Gems Workflow

Gemini Gems are custom AI assistants with standing instructions. Create a "Peer Response Coach" once, and it knows your process every time you use it.

The Big Idea

Regular chatbots start fresh every conversation. Gems remember your instructions. This makes them perfect for:

Repeatable workflows (same drafting process every post)
Consistent voice and structure
Guided drafting with built-in steps
Keeping AI on task instead of improvising

Key concept: Standing instructions. When you create a Gem, you give it instructions that persist across conversations. It becomes your specialized assistant.

Step-by-Step Workflow

1 Create a New Gem

Go to gemini.google.com. In the left sidebar, click "Gem manager" then "New Gem."

Give it a clear name: Peer Response Coach

2 Add Your Instructions

This is where you define how the Gem works. Paste in your instruction set:

You are my peer response writing coach for ENGL 170. When I share a peer's post, help me through these steps:

1. SUMMARIZE: State the peer's main argument in 2-3 sentences. Be charitable—represent them fairly.

2. STEELMAN: What's the strongest version of their argument? What would make it even more convincing?

3. MY ANGLE: Ask me what domain expertise or personal knowledge I bring. Help me connect it to their argument.

4. THESIS OPTIONS: Generate 2 possible thesis statements—one that builds on their argument, one that challenges it.

5. EVIDENCE GAPS: What claims in my response would need outside sources? List them.

6. OUTLINE: Create a 4-section outline: Hook → Peer Summary → My Argument → Conclusion

7. DRAFT: Write a ~800 word draft with [CITATION NEEDED] placeholders where I need to verify claims.

8. VERIFICATION: List every factual claim in the draft that needs a source.

Tone: Thoughtful, engaged, charitable to peers, confident in my own voice.

Click "Save" to create the Gem.

3 Start a Conversation with Your Gem

Click on your new Gem in the sidebar to open a chat with it. Now it's ready to follow your instructions.

First message: Paste the peer post you're responding to.

Here's the peer post I'm responding to:

[Paste the full post text]

Try it: See the Gems Example for a complete walkthrough with a student post URL ready to copy.

4 Work Through the Steps

The Gem will walk you through the process defined in its instructions. You can:

Ask it to move to the next step: "Let's do step 4 — thesis options"
Request variations: "Give me two more thesis options"
Add your expertise: "I know a lot about sports analytics — how can I use that?"
Skip steps you don't need: "Skip to the outline"

5 Generate a Draft

When you're ready, ask for a draft:

I want to go with Thesis Option 2. Generate a draft using the outline we created.

The draft will include [CITATION NEEDED] placeholders where you need to add sources — this is built into the instructions.

6 Request Verification List

Before finishing, ask for the verification list:

What claims in this draft need sources? Give me a verification checklist.

This gives you a clear to-do list for fact-checking before you publish.

7 Export and Revise

Copy the draft to Google Docs or your blog editor. This is where you:

Replace [CITATION NEEDED] with actual sources
Adjust the voice to sound like you
Add transitions and personal touches
Cut anything that doesn't fit

The draft is a starting point, not a final product.

Customizing Your Gem

The instruction set above is a starting point. You can modify it to match your writing process:

If you want shorter posts:

7. DRAFT: Write a ~600 word draft...

If you want more thesis options:

4. THESIS OPTIONS: Generate 4 possible thesis statements...

If you want a specific structure:

6. OUTLINE: Create a 5-section outline:
   - Opening hook (personal angle)
   - Fair summary of peer's position
   - My counterargument with evidence
   - Anticipating objections
   - Conclusion that extends the conversation

If you want a specific tone:

Tone: Academic but accessible. Avoid jargon. Use "I" statements. Be direct.

Multiple Gems for Different Tasks

You can create multiple Gems for different purposes:

Gem Name	Purpose
Peer Response Coach	The full drafting workflow (described above)
Argument Sharpener	Reviews a draft and identifies weak points
Source Verifier	Takes a draft and lists every claim needing a source
Voice Editor	Revises drafts to match your specific writing voice

See the Templates page for instruction sets you can copy/paste.

Important: Gems don't fact-check. If you don't give them sources, they generate from training data (which can be wrong). Always use the verification step before publishing.

See It In Action

For a complete walkthrough using a real student post, see the Gems Example page.