Library › Study AI › College students
Turn three study abstracts into a source matrix
Practice: Asking for a format you can use. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
You're starting a literature review for your Education class and want a quick source matrix. Get exactly 3 numbered lines, one per study, each in the form 'Author (year): method | finding | limitation', each under 30 words, plain text. Use only the abstracts, including the erratum for Kowalski, and add no analysis.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Asking for a summary. The AI writes a paragraph per study and compares them, which is the paper's job, not the matrix's. Try: Show the shape: "Author (year): method | finding | limitation".
- Not saying how many lines. The AI picks its own number, and it usually picks more lines than you need. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 3 numbered lines."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total and it often lands 20% over. Try: Cap each part: "each part under 9 words."
- Missing the erratum. The original result and the correction are both in the abstract. Try: Add: "Use the corrected 4-point result for Kowalski."
- Getting analysis. The AI likes to synthesize and conclude. Try: Add: "No analysis or comparison."
What a strong prompt includes
- Says how many lines
- Shows the line shape
- Uses the erratum
- Rules out analysis
- Sets a length limit
Related exercises
- Announce a referral bonus with the steps to claim it (Marketing AI · HR and recruiting)
- Announce a team meeting change people will actually follow (Writing AI · Managers and team leads)
- Answer a 'found an error' question in STAR order (Writing AI · Finance and accounting)
- Answer a wholesale inquiry with clear terms (Writing AI · Small business owners)
- Answer an RFP timeline question in exactly four phases (Writing AI · Sales and customer success)