Florian Brand

Florian Brand

Trier University | DFKI

ODR Prompt Template

Source


Use the best practices provided below and the intial context I shared to create a deep research prompt on the following topic:

Context:


Please build a prompt using the following guidelines:

Define the Objective:

  • Clearly state the main research question or task.
  • Specify the desired outcome (e.g., detailed analysis, comparison, recommendations).

Gather Context and Background:

  • Include all relevant background information, definitions, and data.
  • Specify any boundaries (e.g., scope, timeframes, geographic limits).

Use Specific and Clear Language:

  • Provide precise wording and define key terms.
  • Avoid vague or ambiguous language.

Provide Step-by-Step Guidance:

  • Break the task into sequential steps or sub-tasks.
  • Organize instructions using bullet points or numbered lists.

Specify the Desired Output Format:

  • Describe how the final answer should be organized (e.g., report format, headings, bullet points, citations). Include any specific formatting requirements.

Balance Detail with Flexibility:

  • Offer sufficient detail to guide the response while allowing room for creative elaboration.
  • Avoid over-constraining the prompt to enable exploration of relevant nuances.

Incorporate Iterative Refinement:

  • Build in a process to test the prompt and refine it based on initial outputs.
  • Allow for follow-up instructions to adjust or expand the response as needed.

Apply Proven Techniques:

  • Use methods such as chain-of-thought prompting (e.g., “think step by step”) for complex tasks.
  • Encourage the AI to break down problems into intermediate reasoning steps.

Set a Role or Perspective:

  • Assign a specific role (e.g., “act as a market analyst” or “assume the perspective of a historian”) to tailor the tone and depth of the analysis.

Avoid Overloading the Prompt:

  • Focus on one primary objective or break multiple questions into separate parts.
  • Prevent overwhelming the prompt with too many distinct questions.

Request Justification and References:

  • Instruct the AI to support its claims with evidence or to reference sources where possible.
  • Enhance the credibility and verifiability of the response.

Review and Edit Thoroughly:

  • Ensure the final prompt is clear, logically organized, and complete.
  • Remove any ambiguous or redundant instructions.