Given prompt to ChatGPT :
“Tough times were frequent during my sophomore year of high school and I felt like I
couldn’t catch a break. Family health issues, financial struggles, and my slipping grades
caused me to close myself off from my friends. I became so irritable that no one wanted
to be in my company and I finally understood the saying “misery loves company”. I was
upset that everyone was going about their everyday lives while I had to struggle with
even the simplest of tasks. That’s when Mariana stepped up. She showed up at my house
with a pint of my favorite ice cream (chocolate, of course) and offered a listening ear –
something I hadn’t had in months. The overwhelming feeling of release had tears
flowing down my face and by the time I was done talking, Mariana was blurred in my
vision. She didn’t say one word. Mariana sat right beside me and just hugged me for a
few minutes. The silence between us made it feel like hours had passed and when she
got up she told me that she was there for me. The guilt started creeping up and I could
feel my eyes beginning to swell again. What was I thinking? My friends love me and all I
did was push them away when I needed them most. Mariana’s small act of kindness had
a profound effect on me and reminded me of the power of compassion and friendship. It
may seem silly, but it has truly changed my life and I am forever grateful for that pint of
chocolate ice cream and hug. I now carry that same compassion with me everywhere I
go and show it to anyone, even if I don’t know their whole life story. Something so small
and free can truly change someone’s life and I hope to be the Mariana to someone else.
“
ChatGPT said:
This is a heartfelt and impactful piece! Now, let’s apply the constraint-based prompt
engineering method.
Constraints and Responses
1. Summary Constraint
Prompt: “ChatGPT, please provide a concise summary of the provided text in no more than
100 words.”
Response:
The narrator recalls a difficult period in their sophomore year, struggling with family issues,
financial troubles, and declining grades. They isolated themselves from friends until
Mariana, a compassionate friend, visited with ice cream and a listening ear. Without saying
much, Mariana’s silent support and hug provided immense comfort. This moment led the
narrator to realize the importance of friendship and compassion, inspiring them to carry that
same kindness forward. A simple act of care changed their perspective, and they now strive
to be a source of support for others.
2. Expansion Constraint
Prompt: “ChatGPT, could you expand on the given text by adding more details and context?
Feel free to elaborate as much as you like.”
Response:
Sophomore year was a period of overwhelming stress for the narrator, filled with family
health concerns, financial instability, and academic struggles. The weight of these issues led
them to withdraw from friends, becoming irritable and distant. Their frustration grew as
they observed others carrying on as if life were normal, while they felt trapped in an endless
cycle of hardship.
Mariana, a close friend, noticed the change and took action. One evening, she arrived
unannounced with a pint of chocolate ice cream—the narrator’s favorite. More importantly,
she came with no expectations, only a willingness to listen. As the narrator poured out their
bottled-up emotions, tears flowed freely. Mariana didn’t interrupt or try to fix things;
instead, she simply sat beside them, offering a silent hug that spoke louder than words. The
moment stretched on, allowing the narrator to feel heard and seen for the first time in
months.
After Mariana left, the narrator was overwhelmed with guilt, realizing they had pushed away
the very people who cared most. This act of kindness shifted their perspective, making them
appreciate the impact of even the smallest gestures. From that moment on, they carried
Mariana’s lesson with them, vowing to show kindness to others, whether friends or
strangers, because a simple act—like ice cream and a hug—can change a life.
3. Change of Perspective Constraint
Prompt: “ChatGPT, now could you please rewrite the text from a first-person perspective
from Mariana’s point of view?”
Response:
I could tell something was wrong. For weeks, my friend had been distant, brushing off
conversations, skipping hangouts, and avoiding eye contact in the hallways. It hurt to see
them shutting everyone out, but I knew this wasn’t about me—it was about whatever
weight they were carrying.
One evening, I decided to do something about it. I grabbed a pint of their favorite chocolate
ice cream and headed over. I didn’t have a speech prepared or any words of wisdom; I just
wanted them to know they weren’t alone.
When they opened the door, I could see the exhaustion in their eyes. I handed them the ice
cream and sat down beside them, waiting. And then, the floodgates opened. They talked,
they cried, and I listened. I didn’t say a word because I knew they didn’t need advice—they
just needed someone to be there. So, I hugged them.
As I left, I told them, “I’m here for you.” I hoped they truly believed it. Because friendship
isn’t just about the good times—it’s about standing beside someone even when they don’t
ask you to.
4. Genre or Voice Transformation Constraint
Prompt: “Finally, ChatGPT, could you transform the text into a piece of speculative fiction,
perhaps from a dystopian future perspective?”
Response:
In the gray, soulless world of New Terra, emotions were a thing of the past. The Central
Authority had deemed them a distraction, a relic of the old world that led to chaos.
Friendships no longer existed, only alliances forged out of necessity. And yet, even in the
bleakest of times, some remnants of the past refused to die.
I was on the verge of collapse. The weight of daily survival, the scarcity of resources, and the
ever-present fear of the Authority’s watchful eye had drained me. I had stopped speaking to
anyone, convinced that isolation was the only way to endure.
But then, Mariana did the unthinkable. She broke the rules. One night, she slipped past the
surveillance drones and into my quarters, carrying a contraband item—chocolate. Real, rich,
illegal chocolate. But more than that, she offered something I hadn’t felt in years:
understanding.
She didn’t ask questions. She didn’t try to fix me. She just sat beside me, her presence
defying everything the world had become. When she finally stood to leave, she whispered
words I had long forgotten: “You’re not alone.”
In a world that sought to erase humanity, that single act of defiance reignited something
within me. And from that moment on, I vowed to do the same—to be the spark that
reminded others what it meant to feel.
Would you like to make any refinements or explore another variation? 😊