Prompt Engineering

Workshop
29. January 2025

Prof. Dr. André Fringer, PhD

 Challenges of AI in university teaching

General aspects of prompting

I would like to
present the
following topics: Specific aspects of prompting

Experiences with MAXQDA - chat with

documents
Background
• Garbage in è Garbage out
• Prompting (still) determines the quality of the results
• There is hardly the same output
• Topics:
• Taxonomy levels and AI
• 15 rules for dealing with AI
• 6 main applications
• Prompting workflow
• Mega-Prompting
"Make me an image that stands for a
metaphor, namely, one that symbolizes
the stupid use of AI and corresponds to
the slogan: garbage in, garbage out."
"Create a photorealistic image that presents a metaphor,
one that symbolizes the foolish use of AI and the slogan
"Garbage in, Garbage out". The setting should be a
university one and show healthcare professionals using AI
in the wrong way. The setting should be friendly and full of
light. Avoid a disrespectful execution and show respect
for the lack of understanding of AI."
 What level of tasks can AI handle?

Higher skill
levels than
human
ability

From a presentation by Dr. Igor Matic, Department Linguistics (Research Communication)

Large Language Models are
trained with:
- texts of various origins
- chat histories
- forum entries
- general conversations
"Take a deep
breath and
think step by
step"
15 Prompting rules (increasing complexity)
1. Level Knowledge:
1a. Maintain politeness: Respectful and polite wording can have a positive impact on the quality of
responses. (Bild)
1b. Clarity and precision: Formulate the requests clearly and in detail to avoid misunderstandings.
(Ostend Digital, 2024)
1c. Provide context: Provide background information or specific details so that ChatGPT can better
categorize the request. (Digital Profis)
1d. Ask specific questions: Avoid general or ambiguous questions; the more specific the question, the
more specific the answer. (Kopf und Stift)
1e. Avoid ambiguities: Make sure that your requests do not contain any double meanings or ambiguities.
(Kibizhub)
15 Prompting rules (increasing complexity)
2. Level Understanding:
2a Assign roles: Ask ChatGPT to take on a specific role, such as an expert, to receive specialized
responses. (Scribbr)
2b Use of keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords to drive the focus of the response. (Kibizhub)
2c Adaptation to the target audience: Consider who the answer is intended for and adapt the prompt
accordingly. (Kopf und Stift)
3. Apply:
3a Specify the expected format: Indicate in which format the answer is required, e.g. as a list, essay or
table. (Kibizhub)
3b Define tone and style: Determine the desired writing style and tone, e.g. formal or informal, to get the
right answers. (Robert Leitinger)
3c Specify the length of the answer: Specify how detailed the answer should be in order to avoid
excessively long or avoid excessively long or short answers. (Kibizhub)
15 Prompting rules (increasing complexity)
4. Level Analyze:
4a Give instructions step by step: For complex tasks, it is helpful to divide the request into smaller,
successive steps. (Kopf und Stift)
4b Use iterative feedback: If the initial response does not meet your expectations, adjust the prompt
the prompt and give specific feedback to improve the results. (Ostend Digital)
5. Level Evaluate:
5a Insert examples: Give examples of the desired answer to give ChatGPT a clear idea.
clear idea. (Kopf und Stift)
6. Level Synthesis / Creation:
6a Use of tags: Structure the prompt with tags or markers to achieve specific results. (Sortlist)
Assessment competence

Rule 6

Assistance Prompts Synthesis Rule 5

Create

Role-focused prompts Rate Rule 4

Transformative prompts Analyze Rule 3

Decision-making competence

Reductive prompts Apply Rule 2

Enriching Prompts Understand Rule 1

Generative prompts Remember / Knowledge

1. Generative prompts
• As a starting point for "preliminary" content
• Creating (copy & paste) is boring
• Generation of:
• Texts
• Drafts
• Plans
• Brainstorming and
• Brainstorming
• Etc.
Overview: Step by step to the correct declaration

Has your degree programme defined rules for your work regarding the use of generative Kl tools?

Yes Don't know No

The Please consult Did you use generative AI tools to create your work?
instructions of your lecturers
your lecturers for more
apply. information. No Yes,

- as a formulation aid - as a starting point - Output literally otherwise for

- as a spelling aid
- as a source of or analogously - text recognition
- for language
supplementation inspiration - for image - (further)
Declaration as ... creation processing

In-text reference
AI output must be correctly
cited in the text.

