Learning & Research Prompts

Templates for understanding new topics, building knowledge systematically, and getting explanations at the right level.

Explain at the Right Level

When to use it: You want to understand something new and need the explanation calibrated to your actual background.

Explain [TOPIC] to me.

My background: [choose one or describe your own]
- "I know nothing about this — treat me like a curious non-expert"
- "I understand the basics but haven't gone deep"
- "I'm experienced in a related field but new to this specific area"
- "I'm a professional in this field catching up on [specific aspect]"

Use an analogy if it helps. Give me a real-world example of where this matters.
Keep the explanation under [200 / 400 / as long as needed] words.

!!! example “Filled-in example” Explain “compound interest” to me.

My background: I understand the basics but haven't gone deep.
Use an analogy if it helps. Give me a real-world example of where this matters.
Keep the explanation under 200 words.

!!! tip If the first explanation doesn’t land, say “go deeper on [specific part]” or “give me a different analogy.” You can iterate until it clicks.

Create a Study Guide

When to use it: You’re learning something structured (a course, certification, book, or skill) and want a map to work from.

Create a study guide for: [TOPIC OR SUBJECT]

My goal: [WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH — pass an exam, get practical skills, understand the field]
Time available: [HOW LONG I HAVE TO LEARN THIS]
Current knowledge level: [WHERE I'M STARTING FROM]

The study guide should include:
- Key concepts to master, in a logical learning order
- Recommended resources (if you know of strong ones)
- How to know when I've actually learned each section
- A rough time allocation across the sections

!!! tip Print or save the study guide and check things off as you go. Having a map makes learning feel less like wandering.

Quiz Me on a Topic

When to use it: You’ve been learning something and want to test your understanding interactively.

Quiz me on [TOPIC].

Format: Ask me one question at a time. Wait for my answer. Then tell me if I'm right or wrong, explain the correct answer briefly, and ask the next question.

Difficulty level: [beginner / intermediate / advanced]
Question style: [multiple choice / open-ended / scenario-based / mix]
Number of questions: [HOW MANY]

Start with the first question.

!!! example “Filled-in example” Quiz me on the basics of personal finance.

Format: Ask me one question at a time. Wait for my answer. Then tell me if I'm right or wrong, explain the correct answer briefly, and ask the next question.

Difficulty level: beginner
Question style: multiple choice
Number of questions: 10

Start with the first question.

!!! tip At the end, ask Claude “What topics did I struggle with most and what should I review?” It gives you a focused study list based on your actual performance.

Compare and Contrast Two Concepts

When to use it: You’ve encountered two similar-sounding things and need to understand how they actually differ.

Compare and contrast [CONCEPT A] vs [CONCEPT B].

My background: [BRIEF DESCRIPTION — what field you're coming from and what you already know]

Give me:
1. What they have in common
2. The key differences (a table is ideal)
3. When you'd choose one over the other
4. The most common point of confusion between them

!!! example “Filled-in example” Compare and contrast “machine learning” vs “deep learning.”

My background: I'm a business analyst who understands that AI involves training models, but I get confused when people use these terms differently.

Give me:
1. What they have in common
2. The key differences (a table is ideal)
3. When you'd choose one over the other
4. The most common point of confusion between them

What Are the Most Important Things to Know About X

When to use it: You need a quick orientation on a topic without committing to deep study. The “what matters most” version of a briefing.

What are the most important things to know about [TOPIC]?

My context: [WHY I NEED TO KNOW THIS — a decision I'm making, a role I'm stepping into, a conversation I'm preparing for]

Give me:
- The 5-7 things that, if I know them, cover 80% of what matters
- One thing that most people misunderstand about this topic
- What I'd regret not knowing if I walked in blind

!!! tip This is great before meetings, negotiations, or conversations where you need to sound informed without having done hours of research. Takes 2 minutes and covers the essentials.

Create a Learning Roadmap

When to use it: You want to develop a new skill seriously and need a structured path from where you are to where you want to be.

Create a learning roadmap for: [SKILL I WANT TO DEVELOP]

Current level: [WHERE I AM NOW — complete beginner / some exposure / intermediate]
Target level: [WHERE I WANT TO GET — working knowledge / proficiency / professional-level]
Time available: [HOURS PER WEEK I CAN DEDICATE]
Learning style: [reading / video / hands-on practice / all of the above]

The roadmap should be phased: early, intermediate, and advanced. For each phase, include what to learn, how to practice it, and what milestone tells me I'm ready to advance.

!!! tip Ask for “the most common mistake people make when learning [skill]” — knowing the pitfalls upfront saves weeks of going in the wrong direction.

Summarize the Key Arguments in a Book or Article

When to use it: You’ve read something (or want to understand it without reading the whole thing) and need to extract the core ideas.

Summarize the key arguments in [BOOK/ARTICLE TITLE] by [AUTHOR].

Give me:
1. The central thesis in one sentence
2. The 5-7 main arguments or ideas
3. The strongest evidence or examples the author uses
4. The main critique or counterargument to the author's position
5. One thing I should do or think differently based on this work

Context: [WHY I'M READING THIS / WHAT I'M HOPING TO GET FROM IT]

!!! tip If you’ve actually read the book, paste in your highlights or notes and ask Claude to synthesize them into a coherent framework. Works better than a general summary.

Explain the History and Context of a Topic

When to use it: You want to understand not just what something is, but how it came to be and why it matters.

Explain the history and context of [TOPIC].

I want to understand:
- Where it came from and why it developed
- The key moments or people that shaped it
- How the current state connects to that history
- What's commonly misunderstood because people skip the historical context

Keep it under [300 / 500 / as needed] words. Focus on context that actually changes how I should think about it today — not just trivia.

!!! tip This is especially useful for understanding ideological debates, industry dynamics, and technical decisions that seem arbitrary until you know the history.

Teach Me Through Examples

When to use it: Abstract explanations aren’t sticking and you need to see concepts in action.

Teach me [CONCEPT] through concrete examples.

Don't start with the definition — start with 3-5 examples of it in action. After the examples, give me the clean explanation of what they have in common. Then give me one example that looks like [CONCEPT] but isn't, so I understand the edge of the idea.

My background: [BRIEF DESCRIPTION]

!!! tip This “examples first, theory second” structure mirrors how experts actually think. It tends to produce more durable understanding than definition-first explanations.