In today’s episode of prompt engineering, found a good thread:
- First, I used O1 Pro to build me a prompt for Deep Research to do Deep Research on Deep Research prompting. It read all the blogs and literature on best practices and gave me a thorough report.
- Then I asked for this to be turned into a prompt template for Deep Research. I’ve added it below. This routinely creates 3-5 page prompts that are generating 60-100 page, very thorough reports
- Now when I use O1 Pro to write prompts, I’ll write all my thoughts out and ask it to turn it into a prompt using the best practices below:
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.