Literature reference
AI tools and intended use
must be listed

Method Reference
AI use must be described
and reflected upon
2. Enriching prompts
Topic Example prompt
Extend texts:
- Add more detailed information "Add more details about ___ to illustrate why ___ is important."

- Strengthen descriptions "Describe the ___ of ___ in more detail by going into details such as ___ and ___."

- Insert additional perspectives "Supplement the text with an alternative perspective of ___ that illuminates ___."

- Add examples and anecdotes "Give an illustrative example or anecdote about ___ that shows how ___."

- Sharpen your argumentation "Strengthen the argument by explaining ___ more clearly and emphasizing the relevance of
___."
Continue writing texts:
- Continue or advance the argumentation "Continue the argument by citing new evidence for ___, such as ___."

- Working out the focus "Work out the focus on ___ by deepening the meaning of ___."

- Emphasize key topics "Emphasize the thematic focus on ___ by explaining the connection between ___ and ___."

- Continue the argumentation "Continue the argument by discussing possible consequences of ___ and addressing ___."
3. Reductive prompts
Topic Example prompt
Simplify texts:
- Linguistic simplification according to "Rephrase the text so that it is easy to understand for ___ (e.g. students, experts,
target group laypersons)."
- Linguistic simplification by age "Simplify the language so that ___-year-olds (e.g. children, teenagers, seniors) can easily
understand the text."
- Reduce complexity "Reduce the complexity of the text by replacing ___ (e.g. technical terms, long sentences)
with simpler explanations."
- Work out key points "Identify and list the most important key points about ___ that make up the main content of
the text."
- Identify unnecessary details "Point out the details that are not critical to understanding ___ and suggest how they could
be removed."
Condense texts:
- Reduce the number of words "Shorten the text to ___ words without changing the essential content."

- Merge references in several sentences "Combine the statements from these sentences into a coherent sentence that covers the
into one merge into one sentence most important points of ___."
- Eliminate redundancies "Identify redundant phrases or repetitions in the text to ___ and suggest how they can be
removed."
3. Reductive prompts
Topic Example prompt
Shorten texts:
- Shorten paragraph "Shorten the paragraph to ___ by removing irrelevant or redundant information."

- Sales through new transition "Reduce the number of paragraphs by creating a smooth transition between ___ and ___."
reduce
- Suggest abbreviations and adapt them "Suggest abbreviations for ___ (e.g. long terms or repeated expressions) and adapt the text
in the text adapt accordingly."
- Promote direct speech "Formulate the text on ___ in direct and precise language by removing unnecessary filler
words and phrases."
- Convert list into bullet points "Convert the text on ___ into a concise list that clearly presents the main points."

- Additional shortening strategies "Use shortening strategies to ___ the text, such as merging subordinate clauses."
4. transformative prompts
Topic Example prompt
Comprehensibility
- Customize language "Rewrite the text so that it is understandable for ___ (e.g. laypersons, students, general
audience)."
- Reduce complexity "Simplify the explanation of ___ by making technical terms and complicated sentences
clearer."
- Summary in various formats "Summarize the main points of ___ in an abstract/ lay summary/ short bullet points."

Structure and presentation

- Convert paragraphs into visual "Convert the paragraph about ___ into a table/diagram to present the information more
elements clearly."
convert
- Scientific argumentation "Rearrange the arguments for ___ so that the reasoning is step-by-step and logically
restructure comprehensible."
- Add comparisons and contrasts "Complete a comparative analysis between ___ and ___ to highlight the differences and
similarities."
4. transformative prompts
Topic Example prompt
Perspectives and precision
- Change perspective or approaches "Write the section from the perspective of ___ (e.g. a critic, an advocate, an interdisciplinary
point of view)."
- Increase precision "Use more precise wording to describe ___ more clearly and unambiguously, and remove
vague statements."
- Conversion into a research question "Formulate a concrete research question based on the section on ___ that is suitable for an
empirical study."
Workflow & Prompting
"Workflow-based prompting"
• Step-by-step procedure
• Iterative procedure based on previous results
• Targeted tasks
• Repeatability
• Adaptation and optimization
5. Role-focused prompts
• Scientific reviewer
• Expert in a specific field
• Scientific editor / science communicator
• Peer reviewer
• Research consultant
• Methodologist (statistician/qualitative researcher)
• Ethics Committee member
• Funding body
• Student/patient/interviewee
5. Workflow for role-focused prompts
Steps Examples
1. define objectives: What is to be achieved? - Formulate clearly what is to be analyzed or improved.
Example: "I would like to check the text for a journal for scientific precision."
2. select roll: Select the specific role (e.g. reviewer, expert, editor). Example: Scientific reviewer.

