AI in the Classroom: Metaphorical Writing Prompts

GPT as an ATV for creative roadblocks!

Apr 20, 2024

Introduction

For years now I’ve wanted metaphorical writing prompts to supplement my teaching analogies book. But I needed models as starting point. I’m familiar with the two-columned creative writing exercise—abstract nouns on the left and concrete nouns on the right—but that wasn’t quite enough. So my planning document languished for years and collected dusk.

And then this week I had a thought: Why not ask AI? So ten minutes later, after years of nothing, ChatGPT had 50 prompts along with advice for teachers on writing them (the prompts) and students on answering them. Now I’m wondering (a) how many writing samples I can generate before that last bell and (b) how I can restructure my writing task progressions.

Part 1 will detail condense my main conversation into three areas: 1. The Initial Prompts, 2. Advice for Students, and 3. Advice for Teachers. Post 2 will include my unedited list of 50 prompts you can steal for the classroom tomorrow. Share this with your English teacher friends!

I wasn’t sure how much priming it would need, so here was my initial run and the results.

Me: I'm an English teacher and I'm working through analogies with my students. As we compare comparisons, I'm wondering: Could you create a list of ten metaphorical writing prompts? They should be simple and highlight the process of thinking abstractly. They should use easy comparisons if possible.

ChatGPT: Absolutely! Here are ten metaphorical writing prompts tailored for fostering abstract thinking:

1. Life is a Roller Coaster: Write about a day in your life as if it were a roller coaster ride. Describe the highs, lows, twists, and turns you encounter.
2. Books are Gardens: Imagine your favorite book as a garden. Describe the different elements of the garden (characters, plot, setting) and how they grow and interact with each other.
3. Friendship is a Puzzle: Reflect on the idea that friendship is like solving a puzzle. Write about the different pieces (traits, experiences) that come together to form a strong friendship.
4. Dreams are Seeds: Consider your dreams as seeds waiting to be planted. Describe the process of nurturing and growing your dreams into reality.
5. Challenges are Mountains: Think of a difficult task or obstacle as a mountain to climb. Describe the journey, the obstacles faced, and the feeling of accomplishment when reaching the summit.
6. Time is a River: Reflect on time as a flowing river. Write about how events and experiences are like currents shaping the course of your life.
7. Love is a Beacon: Explore the idea that love is like a guiding light in the darkness. Describe how love illuminates your path and brings warmth and comfort.
8. Education is a Journey: Consider your educational journey as a voyage. Describe the different milestones, challenges, and discoveries along the way.
9. Creativity is a Blank Canvas: Imagine creativity as a blank canvas waiting to be filled. Describe the process of inspiration, creation, and self-expression.
10. Success is a Harvest: Think of achieving your goals as reaping a bountiful harvest. Describe the hard work, patience, and satisfaction of seeing your efforts come to fruition.

These prompts should encourage your students to think abstractly and creatively while also providing them with familiar comparisons to help them express their thoughts effectively.

I was fairly impressed here. Before using them in full, I want to practice rewriting them my own style, and I might use Google Forms to either have students vote on them or practice writing initial, short responses. Check out Post 2 for a full list of 50 free prompts!

Part 2: Planning Responses

The prompts were one thing, but helping students organize their thinking is another. I asked how to outline potential responses, not knowing what would happen. This section got a bit wordy.

Me: From an organizational standpoint, how would you outline answering a metaphorical prompt? That is, what a priori order would be compare the two items, regardless of the prompt?

ChatGPT: When approaching a metaphorical prompt, regardless of its specific topic, it can be helpful to follow a structured outline that systematically compares and contrasts the two elements involved. Here's an organizational framework you can use:

1. Introduction: Provide a brief overview of the prompt and the abstract concept and concrete symbol being compared. State your interpretation of the metaphor and the main points you'll be exploring in your response.
2. Description of the Abstract Concept: Define the abstract concept being explored in the prompt. Discuss its significance, characteristics, and various aspects.
3. Description of the Concrete Symbol: Describe the concrete object or situation used as a metaphor for the abstract concept. Provide details about its appearance, properties, and relevance to the comparison.
4. Comparison of Similarities: Identify and discuss the similarities between the abstract concept and the concrete symbol. Highlight how they share common traits, qualities, or characteristics.
5. Exploration of Differences: Identify and discuss any differences between the abstract concept and the concrete symbol. Consider how they diverge in terms of attributes, behaviors, or implications.
6. Analysis of Relationship: Examine the relationship between the abstract concept and the concrete symbol. Discuss how they interact or complement each other within the context of the metaphor.
7. Personal Reflection: Reflect on your personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings related to the metaphorical comparison. Share anecdotes, examples, or insights that illustrate your understanding of the metaphor.
8. Conclusion: Summarize the key points of your analysis and reflection. Reiterate the significance of the metaphor and its implications. Offer closing thoughts or observations about the broader significance of the comparison.

By following this structured outline, you can effectively organize your response to a metaphorical prompt, ensuring clarity, coherence, and depth in your exploration of the metaphorical relationship between the abstract concept and the concrete symbol

While I didn’t mind this responses, my middle school students would buckle here. So I asked for a more concise version.

Me: What would that look like with simplified Roman Numerals? What would five sections look like?

