Lesson 242 of 1234
Show AI What You Mean: Examples and Demonstrations
AI works MUCH better when you show it an example of what you want..
Lesson map
What this lesson covers
Learning path
The main moves in order
- 1Show AI an Example
- 2Show, Do Not Just Tell: Give AI an Example
- 3The big idea
- 4AI and Using Examples: Show AI What You Want
Concept cluster
Terms to connect while reading
Section 1
Show AI an Example
AI works MUCH better when you show it an example of what you want.
Want a poem? Show AI a poem you like. Want a story? Show AI a story style you enjoy.
Three places examples help
- Writing in a style you like
- Solving math problems like a sample
- Drawing pictures in a certain look
The big idea: Show AI an example of what you want. It learns your taste in seconds.
Section 2
Show, Do Not Just Tell: Give AI an Example
Section 3
The big idea
Sometimes telling AI what you want is hard. SHOWING it is easier — and works better.
Some examples
- Instead of: 'Make a fun rhyming poem.' Try: 'Make a poem like this: Roses are red, violets are blue, my dog ate my homework, and so did the flu.'
- Instead of: 'Give me silly names.' Try: 'Give me silly names like: Bobby Buttercup, Sally Snickerdoodle, Max Marshmallow.'
- Instead of: 'Make it shorter.' Try: 'Make it shorter, like a tweet — only 20 words.'
- Instead of: 'Make a list.' Try: 'Make a list like this: 1. Buy bread. 2. Walk dog. 3. Brush teeth.'
Try it!
Ask AI to write a thank-you note. First just say 'Write a thank-you note.' Then try again with: 'Write a thank-you note like this: Dear Grandma, Thank you for the cookies. They were yummy. Love, Me.' See the difference?
Section 4
AI and Using Examples: Show AI What You Want
Section 5
The big idea
AI is great at copying patterns. If you show it one example of what you want, it can usually make more in the same style.
Some examples
- 'Like this: Cat — fluffy. Now do: Dog —'
- 'Make 5 silly names like: Captain Pizza, Doctor Spaghetti, Sir Dumpling.'
- 'Write riddles like: I have hands but no arms. What am I? (A clock)'
- 'Use the same style as this sentence I wrote.'
Try it!
Show AI one funny animal-superhero name you made up. Then ask for 5 more in the same style.
Here's why "AI and Using Examples: Show AI What You Want" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! Help AI nail your answer by giving it an example to copy — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.
- Learn what "examples" means and why it's important
- Learn what "model" means and why it's important
- Learn what "patterns" means and why it's important
- 1Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
- 2Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
- 3Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity
Section 6
Give AI an Example to Copy
Section 7
The big idea
Did you know one example helps AI a lot? Instead of just describing what you want, show one. AI is great at copying patterns. This is called 'one-shot' prompting.
Some examples
- 'Write rhymes like this: cat-bat. Now: dog-?'
- Show one knock-knock joke and ask for 3 more.
- Paste one good email and say 'write me one like this'.
- Give one math example, ask AI to do the next.
Try it!
Write one silly sentence. Ask AI to make 3 more in the same style!
Here's why "Give AI an Example to Copy" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! Show AI one example of what you want, and it copies the pattern — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.
- Learn what "one-shot" means and why it's important
- Learn what "examples" means and why it's important
- Learn what "show don't tell" means and why it's important
- 1Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
- 2Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
- 3Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity
Section 8
Showing AI an Example Beats Just Telling It
Section 9
The big idea
Words can be confusing. If you SHOW AI an example of what you want — like a sample sentence or list — it understands you way faster. This trick has a fancy name: 'few-shot prompting.'
Some examples
- Show one rhyming pair, then ask for 5 more.
- Paste one good summary, then ask AI to do the same for new text.
- Show a sample question and answer style you want.
- Give one good name idea, then ask AI for similar ones.
Try it!
Write one short rhyme. Paste it to AI and say 'Make 5 more like this.' See how well it copies your style.
Section 10
Asking AI to Show an Example First
Section 11
The big idea
When learning something new, ask AI for an example FIRST. It clicks faster than just rules.
Some examples
- 'Show me an example of a haiku before you explain it.'
- 'Give me one example of a fraction in real life.'
- 'Show one example of a polite email.'
- Real examples turn fuzzy ideas into clear ones.
Try it!
Ask AI: 'Show me one example of a metaphor before explaining what one is.' Did it click?
Here's why "Asking AI to Show an Example First" matters: The words you type to an AI are called a prompt. Better words = better answers! Examples help you understand way faster than rules do — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.
- Learn what "examples" means and why it's important
- Learn what "learning" means and why it's important
- Learn what "prompting" means and why it's important
- 1Ask AI to explain your favourite animal like you're five
- 2Ask AI to write a haiku about your school day
- 3Ask AI for three ideas for a fun weekend activity
Section 12
Show AI an Example of What You Want
Section 13
The big idea
If you want AI to write something a special way, paste an example first. AI is great at copying patterns.
Some examples
- Show 1 funny short poem. Then ask AI for 3 more like it.
- Show a sample joke style. Then ask AI to make jokes that way.
- Show how a class note looks. AI will format new notes the same way.
- 1 example is good. 2 or 3 examples are even better.
Try it!
Paste your favorite joke. Then ask AI to make 3 more jokes that match its style.
Section 14
Paste the Article Before You Ask AI
Section 15
The big idea
Don't ask AI 'What did this article say?' alone. Paste the article first, then ask. AI can only read what you give it.
Some examples
- Paste the news article, then ask 'Summarize in 3 bullets.'
- Paste a recipe, then ask 'What can I swap for eggs?'
- Paste a chapter, then ask 'Give me 5 quiz questions.'
- AI cannot read links or files unless they are pasted in.
Try it!
Copy a short kid news article. Paste it in chat and ask AI for 3 bullet summary.
Section 16
Asking for Examples
Section 17
The big idea
If AI gives an answer that sounds confusing, just say 'Show me an example!' AI loves examples. Asking for 3 of them is even better, because you get a few angles to learn from.
Some examples
- 'Give me 3 examples of metaphors.'
- 'Show me what a kind apology sounds like.'
- 'Make 2 examples of simple addition word problems.'
- 'Give me an example of an adjective in a sentence.'
Try it!
Pick a topic you find tricky. Ask AI for 3 examples. Pick the one that makes the most sense to you.
End-of-lesson quiz
Check what stuck
15 questions · Score saves to your progress.
Tutor
Curious about “Show AI What You Mean: Examples and Demonstrations”?
Ask anything about this lesson. I’ll answer using just what you’re reading — short, friendly, grounded.
Progress saved locally in this browser. Sign in to sync across devices.
Related lessons
Keep going
Builders · 40 min
Few-Shot Prompting: Teaching AI by Showing Examples
Tell AI 'don't do it like this' with a real bad example, and it learns the line you're drawing.
Explorers · 40 min
Tell AI What NOT to Do: Negative Prompting
Sometimes telling AI what NOT to do is just as important as telling it what to do.
Explorers · 40 min
Format Your Answers: Lists, Tables, Length, and Layout, Part 2
You can ask AI for short, medium, or long answers — your choice.
