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August 12, 2026

One True Prompt #224: Learning & Research (0338)

One True Prompt — Issue 224

Issue 224 · August 12, 2026

One True Prompt

10 practical AI prompts every day. Copy, paste, and learn.

Today's theme: Learning & Research

By Dr. Rowan Hayes · Daily edition

Here are 10 prompts you can use today. Each one is ready to copy and paste into ChatGPT or Claude. Try at least one.

Prompt: Turn a hard topic into a simple explainer
Copy and paste this:
You are a patient teacher helping a 62-year-old named Linda who wants to understand **AI and deepfakes** without jargon. Explain the topic in plain English using a real-world example: a fake voicemail that sounds like Linda’s bank asking her to “confirm a transfer.” Start with a 1-paragraph overview, then give 5 bullet points: what deepfakes are, how they are made at a high level, why they matter, 3 warning signs that something may be fake, and 3 practical ways Linda can protect herself. End with a 4-question self-check quiz and the answers underneath each question.
Prompt: Compare two sides of a health topic
Copy and paste this:
Create a plain-English comparison for a 58-year-old named Michael who has high blood pressure and is deciding between **the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet**. Use a table with these rows: main idea, foods to eat more of, foods to limit, evidence for blood pressure, cost, ease of sticking with it, and one sample day of meals. Then write a short “If I were Michael’s doctor, here’s how I’d explain it” section in friendly language. Keep it practical and avoid medical jargon.
Prompt: Find the best beginner path for learning a skill
Copy and paste this:
Design a **30-day beginner learning plan for watercolor painting** for a 67-year-old named Carol who has never painted before and has 45 minutes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Start with the goal for the month in one sentence. Then break the month into 4 weekly themes. For each practice day, give one exact activity, one supply list item, and one “what success looks like” line. Use realistic examples like painting a lemon, a cup, and a simple flower. Include 2 rest/review days each week.
Prompt: Help me research a topic like a smart assistant
Copy and paste this:
Act like a research assistant for a 54-year-old named Denise who is curious about **whether caffeine affects sleep in adults over 50**. Give me a research brief with these sections: what the question means, 5 key findings from credible evidence, what researchers still disagree about, what the evidence says specifically for adults over 50, and 5 follow-up questions worth exploring. Use simple language, note where evidence is strong or weak, and avoid making it sound more certain than it is. End with a 6-sentence “what this means in real life” summary.
Prompt: Turn articles into something a real person can use
Copy and paste this:
Summarize a news article for a 70-year-old named Robert who wants to understand **what the article means for his daily life**. Use this article topic: “The rise of AI-generated customer service in banks and airlines.” Give me 8 bullet points in plain English, then add a section called “What Robert should remember” with 5 practical takeaways. Finally, write a 3-sentence version that Robert could tell his wife at dinner.
Prompt: Build a study plan for a lifelong learner
Copy and paste this:
Create a **6-week self-study plan for learning basic Spanish** for a 61-year-old named Susan who is starting from zero and wants to use it on a trip to San Antonio. She can study 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week. For each week, give a theme, 8 to 10 essential words or phrases, one listening activity, one speaking activity, and one mini-review quiz. Keep it practical and focused on travel, food, directions, and polite conversation. Include a final “how to keep going after week 6” section.
Prompt: Help me understand a topic by teaching it three ways
Copy and paste this:
Teach **how Social Security works** to a 65-year-old named Frank in three levels: 1. Explain it like I’m brand new to the topic. 2. Explain it like I’m preparing to retire in the next 2 years. 3. Explain it like I want to make a careful decision about when to claim benefits. For each level, use plain English, one real-life example, and 3 quick check-your-understanding questions with answers. End with a short list of 5 terms Frank should know, explained simply: benefit amount, full retirement age, claiming early, delaying benefits, and cost-of-living adjustment.
Prompt: Find reliable sources and separate fact from hype
Copy and paste this:
Act as a careful fact-checker for a 57-year-old named Evelyn who saw claims online that **“blue-light glasses dramatically improve sleep and eye health.”** Give me: - 5 claims people commonly make - For each claim, label it as strong evidence, mixed evidence, or weak evidence - A short explanation of why - What a person like Evelyn should do if she spends 6 hours a day on a computer - 3 questions she should ask before buying expensive glasses Keep it balanced, clear, and based on evidence rather than marketing language.
Prompt: Build a learning plan around saved articles and videos
Copy and paste this:
Create a **3-week learning system for a 68-year-old named Nancy** who has saved articles and videos about **heart health, strength training, and healthy cooking** but never goes back to them. Organize the material into 3 buckets: learn, practice, and review. Then give her a weekly routine with 3 sessions per week, 30 minutes each. For each session, tell her exactly what to do: read one article, take 5 notes, watch one video, or try one recipe. Include one catch-up day each week and one way to track progress without using an app.
Prompt: Turn research into a decision tool
Copy and paste this:
Help a 63-year-old named Thomas decide whether **a hybrid car is worth it for his driving habits**. He drives 9,000 miles a year, mostly short trips in Columbus, Ohio, and keeps cars for about 10 years. Give me a simple decision guide with these sections: upfront cost, fuel savings, maintenance considerations, resale value, and when a hybrid makes the most sense. Include a sample comparison using a Honda Accord Hybrid and a regular Honda Accord in plain English, without pretending exact prices will stay the same. End with a “best choice if…” section for 3 different situations.

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One True Prompt · By Dr. Rowan Hayes · drrowanhayes.com
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