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Pick primary sources for a Great Migration history essay

Practice: Setting limits and rules. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

Your U.S. History essay on the Great Migration requires 2 primary sources, meaning created by people who lived through it, between 1916 and 1940. From your library search, you want exactly 2 numbered picks, each with its title, year and a reason under 12 words. Use only the details in your list, plain text, nothing else.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Not defining primary. The AI may count an oral history or a documentary as primary because they include firsthand voices. Try: Say: "Primary means created between 1916 and 1940 by people who lived it."
  • Missing the date edge. The painting started in 1940 but was finished in 1941, so it doesn't fit cleanly. Try: Add: "Pick only sources fully inside 1916-1940."
  • Getting essay help. The AI starts outlining your essay, which isn't what you asked. Try: Say: "Output only the 2 picks."
  • Not saying how many. The AI decides the length itself and usually returns more picks than you can use. Try: Be exact: "exactly 2 numbered picks."
  • Getting markdown back. AI defaults to bold labels and headings, which show up as stray symbols in your source log. Try: Ask for "plain text, no bold, no headings."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Defines primary
  • Gives the date range
  • Says exactly how many
  • Limits each reason
  • Asks for plain text

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