Writing Prompts that use Critical Thinking

Today, I had the opportunity to meet a friend who happens to be a faculty member in the social sciences department at my school. During our customary lunch discussions, the topic of conversation naturally gravitated toward the distinctions between teaching approaches in the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curricula. We delved into the significance of critical thinking as a crucial element in teaching any subject.

In the midst of our conversation, my friend posed an intriguing question: Can I effectively teach a scientific topic and subsequently employ the same concept to present a compelling case study from the realm of social sciences? Caught off guard, I struggled to provide a satisfactory response at the time. However, upon returning home, I embarked on a quest to develop a generalized prompt that could guide me in addressing this challenge.

With this goal in mind, I began crafting a prompt that would serve as a valuable tool in bridging the gap between science and social sciences.

write a note on "the Physics of Collisions and its application in Everyday Scenario"

This prompt delivered the fundamentals of collisions, and it's practical applications in everyday life. Classification of collisions was classified properly ( elastic or inelastic collisions) based on the conservation of kinetic energy. Understanding collision physics is crucial in fields such as automobile safety, sports, industrial machinery, air travel, sports equipment design, consumer electronics, and traffic engineering. Applying collision principles allows for the creation of safer environments, optimized performance, and efficient traffic management was also seen in this article. But, what was missing is" application of collisions in social sciences field".

So, I had to change the prompt again by incorporating it appropriately like this:

"Create a comprehensive article for graduate students, aiming to provide a multidisciplinary perspective on the topic of collisions. The article should delve into the technical aspects of collisions, explore their implications in different scientific fields, encourage critical thinking, and incorporate a real-life case study, clearly specifying the topic. The case study be in social sciences and should be presented as a narrative story, addressing key questions and details without emphasizing the subjects used. The sources used should be reliable and citation in the bibliography is a must".

This prompt is a general prompt and the topic can be given after the prompt is entered. So I used the prompt as collisions. The content of the article is summarized as below:

In this comprehensive article, the multidisciplinary concept of collisions is explored, with an emphasis on their technical aspects and implications in various scientific fields. Collisions in physics, encompassing both elastic and inelastic interactions, are discussed as fundamental phenomena, with references to works by Serway and Vuille (2017) and Halliday, Resnick, and Krane (2001). Chemistry, as a field where molecular collisions drive chemical reactions, is illuminated with citations from Levine (2000) and Laidler and Meiser (1982), which serve as foundational sources for understanding chemical kinetics and the kinetic theory of gases.

The realm of biology showcases how molecular collisions between enzymes and substrates influence biochemical reactions, as articulated by Berg, Tymoczko, and Stryer (2002). In addition, ecological interactions among species, often viewed as a form of biological collision, are discussed in line with Levins' theoretical work (1968).

This article extends its perspective into geophysics and astronomy, highlighting the role of celestial collisions in planetary formation and the study of asteroid redirection strategies, referencing Chapman and Morrison (1994).

A practical illustration of the multidisciplinary nature of collisions is presented through a social sciences case study in urban planning, illuminating the collision of interests and values in urban development within the context of social spaces and community interactions.

The article encourages critical thinking by suggesting that readers identify relevant disciplines, consider implications, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and explore ethical and societal implications in collision scenarios. In conclusion, the article underscores the interconnectedness of knowledge and the importance of multidisciplinary thinking. It portrays collisions, whether in physics, chemistry, biology, or social sciences, as bridges that connect various aspects of our world, empowering individuals to address complex problems and make informed decisions (Serway & Vuille, 2017; Halliday et al., 2001; Levine, 2000; Laidler & Meiser, 1982; Berg et al., 2002; Levins, 1968; Chapman & Morrison, 1994).

Thus, appropriate prompting can help us in creating articles as per our need. Isn't prompt engineering interesting?