Mark this lesson as complete
Finish all lessons and pass the quiz to earn your official course completion certificate.

Prompt as instructions, not questions

Video Module 3: Core Prompt Writing Principles

Prompt as instructions, not questions

  • Use Imperative Verbs:- Start with a direct command. Instead of asking "Can you tell me about..?" or "What is..?", use strong, action-oriented verbs. This sets a clear direction and reduces conversational "fluff."
    • Weak (Question): "What are the benefits of a Mediterranean diet?"
    • Strong (Instruction): "Analyze the nutritional benefits of a Mediterranean diet, focusing on heart health and longevity."
  • Define the "How" (Constraints & Format):- Instructions should include the specific parameters for the output. If you don’t define the format, the AI will default to whatever its training data suggests is most likely, which might not be what you need.
    • The Blueprint:
      • Tone: "Use a professional yet accessible tone."
      • Structure: "Organize the response into three bulleted sections."
      • Negative Constraints: "Avoid using jargon or mentioning [Specific Topic]."
  • The "Act As" Framework:- By instructing the AI to adopt a specific persona, you provide a massive amount of implicit instruction regarding vocabulary, depth of knowledge, and perspective.
    • Instruction: "Act as a senior project manager reviewing a proposal. Critique this timeline for potential bottlenecks and suggest three mitigation strategies."

Comparison: Question vs. Instruction

Feature

Prompt as a Question

Prompt as an Instruction

Intent

Information retrieval

Task execution

Output Control

Low (The AI chooses the length/style)

High (You define the boundaries)

Clarity

Often ambiguous

Explicit and directional

Example

"How do I bake a cake?"

"Write a step-by-step recipe for a gluten-free chocolate cake for a beginner."


  • Provide Context as "Input Data":- Instead of asking the AI to guess what you're thinking about, provide the raw material and instruct it on what to do with it. This turns the prompt into a functional workflow.
    • Instead of: "Tell me how to improve my resume."
    • Try: "I will provide my current job description and my resume. Identify gaps between my experience and the requirements, then rewrite my summary to bridge those gaps."
Course Content

Recommended Courses

Career Counsellor 6 Weeks
Advanced

₹0.00

Career Counsellor

A Career Counsellor guides individuals in choosing the right career path based on their skills, inte...

Food Safety 6 Weeks
Advanced

₹0.00

Food Safety

Food Safety ensures that food is handled, prepared, stored, and served in a way that prevents contam...

Social Impact and Rural Outreach 6 Weeks
Advanced

₹0.00

Social Impact and Rural Outreach

Driving inclusive growth by connecting rural communities with education, skill development, and empl...

Business Development & Partnerships 6 Weeks
Advanced

₹0.00

Business Development & Partnerships

Driving growth by identifying new business opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and expan...

Business & Data Analytics 6 Weeks
Advanced

₹0.00

Business & Data Analytics

Focuses on transforming data into actionable insights to drive business decisions. It combines stati...

AI Tools & Automations 6 Weeks
Advanced

₹0.00

AI Tools & Automations

AI Tools & Automations involve using intelligent software and technologies to automate repetitive ta...