ChatGPT: Sure, here's how you could simplify the outline into five sections using Roman numerals:

I. Introduction

Brief overview of the prompt and comparison
Statement of interpretation and main points

II. Description of Abstract Concept

Definition and significance

III. Description of Concrete Symbol

Details and relevance

IV. Comparison of Similarities and Differences

Discuss common traits and distinctions

V. Analysis and Personal Reflection

Examine relationship and share personal insights

This condensed outline maintains the essential elements of the analysis while simplifying the organizational structure into five main sections.

Better! But after ten years in the classroom, I realized some sentence starters were in order. So I followed up by asking what it could do.

Me: Earlier we talked about possible answer outlines. Would you be able to create sentence stems to help students begin their answers?

ChatGPT: Certainly! Here are some sentence stems to help students begin their answers to metaphorical prompts:

Introduction:

When considering [abstract concept] as [concrete symbol], it becomes apparent that...
In exploring the metaphor of [abstract concept] as [concrete symbol], one can see...

Description of Abstract Concept:

[Abstract concept] is defined as...
The essence of [abstract concept] lies in...
When we think of [abstract concept], we envision...

Description of Concrete Symbol:

[Concrete symbol] is depicted as...
The metaphorical representation of [abstract concept] through [concrete symbol] reveals...
When we examine [concrete symbol], we notice...

Comparison of Similarities and Differences:

Like [abstract concept], [concrete symbol]...
However, unlike [abstract concept], [concrete symbol]...
Both [abstract concept] and [concrete symbol] share the trait of..., yet they differ in...

Analysis and Personal Reflection:

This metaphor highlights the relationship between [abstract concept] and [concrete symbol] by...
Personally, I find this metaphor meaningful because...
Through this metaphor, I've come to realize that...

These sentence stems can serve as starting points for students to structure their responses and express their thoughts coherently when addressing metaphorical prompts.

I actually ran this one several more times to create better starters. However, I realized how long this post is getting, so I won’t mind adding them by request.

Part 3: Advice for Teachers

My initial goal was creating models as starting points. That said, I wondered if GPT had any “wisdom” for me. You could argue these are truisms, but I liked them.

Me: Back to the earlier ten prompts: Can you generalize and give a paragraph of advice to teachers for writing metaphorical prompts? How should we go about writing our own?

ChatGPT: Certainly! When crafting metaphorical writing prompts, it's essential to consider both the complexity of the comparison and the clarity of expression for your students. Start by identifying abstract concepts or ideas you want to explore, such as emotions, values, or experiences. Then, select concrete objects or situations that can effectively symbolize or represent those abstract concepts. Keep the comparisons simple and relatable, using imagery that students can easily visualize and connect with their own experiences.

Ensure that the prompt allows for interpretation and personal reflection, encouraging students to explore their thoughts and feelings in response. Avoid overly complex or obscure comparisons that may confuse or overwhelm students. Instead, aim for prompts that strike a balance between familiarity and depth, providing a framework for creative expression while still challenging students to think abstractly.

Additionally, consider the age, interests, and cultural background of your students when designing metaphorical prompts, tailoring them to resonate with their experiences and perspectives. Finally, encourage students to engage with the prompts authentically, encouraging them to delve into their own thoughts, emotions, and observations to create meaningful and expressive writing. By following these guidelines, you can create metaphorical prompts that inspire creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression in your students.

Me: Can you rewrite that as ten bullet points (or guidelines) for teachers who want to write their own metaphorical prompts?

ChatGPT: Absolutely! Here are ten guidelines for teachers who want to write their own metaphorical prompts:

1. Identify Abstract Concepts: Choose abstract ideas or emotions you want to explore in your prompt, such as love, courage, or perseverance.
2. Select Concrete Symbols: Pick concrete objects or situations that can effectively symbolize or represent the abstract concepts chosen in step one.
3. Keep it Simple: Ensure that the comparison between the abstract concept and the concrete symbol is straightforward and easily understandable for your students.
4. Make it Relatable: Use imagery and symbols that students can relate to their own experiences, making the prompt more engaging and accessible.
5. Encourage Interpretation: Craft prompts that allow for interpretation and personal reflection, giving students the freedom to explore their own thoughts and feelings.
6. Avoid Complexity: Steer clear of overly complex or obscure comparisons that may confuse or overwhelm students, aiming for clarity and accessibility instead.
7. Balance Familiarity and Depth: Strike a balance between familiarity and depth in your prompts, providing a framework for creative expression while still challenging students to think abstractly.
8. Consider Students' Backgrounds: Take into account the age, interests, and cultural background of your students when designing prompts, ensuring that they resonate with their experiences and perspectives.
9. Encourage Authentic Engagement: Encourage students to engage authentically with the prompts, prompting them to delve into their own thoughts, emotions, and observations to create meaningful and expressive writing.
10. Promote Creativity and Critical Thinking: Ultimately, aim to create prompts that inspire creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression in your students, fostering a deeper understanding of both language and abstract concepts

Conclusion

I ran these prompts not expecting much—certainly not enough to publish—but I liked the results. I’m still debating these exact wordings since they don’t match my style, but I now have enough to start complementing my teaching analogies books. In a perfect world, these prompts will help my students write about symbolism in-depth as we read throughout the year. Time will tell.

Check out Post 2 for 50 Metaphorical Writing Prompts!