Here is a compact “prompt pack” four you to copy‑paste and adapt. Fill in the [brackets] with their own details.
1) Planning prompts
These help design focused, source‑driven research sessions.
A. Research plan for one question
You are a professional genealogy research assistant who follows the Genealogical Proof Standard.
My research question is: “[state your question clearly, e.g., Who were the parents of John Clark, born about 1843 in X County, Y State?].”
Known facts and clues so far:
– [Fact 1 with source]
– [Fact 2 with source]
– [Unresolved conflicts or uncertainties]Please:
Restate the research question in your own words.
List the most likely record types and jurisdictions to consult (prioritized).
Suggest specific repositories, databases, or catalog search terms I should try.
Propose a step‑by‑step research plan for the next 5–10 hours of work.
Flag any obvious gaps or logical issues in my current approach.
B. Locality and time‑period brief
I am researching [surname(s)] in [town/county, state/province, country] between [start year] and [end year].
Please create a concise locality guide for this period that covers:
– Jurisdictional structure and any boundary changes.
– Common record types kept at each level (town, county, state, national).
– Major events or migrations that may have affected record survival or movement.
– Typical naming or cultural patterns I should watch for.
Keep it under 800 words and organize with clear headings and bullet points.
C. Session checklist
I have a 60–90 minute genealogy work session focused on: [brief goal, e.g., analyzing deeds for John Clark in X County].
Please:
– Break this into a realistic checklist of tasks I can complete in that time.
– Put the most important tasks first.
– Include 1–2 “stretch” tasks if I finish early.
– End with a short review step so I can note findings and to‑dos for next time.
2) Evidence‑analysis prompts
These help unpack, correlate, and question what the records are saying.
D. Timeline building and correlation
I am working on the identity of [person/couple].
Below are my notes and record extracts (with dates and sources):
[paste your notes, transcriptions, and citations]Please:
Build a chronological timeline of events with dates, places, and sources.
Note patterns, gaps, and any conflicts in the information.
Suggest at least 3 possible explanations for the main conflict(s).
Propose 3–5 targeted next steps to strengthen or challenge the leading hypothesis.
E. Conflicting evidence about identity
I am trying to determine whether the records below refer to the same individual or to different people with the same name.
Working hypothesis: “[state your current hypothesis].”
Evidence summary (include brief citations):
– [Record 1 summary]
– [Record 2 summary]
– [Record 3 summary]Please analyze this as a professional genealogist would:
– List arguments that support my hypothesis.
– List arguments that weaken or contradict it.
– Identify missing information that would be especially helpful.
– Suggest 2–3 alternative hypotheses I should also consider.
F. Source evaluation
I am evaluating the reliability of this source for a specific conclusion.
Research question: [restate].
Source description: [type of record, jurisdiction, date, who created it, how I accessed it].
Extracted information: [what the record says about the person/relationship/event].Please:
– Classify this source as original/derivative and the information as primary/secondary/undetermined, explaining why.
– Discuss likely strengths and weaknesses of this source for answering my question.
– Suggest what other independent sources I should seek to corroborate or challenge this evidence.
G. Negative evidence and absence of records
I searched for [type of record, e.g., 1870 census entries] for [person/family] in [place] and did not find them.
Search details: [repositories or databases used, search terms, and filters].Please:
– List plausible reasons why I might not be finding them.
– Suggest additional jurisdictions, years, or record types I should check.
– Help me phrase a short, clear paragraph explaining this negative evidence for a research report.
3) Writing prompts (reports, client work, and blogging)
These help turn analysis into readable prose while keeping you in control.
H. Proof‑style narrative draft
I need help drafting a clear, neutral narrative explaining my conclusion about: [research question].
Here are my notes and analysis:
[paste your reasoning, bulleted or rough]Please draft 3–6 paragraphs that:
– Open with the conclusion in plain language.
– Summarize key evidence in logical groups (not source‑by‑source).
– Acknowledge and address the major conflicting evidence.
– End with a brief statement of why this conclusion is most reasonable.
Use calm, professional language suitable for a research report. I will add formal citations myself.
I. Turning notes into a family sketch
Below are my notes about [person/family] including dates, places, and records used.
[paste notes]Please turn this into a narrative family sketch that:
– Tells the story in roughly chronological order.
– Keeps the tone factual and avoids embellishing beyond the evidence I provided.
– Mentions uncertainties or gaps without trying to “fill them in.”
– Leaves space (e.g., “[citation]”) where I can later insert formal source citations.
J. Polishing my own draft without changing my voice
Here is a draft section of my genealogy report/blog post:
[paste 1–3 paragraphs]Please lightly edit for clarity, grammar, and flow while keeping my tone and sentence structure as much as possible.
– Do not add new facts or speculation.
– Do not remove any dates, places, or names.
– Return the revised version and briefly list the main types of edits you made.
K. Blog‑post outline from a case study
I want to turn the following research case into a blog post aimed at other genealogists and family historians.
Case summary and key points:
[paste summary of the case, focusing on process and methods].Please:
– Propose an engaging title and 3–5 alternative titles.
– Create an outline with headings and subheadings that emphasizes methods, not living individuals’ private details.
– Suggest 3 sidebar or call‑out ideas (e.g., short tips, checklists, or “what I learned” boxes).
L. Reusable report sections
I would like a reusable template paragraph I can adapt for research reports.
Topic: [e.g., scope and limitations of the search / description of locality / summary of DNA limitations].
Audience: [client / society journal / blog readers].Please write 2–3 versions of a concise, professional paragraph that:
– Explains the point in plain language.
– Can be adapted by filling in a few blanks.
– Avoids jargon or, when necessary, briefly explains it.
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