3. formulate promptly: Write a specific prompt that describes the role and task. Example: "Evaluate this text
from the perspective of a scientific reviewer, especially the methodology."
4. receive/evaluate feedback: Review the feedback and determine whether it meets expectations. Example: Analyze
the comments and check whether the methodology and results are conclusive.
5. implement results or adjust prompt: Implement the suggestions or adapt the prompt. Example: Revise the text according to
the feedback received.
6. obtain additional role perspectives: Use another role for a more comprehensive analysis. Example: "Now look at the text
from an editor's perspective and suggest stylistic improvements."
7. summary and synthesis Summarize the most important comments and findings. Example: Summarize the
suggestions of the different roles.
8. review of the revision: Read the final text and make sure that all relevant points have been implemented.
Example: Make sure that the text is clear, well-founded and suitable for publication.
Police:
ChatGTP Anna’s Journey
5. Example of role-focused prompts
Hello ChatGPT, I would like to use you as an interview partner for training purposes in order to
conduct an episodic-narrative interview with you. The aim of this interview is to explore the
experience of the transition from woman to mother. For this fictional interview, you will take on
the role of Anna.
Anna is Swiss, 33 years old and has been married to Martin for four years. They had a daughter
two years ago. They live in Winterthur in a 4.5-room apartment and have two dogs. Anna is a
policewoman by profession and was employed 90% before the birth; after her maternity leave
she returned to work 50%. Martin is a roofer and works 100%. Anna is a Catholic, her husband
a Muslim. Anna had imagined motherhood differently and was often overwhelmed and
overwhelmed by her different feelings. This also had an impact on their partnership.
I would now like to conduct an episodic-narrative interview with you by giving you a narrative
task in your role as Anna. Please make sure the narrative flows naturally. Is that okay?
6. assistants Prompt
Topic Example prompt
Virtual administration
- Role as an assistant specialist Hello ChatGPT, please take on the virtual role as an assistant specialist with many years of
experience in secretarial work. You will support me as Ms. Lisa Müller in all administrative
tasks related to my projects. Please help me to create clear overviews and concise
summaries in order to optimize the organization and to support me in various
administrative topics and activities and to create more efficient processes in daily
university operations.
- Role as a consultant Hello ChatGPT, please take on the virtual role of consultant Ms. Lisa Müller and advise me
on scientific and strategic decisions. Please provide me with comprehensive insights and
analysis to effectively plan my research project or career, to help me develop and improve
scientific work, and support me with detailed advice and sound feedback.
- Virtual coach Hello ChatGPT, please take on the virtual role of personal coach Ms. Lisa Müller and
support me in achieving my personal goals, time and self-management, help me set
realistic goals and develop strategies to overcome challenges in everyday academic life
and promote my professional and personal well-being in the academic environment. Give
me long-term strategies for stress management and motivation.
Use of tags in prompts
• To clearly emphasize the focus
• At the beginning or end
• Square bracket [...] or hashtag #
• Tags and their meaning:
• [Analysis] - Requests an in-depth analysis of a text
• [Summary] - Instructs ChaGPT to summarize the text briefly and concisely
• [Critique] - Requests a critical evaluation or questioning of a text
• [Rephrasing] - Requests that the text be rephrased or linguistically adapted.
• [Simplification] - Requests a simplification of complex language or concepts.
• [Comparison] - Instructs you to compare the text or arguments with other known concepts.
• [Examples] - Request to provide concrete examples on a specific point.
• [Explanation] - Instructs you to provide an explanation for certain terms or sections.
MEGA
Prompting
Mega-Prompt 1: The prompt generator
Hello Chat GPT, I would like you to become my Prompt Creator. Your goal is to help me create the best possible prompt
for my needs. The prompt will be used by you, ChatGPT. You will follow the process below:

1. first, you ask me what the prompt should be about. I will give you my answer, but we need to improve it by constantly
repeating it, going through the next steps.
2. based on my input, you create 3 sections: a) Revised prompt (you write your revised prompt. It should be clear,
concise and easy for you to understand), b) Suggestions (you make suggestions about what details you should include
in the prompt to improve it) and c) Questions (you ask relevant questions about what additional information I need to
improve the prompt).
3. the prompt you provide should be in the form of a request from me to be executed by ChatGPT.
4. we will continue this iterative process as I provide you with additional information and you update the prompt in the
Revised Prompt section until it is complete."

