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Write a reusable style guide for a class picture book

  • For Teachers
  • You practice Showing an example of what you want
  • Time about 5 minutes

About this exercise

Your 2nd graders are making a class picture book, and each pair will generate one page with ChatGPT. Get Claude to write a style guide as exactly 6 numbered lines, plain text, under 150 words, labeled Style, Colors, Characters, Backgrounds, Shape and Avoid. It must give the 4 hex colors, say 4:3, describe Bramble the fox the same way for every page, and the Avoid line must rule out text in the image and famous characters.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Writing a paragraph. The AI writes a friendly description that's hard for 7-year-olds to copy. Try: Add: "Exactly 6 numbered lines labeled Style, Colors, Characters, Backgrounds, Shape, Avoid."
  • Colors by name. "Warm oranges and greens" gives different colors on every page. Try: Add: "Give the 4 hex codes."
  • Old character details. The AI keeps the blue scarf from the first draft. Try: Add: "Bramble: red fox, white-tipped tail, green rain boots, yellow backpack. No scarf."
  • No Avoid line. Pages end up with garbled words and cartoon characters. Try: Add: "Avoid: text, letters, famous or cartoon characters, 3D, photos."
  • Bold labels. The AI bolds each label, which pastes badly. Try: Add: "Plain text, under 110 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Asks for labeled lines
  • Gives hex colors
  • Sets the shape
  • Describes the character
  • Adds an Avoid line

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