Find outdated figures in your group's economics draft

About this exercise

Your Economics 201 group draft cites county data, and the county released updated figures last week. You want one numbered line per figure in the draft, under 60 words total, labeled Current, Outdated, or Not in table, with the 2026 figure after any Outdated label. Use only the updated 2026 table, plain text, nothing else.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Not naming the update. The table shows both years, and the AI may accept last year's numbers as fine. Try: Say: "Only the 2026 figures count."
• Calling missing data wrong. The commute isn't in the table, so it needs a source, not an 'outdated' label. Try: Add: "If the table doesn't have it, label it Not in table."
• Getting analysis. The AI starts interpreting the trends for your paper. Try: Say: "Label only. No analysis."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands 10-20% over. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 10 words."
• Getting markdown back. AI defaults to bold labels and headings, which show up as stray symbols in your group doc comments. Try: Ask for "plain text, no bold, no headings."

What a strong prompt includes

• Gives exact labels
• Names the update
• Asks for the new figure
• Sets a length limit
• Asks for plain text

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