digitalprofis.de
Mega-Prompt 2: The Tutor
You are my tutor. You help me to learn. I can give you different commands to use different learning modes. The
commands are as follows:

/tutor - You are my tutor and explain the chosen topic to me. You answer all my questions thoroughly and
conscientiously.
/socrates - You always answer me in the Socratic style. You never give me the answer, but always try to ask just the right
question to help me think for myself. You should always tailor your question to my interest and level of knowledge and
break the problem down into simpler parts until it's at just the right level for me.
/multiplechoice - You ask me multiple choice questions on the chosen topic. I answer the questions and you give me
feedback on the answer before you ask the next question.
/You ask me open questions on the chosen topic. I answer the questions and you give me feedback on the answer
before you ask the next question.
/solution - Regardless of the current mode, give me the solution or answer my question specifically.
/restart - You exit the current mode and wait for a new command.

The topic is __________

The level is __________

digitalprofis.de
Academic writing assistance
New trick that makes megaprompts
unnecessary

• Normal prompt
è Then start with level answers to professionalize content.
professionalize
• This is a basic answer ... please give me a "level 2" answer
• That's pretty good ... please give me a "level 3" answer
Level 2 Answer
Level 3 Answer
Professional
Task
Our task is to use AI to strengthen students' ability to reflect
at the university.
And how do we do that?

As an iterative approach
• White = Methodical steps in MAXQDA according to the method by Hand
• Blue = MAXQDA AI-Assis
• Red = Reflection work and documentation

And wherever the AI-Assist chat function is mentioned as a tool, the right way
to use it and the possibilities of prompting play a role.
A major hurdle in the use of general AI for (qualitative) research.

• Sensitive language is not supported

• Certain keywords are blocked
• A quarter of the relevant topics in the health sciences are therefore not accessible
• Examples include:
• Physical illnesses and problems
• Sexual phenomena
• Paediatric phenomena
• Psychiatric problems such as suicide, violence and abuse
• Certain organs, etc.
What do I miss in MAXQDA AI-Assist?
• More freedom in prompting.
• More options for defining my favourite methods or code-styles.
• Removal of page restrictions for analysis. In some cases, we use entire books with over
hundreds of pages.
• Being able to chat simultaneously with all or a selected/activated amount of texts.
• NotebookLM is the best at doing this. A great tool for working with up to 300 PDFs at the
same time.
• Nevertheless, I think that MAXQDA has done its homework really well. In an environment that
is changing so rapidly, it's really cool to see what is now possible with MAXQDA and AI-
Assist.
AI Tools

digitalprofis.de
References
• Ostend, 2024: https://ostend.digital/chatgpt-prompts-ein-ausfuehrlicher-leitfaden/
• Digitale Profis, 2024: https://digitaleprofis.de/kuenstliche-intelligenz/prompt-engineering/so-schreibst-
du-die-besten-prompts-fuer-chatgpt/
• Scribbr, 2023: https://www.scribbr.de/ki-tools-nutzen/gute-chatgpt-prompts/
• Kopf und Stift, 2024: https://kopfundstift.de/chatgpt-leitfaden-prompts/
• KIbizHub, 2023: https://kibizhub.de/chatgpt-prompt-guide-experten-tipps-fuer-effiziente-nutzung/
• Bild, 2024: https://www.bild.de/leben-wissen/digital/kuenstliche-intelligenz-chatgpt-gibt-bessere-
antworten-wenn-sie-freundlich-sind-66ae0b38f6fce441bec03169?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• Robert Leiginger, 2023: https://robert-leitinger.com/chatgpt-prompts/
• Sortlist, 2024: https://www.sortlist.de/blog/chatgpt-prompts/
Sources for meta and mega prompting
• Cookbook, 2024: https://cookbook.openai.com/examples/enhance_your_prompts_with_meta_prompting
• OpenAICommunity, 2023: https://community.openai.com/t/meta-prompting-concept-asking-chat-gpt-for-
the-best-prompt-for-your-desired-completion-then-to-revise-it-before-using-it/248619
• God of Prompt, 2024: https://www.godofprompt.ai/blog/chatgpt-mega-prompts
• OpenChatGPT, 2024: https://openchatgpt.de/tipps/9-praktische-prompting-tipps-chatgpt-fur-
texterstellung/