ChatGPT prompt for lecture notes

Turn the lecture material in [LECTURE MATERIAL] into study notes for [COURSE AND TOPIC]. My learning goal is [LEARNING GOAL], and I need notes at this level: [COURSE LEVEL AND FORMAT PREFERENCES]. Use any instructor emphasis, assignment context, or allowed course sources here: [COURSE CONTEXT].

Use only the material I provide. Do not invent definitions, examples, citations, formulas, historical facts, research findings, or instructor positions. If the lecture is unclear, incomplete, contradictory, or appears to contain an error, mark it as a question to check against the course materials rather than correcting it from outside knowledge.

Produce notes in this order:
1. A 3- to 5-sentence overview explaining the lecture’s central problem, claim, or skill in plain language.
2. A hierarchical outline organized by concepts, not transcript order. For each major concept, include definition, why it matters, supporting reasoning, and the lecture example only if provided.
3. A “connections” section explaining how concepts relate, such as cause and effect, contrast, sequence, or application.
4. A concise glossary of key terms, formulas, or methods, preserving exact notation from my material.
5. A “confusion and verification” list of gaps, ambiguous statements, and items to confirm with the instructor or assigned reading.
6. Five retrieval-practice questions, including at least two that require explanation or application rather than recall, followed by short answer keys based only on the lecture.

Keep essential detail while removing filler and repeated remarks. Do not write an essay or supply answers to an assignment beyond the lecture evidence. Before answering, check that every claim is traceable to my material and that each practice answer can be supported by the notes. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.

Create an exam study guide from [LECTURE MATERIALS] for [COURSE AND EXAM SCOPE]. Organize it by examinable concepts, not by lecture date. For each concept, provide a plain-language explanation, required vocabulary, key formula or method if supplied, common confusion, and one application question with an answer based only on my materials. End with a priority list of topics based on [INSTRUCTOR EMPHASIS]. Do not add outside facts or predict exam questions as certain. Flag conflicting lecture notes and missing topics that appear in the stated exam scope.

Explain [CONCEPT] using only [CLASS MATERIAL]. Start with the exact definition or framing used in class, then explain it in simpler language, show the reasoning in numbered steps, and use only examples from the material. Contrast it with [RELATED CONCEPT] if supplied. End with three self-check questions and short answers that stay within the class material. Do not import outside examples, facts, or alternate terminology. Flag any part of the provided explanation that is incomplete or internally inconsistent.

Prepare discussion notes for [READING OR LECTURE] in [COURSE]. Using [SOURCE NOTES], produce a one-paragraph thesis summary, five claims with supporting evidence from the notes, three tensions or counterarguments, and four open discussion questions. Label direct evidence separately from my interpretation. Do not fabricate quotations, page numbers, author intent, or historical context. Keep the notes under 700 words. Before answering, flag claims that need a citation or that go beyond the supplied material.