Use Google Docs 'Help Me Write' for Policy Summaries and FAQ Content

What This Does

Google Docs' built-in AI ("Help me write") generates drafts of longer documents (FAQ pages, policy summaries, staff training memos, and workshop scripts) directly in the document you're editing. For financial aid counselors who perpetually deprioritize content creation, it makes it easy to produce polished reference materials in a single session.

Before You Start

• You have a Google account (free, or your institution's Google Workspace account)
• Google Docs open in your browser (docs.google.com)
• You know the topic/content you want to create (a list of FAQ questions, a policy summary topic, etc.)

Steps

1. Open a New Google Doc

1. Go to docs.google.com → click Blank document (or the + icon)
2. Add a title: e.g., "Financial Aid FAQ Fall 2026" or "Staff Policy Summary: FAFSA Simplification Changes"

What you should see: A blank document with your title

2. Find the 'Help Me Write' Feature

1. Click in the document body (below the title)
2. Press Tab or look for the ✏️ Help me write prompt that appears at the top of the blank document, OR
3. In the menu bar, click Insert → Help me write
4. A prompt box appears at the top of the document

What you should see: A text field with "Help me write" and a cursor ready for your instruction Troubleshooting: If "Help me write" doesn't appear, make sure you're logged in with a Google account and have the feature enabled. It's available in personal Google accounts and most Google Workspace for Education accounts.

3. Write Your Content Prompt

In the Help me write box, describe what you want:

For FAQ content:

Write an FAQ page for our college financial aid office website. Questions to address: (1) What is the FAFSA and why do I need to complete it? (2) What happens if my family's financial situation changed after I filed the FAFSA? (3) What is verification and why was I selected? (4) When will my financial aid disburse? (5) What is Satisfactory Academic Progress? Each answer should be under 100 words, in plain language for first-generation students.

For a staff policy memo:

Write a 1-page staff summary of the changes to FAFSA for the 2025-26 award year. Audience: financial aid counselors. Cover: what changed in the Simplified FAFSA, how it affects the Student Aid Index calculation, and what counselors should know when advising students. Professional tone.

1. Click Create. Docs generates a draft in 10-30 seconds

What you should see: A full draft appearing in your document

4. Refine the Draft

1. Read the draft and highlight any sections that need correction or more detail
2. Select text you want to revise → right-click → Refine or click the Gemini icon → type your refinement instruction
3. Example refinements: "Make this section simpler" or "Add a section on what to do if the student disagrees with their award"
4. When satisfied, format with headers, bold key terms, and share or export

Real Example

Scenario: It's the week before fall enrollment and your financial aid website FAQ hasn't been updated in 3 years. Students are already emailing the same 10 questions.

What you do: Open a new Google Doc → Help me write → "Write FAQ answers for these 8 common financial aid questions at our community college. Audience: first-generation college students. Plain language." → list the 8 questions → generate → spend 15 minutes reviewing and editing → publish to your website.

What you get: A complete, updated FAQ page that was created in a 20-minute session and will reduce your inbox volume for the entire semester.

Tips

• Use this for staff training documents too. "Summarize the key differences between subsidized and unsubsidized loans for a new financial aid counselor who's never worked in the field before" generates a useful onboarding reference
• Always have a subject matter expert review AI-generated policy content before publishing. AI can make plausible-sounding errors on specific regulatory details
• Save frequently used prompts in a "Prompt Library" document. The FAQ prompt above can be reused every year with minor updates

Tool interfaces change. If a button has moved, look for similar AI/magic/smart options in the same menu area.