Below is a detailed **Lesson Plan** for **Week 4, Session 2** of the Prompt Engineering Specialization

course, titled *"Basic Scripting for Prompts."* This session builds on Week 4, Session 1’s exploration of AI
tools by introducing students to basic scripting (using Python) to automate and iterate prompts. It’s
designed for a 90-minute class (1.5 hours), combining lecture, demonstration, and hands-on coding to
enhance students’ technical skills in prompt engineering.

---

### Lesson Plan: Week 4, Session 2

**Title**: Basic Scripting for Prompts

**Date**: [Insert specific date, e.g., September 25, 2025, assuming a Tuesday/Thursday schedule]

**Duration**: 90 minutes

**Location**: Classroom or virtual platform (e.g., Zoom)

**Instructor**: [Your Name]

**Target Audience**: College students (beginner to intermediate level, mixed technical backgrounds)

**Prerequisites**: Attendance at prior sessions; familiarity with AI tools from Week 4, Session 1; no
prior coding experience required

---

### Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

1. Understand the basics of Python scripting for interacting with AI tools via APIs.

2. Write and execute a simple script to automate prompt testing.

3. Iterate prompts programmatically to explore variations or batch process tasks.

4. Troubleshoot basic scripting errors with peer support.

---

### Materials Needed

- Access to a generative AI tool with an API (e.g., Grok via xAI API, OpenAI’s API, or a free alternative like
Hugging Face Inference API)

- Python environment: Instructor’s computer with Python installed (e.g., Jupyter Notebook, VS Code);
students’ laptops with Python (or lab setup with pre-installed Python)

- API keys or tokens (if required; instructor-prepared or student-generated with guidance)

- Whiteboard or digital equivalent (e.g., Jamboard) for notes and error examples

- Handout: "Python for Prompting Cheat Sheet" (optional, with commands like `print()`, `requests.get()`)

- Homework submissions: Students’ notes from Week 4, Session 1 (prompt, output, pro/con of a new
tool)

---

### Session Schedule

#### 0:00–0:10 | Welcome and Homework Debrief (10 minutes)

- **Activity**: Tool Exploration Reflections

- Instructor welcomes students, recaps Week 4, Session 1 (exploring AI tools like ChatGPT, Grok).

- Ask 2-3 volunteers to share their homework:

- “What tool did you try?” (e.g., “Hugging Face”).

- “What was your prompt and output?” (e.g., “Short story” → quirky tale).

- “One pro or con?” (e.g., “Pro: Free, Con: Slow”).

- Note observations on whiteboard (e.g., “ChatGPT: polished,” “Grok: deep”).

- **Purpose**: Link tool experiences to scripting, showing how automation can enhance them.

- **Transition**: “You’ve seen how tools differ. Today, we’ll use Python to supercharge your prompting
with scripts.”

#### 0:10–0:30 | Lecture: Introduction to Scripting for Prompts (20 minutes)

- **Content**:
 - **Why Script?**: Automate repetitive prompts, test variations, scale tasks (e.g., generate 10 taglines).

- **Python Basics**:

- Variables: `prompt = "Write a tagline"`

- Loops: `for i in range(3): print("Test")` → Repeats 3 times.

- Libraries: `requests` for API calls.

- **API Basics**: APIs let Python talk to AI tools (e.g., send prompt, get response).

- Example: OpenAI/Grok API structure (simplified).

- **Simple Script**:

```python

import requests

prompt = "Write a 1-sentence sci-fi story."

response = requests.post("API_URL", data={"prompt": prompt, "key": "YOUR_KEY"})

print(response.text)

```

- **Delivery**:

- Slides with code snippets and outputs:

- Manual: Type “Write a tagline” 5 times → Tedious.

- Script: Loop 5 taglines → Efficient.

- Live Demo (5 minutes):

- Run a script (e.g., Grok API): “Generate 3 one-line jokes.”

- Show output (e.g., “Why don’t skeletons fight? No guts!”).

- Tweak live: Change to “3 space jokes” → New outputs.

- Ask, “How could this save time?”

- **Engagement**: Pause at 0:25 to ask, “What task would you automate?” (Quick responses, e.g.,
“Essay ideas”).

- **Purpose**: Demystify coding, show its prompting power.

#### 0:30–0:40 | Break (10 minutes)

- **Activity**: Students stretch or chat; instructor preps coding environment.

#### 0:40–1:15 | Activity: Write and Test a Prompt Script (35 minutes)

- **Content**: Students write a basic Python script to automate a prompt, test it, and debug.

- **Activity**: Scripting Starter Challenge

1. **Setup (5 min)**:

- Instructor explains: “You’ll write a script to send a prompt to an AI tool 3 times, varying it slightly.”

- Provide starter code (pre-tested with chosen API, e.g., Grok):

```python

import requests

api_url = "API_URL" # Instructor provides

api_key = "YOUR_KEY" # Instructor provides or guides setup

prompt = "Write a 1-sentence story about "

for i in range(3):

full_prompt = prompt + ["a cat", "a robot", "a spaceship"][i]

response = requests.post(api_url, data={"prompt": full_prompt, "key": api_key})

print(response.text)

```

- Ensure Python and API access (e.g., Jupyter Notebook link or lab setup).

2. **Individual Work (15 min)**:

- Students:

- Run the starter script, see outputs (e.g., 3 stories).

- Modify it: Change the prompt (e.g., “Give a tip about…”), adjust iterations, or tweak wording.

- Note results and any errors (e.g., “Key error” → typo).

- Stretch goal: Add a role (e.g., “As a scientist…”).

3. **Pair Troubleshoot (15 min)**:

- Pair up with a classmate.

- Share scripts, outputs, and issues.

- Debug together (e.g., fix syntax, adjust API call).

- **Facilitation**: Encourage experimentation (e.g., “Try 5 loops!”) and peer help.

- **Purpose**: Build coding confidence, apply automation to prompts.

#### 1:15–1:30 | Wrap-Up and Preview (15 minutes)

- **Content**:

- Recap: “Scripting lets you loop prompts, test fast, and scale up—Python makes it doable.”

- Debrief Activity: Invite 1-2 pairs to share (e.g., “My robot tips were hilarious!”). Note fixes on
whiteboard (e.g., “Space after prompt”).

- Next Session Preview: “We’ll review Weeks 1-4 and kick off a mini-project to flex your skills.”

- Homework: “Write a script to generate 3 outputs with your favorite tool. Bring the code, results, and
one challenge you faced.”

- **Activity**: Quick Q&A (e.g., “Any code stump you?” “Need API help?”).

- **Purpose**: Celebrate scripting wins, prep for project work.

---

### Assessment

- **Formative**:

- Participation in debrief and activity (observed engagement).

- Quality of scripts during activity (informal feedback).

- **No graded deliverables**: Focus on skill-building.

---

### Contingency Plans

- **If time runs short**: Shorten pair troubleshoot to 10 minutes, summarizing fixes as a group.

- **If tech fails**: Use pre-run outputs (e.g., “Here’s what my script gave…”), focus on code explanation.

- **If students lack coding experience**: Simplify to a single prompt script (no loop), or pair with
stronger coders.
---

### Post-Session Notes for Instructor

- Reflect: Did students grasp Python basics? Any API issues?

- Prep for Week 5, Session 1: Plan review Q&A, brainstorm mini-project ideas.

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This plan introduces scripting as a practical prompt engineering tool, keeping it accessible for beginners
while offering stretch goals for coders. It’s hands-on and collaborative, bridging manual prompting to
automation. Let me know if you’d like tweaks—like a different language or focus!