Prompt Engineering Summary and Lesson Plan for Business Students

Objective: To introduce students and the teacher to the concept of Prompt Engineering (PE) and provide a foundational understanding of how to create effective writing prompts for business communication.

Steps:

• Understanding Prompt Engineering (20 minutes): Begin by explaining what Prompt Engineering (PE) is in a simple and relatable way. PE is a systematic process for designing and refining writing prompts or assignments to improve the quality of written work in a specific context, such as business communication.

  • Compare PE to designing a roadmap for a successful business venture. Just as a well-crafted business plan outlines the path to success, PE helps us design clear and effective writing prompts that guide students toward successful communication in a business context.

• Importance of PE in Business Communication (15 minutes): Highlight why PE is crucial in the world of business communication. Emphasize that clear and purposeful prompts are essential for effective communication in various business scenarios, such as reports, proposals, and emails.

• Analyzing Sample Business Prompts (20 minutes): Provide students and the teacher with a set of sample business writing prompts or communication scenarios from different aspects of business, such as marketing, management, or entrepreneurship. In groups, have them dissect and identify the key components of each prompt, including the target audience, purpose, and specific tasks.

• Discussion on Business Writing Challenges (15 minutes): Engage the students and the teacher in a discussion about common challenges faced in business writing prompts and communication tasks. Use the following discussion prompts:

  • Can you recall a business writing task or prompt that you found particularly challenging? What made it difficult to approach?

  • Have you ever encountered a business prompt that didn't align with the objectives of the task or the communication goals of the business? How did that affect your approach to the task?

  • On a positive note, can you think of a business writing prompt that was exceptionally clear and effective? How did it contribute to successful communication?

  • What do you believe are the essential components of a well-crafted business writing prompt? What elements should it include to guide communication effectively in a business context?

  • How do you think understanding the concept of PE and applying it to business writing prompts can improve communication skills in a professional setting?

• Guided Prompt Engineering for Business (30 minutes): Present a business writing prompt or communication scenario relevant to the course's objectives. Work together as a class, including the teacher, to dissect the prompt and discuss its components. Collaboratively revise the prompt to make it clearer, more purposeful, and aligned with effective business communication.

  • Original Prompt for Discussion (Example): "Write a report on our company's quarterly financial performance for the board of directors."

• As a class, you can break down this prompt and discuss its components, considering aspects such as audience, purpose, and specific expectations for the report. The teacher can actively participate in this discussion, modeling the thought process.

• Individual PE Practice for Business (20 minutes): Assign students and the teacher a business writing prompt or communication task related to the course material. Have them apply what they've learned about PE to revise the prompt individually. Encourage them to make it more specific, purposeful, and aligned with effective business communication practices.

• Peer Review for Business Prompts (15 minutes): Have students and the teacher exchange their revised business prompts with peers. They can provide feedback on clarity, alignment with objectives, and potential improvements in the context of business communication.

• Wrap-Up and Application (10 minutes): Summarize the key takeaways from the lesson and emphasize the importance of PE in business communication. Encourage students and the teacher to apply these skills to real-world business writing tasks and scenarios they may encounter in their professional careers.

Example Business Prompts:

• Ineffective Prompt: Write a report about our company's performance.
  Problems: This prompt lacks clarity, specificity, and purpose. It doesn't specify which aspects of the company's performance to focus on, who the audience is, or the purpose of the report.
  Properly Edited Prompt: Write a comprehensive report on our company's financial performance for the fiscal year 2022. Address key financial indicators, growth trends, and challenges. This report will be shared with our board of directors to inform strategic decisions.
  Improvements: The edited prompt provides clear guidance on the content, specifies the audience (board of directors), and clarifies the purpose (informing strategic decisions).

• Ineffective Prompt: Prepare a presentation on marketing strategies.
  Problems: This prompt is vague and lacks specific guidance on the topic, audience, or purpose of the presentation.
  Properly Edited Prompt: Create a 15-minute presentation outlining innovative digital marketing strategies for our target demographic (age 18-34) to increase brand engagement and conversion rates.
  Improvements: The edited prompt specifies the topic (digital marketing strategies), the target audience (age 18-34), and the purpose (increasing brand engagement and conversion rates).

• Ineffective Prompt: Write an email to the client about the project.
  Problems: This prompt is overly general and doesn't provide enough context or details for the email.
  Properly Edited Prompt: Compose a concise email to our client, Mr. Smith, providing an update on the progress of the project, highlighting key milestones achieved, and addressing any upcoming milestones and potential challenges.
  Improvements: The edited prompt specifies the recipient (Mr. Smith), the purpose (project update), and the key components the email should cover (progress, milestones, challenges).

• Ineffective Prompt: Prepare a business proposal.
  Problems: This prompt is extremely vague and lacks any specific information about the type of proposal, the target audience, or the purpose.
  Properly Edited Prompt: Draft a detailed business proposal for a new product launch to present to potential investors. The proposal should include market research, financial projections, and a clear value proposition.
  Improvements: The edited prompt specifies the type of proposal (new product launch), the audience (potential investors), and the components to be included (market research, financial projections, value proposition).