)
[Insert Text Here]
Step by Step
How to Use Building Blocks for Summary Prompts
- Open your preferred AI platform (such as ChatGPT or Claude).
- Paste the source text or article you want to summarize into the input field.
- Type a 'Tone' instruction to set the writing style (e.g., 'in the style of an 11-year-old' for easy-to-understand language).
- Specify a 'Goal' or specific objective in the prompt to narrow the summary scope (e.g., focus only on 16th-century events).
- Set the desired 'Length' of the text, using either a specific number of 'bullet points' or a 'word counter'.
- Add a 'Quotes' instruction (optional) if you want the AI to extract direct quotes from the text, which is especially useful for interview transcripts.
- Review your instructions to ensure there are no irrelevant commands (e.g., remove the 'Quotes' instruction if the source article contains no dialogue).
- Click the 'Send' button or press Enter to generate your customized summary.
