Writing the Perfect Prompt

ByLisa Leff

I am so perplexed about writing the perfect prompt!

What are Good Questions• Create a conversation• Can be understood by everyone• Focus on one thing• Clearly stated• Relevant• Easy to answer• Should never be interpreted as offensive• Never allow people to feel that they are being judged

Sample of Open-Ended Questions• What does that mean to you? • What do you think will happen next in the story? • How did you go about solving that problem? • How did you make that choice? • What information do you have about that? • What would you do differently next time? • Why do you feel that way?

What are Open Ended Questions•Allow students to think•Develop a better understanding of how to

work with students

What are Socratic Questions

They develop questions that can be used for critical thinking skills

The Six Types of Socratic Questions1. Questions for clarification2. Questions that probe assumptions3. Questions that probe reasons and

evidence4. Questions about Viewpoints and

Perspectives5. Questions that probe implications and

consequences6. Questions about the question

6 Types of Socratic Questions

Examples Examples1. Questions for clarification:• Why do you say that? • How does this relate to our

discussion?

2. Questions that probe assumptions:

• What could we assume instead? • How can you verify or disapprove

that assumption?

3. Questions that probe reasons and evidence:

• What would be an example? • What do you think causes to

happen...? Why:?

4. Questions about Viewpoints and Perspectives:

• What would be an alternative? • What is another way to look at it? • Would you explain why it is necessary or

beneficial, and who benefits?

5. Questions that probe implications and consequences:

• What generalizations can you make? • What are the consequences of that

assumption? • What are you implying?

6. Questions about the question:• What was the point of this question? • Why do you think I asked this question?

Cognitive Domain QuestionsThese skills revolve around knowledge, comprehension, and

critical thinking of a particular topic.

Bloom's Taxonomy divides educational objectives into three "domains":

1.Cognitive 2.Affective, and 3.Psychomotor

Cognitive Domain Questions

Knowledge ( recall information)- What are the steps involved in?Comprehension (Interpret)- Describe in your own wordsApplication (Apply)- Can you illustrate how this principle?Analysis (breakdown)- What evidence can you give for?Synthesis (bring together information)- What ideas can you add to?Evaluation( Judgments)- Which option would be the most effective?

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