Asking good questions
Simple habits that get you clearer, more useful answers from your course assistant.
The assistant is only as helpful as the question you give it. A few small habits make a big difference.
Be specific
Vague questions get vague answers. The more context you give, the better.
Instead of this
- “Explain chapter 3.”
- “I don’t get photosynthesis.”
- “Help with the homework.”
Try this
- “What are the three main causes of the French Revolution from chapter 3?”
- “Can you explain the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis with a simple example?”
- “How do I set up the equation for problem 2 on the week 4 problem set?”
Ask one thing at a time
If you have several questions, ask them one after another instead of all at once. You’ll get clearer answers, and you can follow up on each.
Follow up
The assistant remembers the conversation, so you can build on your last question:
- “Can you explain that more simply?”
- “Give me an example.”
- “Why is that true?”
- “How is this different from what we covered last week?”
Ask it to adjust
You can steer the style of the answer:
Simpler
“Explain it like I’m new to this.”
Step by step
“Walk me through it one step at a time.”
With an example
“Can you give a concrete example?”
Quiz me
“Ask me a practice question about this.”
Use it to study, not to cheat
The assistant is great for understanding material, checking your reasoning, and practicing. It’s not a shortcut around learning, and using it on graded work may break your course’s rules.
Next: Understanding answers
Learn how to read sources and double-check what the assistant tells you.