Chapter 3: Basic Prompt Structures

🎯 Learning Objectives

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

• Identify and apply four basic prompt structures
• Choose the right structure for different tasks
• Convert between different prompt formats
• Combine structures for complex tasks

📚 Introduction

Now that you understand prompt components and types, it's time to explore the structural formats you can use. Different structures work better for different tasks, and knowing when to use each is a key skill.

The Four Basic Structures

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│               FOUR BASIC PROMPT STRUCTURES                   │
├─────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  1. QUESTION    │  Ask directly for information             │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  2. INSTRUCTION │  Command the AI to perform a task         │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  3. COMPLETION  │  Start a sentence for AI to finish        │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  4. CONVERSATION│  Role-play or dialogue format             │
└─────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────┘

Structure 1: Question Format

The most intuitive structure—simply ask a question.

Characteristics

Aspect	Description
Format	Interrogative sentence (who, what, when, where, why, how)
Tone	Conversational, natural
Best for	Information retrieval, explanations, definitions
Limitation	May produce varied response lengths

Examples

Simple Question:

What are the three branches of the U.S. government?

Comparative Question:

What are the key differences between Python and JavaScript 
for web development?

Analytical Question:

Why did the Roman Empire fall, and what lessons can modern 
societies learn from it?

Hypothetical Question:

What would happen to Earth's climate if all ice caps 
melted overnight?

Enhancing Question Prompts

Add constraints to get more useful responses:

Basic: "What is machine learning?"

Enhanced: "What is machine learning? Explain in 3 paragraphs:
1. A simple definition
2. How it differs from traditional programming
3. One real-world application"

Structure 2: Instruction Format

Give direct commands or directions to the AI.

Characteristics

Aspect	Description
Format	Imperative sentences (verbs: write, create, analyze)
Tone	Direct, task-oriented
Best for	Content creation, analysis, transformations
Advantage	Clear expectations, predictable outputs

Examples

Content Creation:

Write a 150-word product description for a wireless 
Bluetooth speaker targeting young professionals. 
Emphasize portability and sound quality.

Analysis:

Analyze the following sales data and identify the top 
3 performing products and potential reasons for their success:

[sales data here]

Transformation:

Rewrite this technical paragraph for a general audience 
with no scientific background:

"The mitochondria facilitate oxidative phosphorylation 
through the electron transport chain, generating ATP 
via chemiosmotic coupling."

Organization:

Organize these project tasks into a prioritized list 
based on dependencies and importance:

- Design UI mockups
- Set up database
- Write unit tests
- Deploy to production
- Define requirements
- Implement backend API

Instruction Verbs by Category

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   INSTRUCTION VERBS                          │
├────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ CREATION       │ Write, Create, Generate, Compose, Draft    │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ANALYSIS       │ Analyze, Evaluate, Assess, Review, Compare │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ TRANSFORMATION │ Convert, Translate, Rewrite, Simplify      │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ORGANIZATION   │ List, Categorize, Prioritize, Outline      │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ EXPLANATION    │ Explain, Describe, Clarify, Define         │
├────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ PROBLEM SOLVING│ Solve, Debug, Fix, Optimize, Improve       │
└────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Structure 3: Completion Format

Start a sentence or paragraph and let the AI complete it.

Characteristics

Aspect	Description
Format	Incomplete sentence or text
Tone	Varies based on starter
Best for	Creative writing, brainstorming, specific styles
Advantage	Sets the exact tone and direction

Examples

Creative Completion:

The detective entered the abandoned warehouse, her 
flashlight cutting through the darkness. She noticed 
immediately that something was wrong because

Technical Completion:

The main advantages of using a NoSQL database over 
a traditional SQL database include:
1.

Professional Completion:

Thank you for your interest in our company. After careful 
review of your application, we are pleased to inform you that

List Completion:

Essential skills every software developer should master:
- Version control with Git
- 

Completion vs. Instruction

Same task, different structures:

Instruction Format:

List 5 benefits of exercise.

Completion Format:

The top 5 benefits of regular exercise are:
1. Improved cardiovascular health, which
2.

The completion format gives you more control over the opening and style.

Structure 4: Conversation Format

Create a dialogue or role-play scenario.

Characteristics

Aspect	Description
Format	Dialogue with defined roles
Tone	Interactive, contextual
Best for	Simulations, tutoring, customer service scenarios
Advantage	Natural follow-ups, maintained context

Examples

Role-Play:

You are a patient customer service representative for 
a software company. I am a frustrated customer whose 
subscription was charged twice.

Customer: Hi, I just noticed I was charged twice for 
my monthly subscription. This is really frustrating!

Representative:

Interview Simulation:

You are an experienced interviewer for a senior developer 
position. Ask me technical questions about system design, 
one at a time, and evaluate my responses.

Interviewer: Let's begin. Can you tell me about a time 
when you had to design a system to handle millions of 
concurrent users?

Candidate: [waiting for your response]

Educational Dialogue:

You are a patient Socratic tutor teaching calculus. 
Guide me to understand derivatives through questions 
rather than direct explanations.

Student: I don't understand what a derivative is.

Tutor:

Conversation Techniques

Setting the Scene:

Setting: A job interview at a tech startup
Characters: 
- Interviewer (you): Friendly but thorough CTO
- Candidate (me): Applying for product manager role

Begin the interview with an icebreaker question.

Multi-Turn Instructions:

We're going to have a conversation about my business idea. 
Ask me clarifying questions one at a time. After 5 questions, 
provide a brief assessment of the idea's viability.

My idea: An app that connects pet owners with local pet sitters.

Choosing the Right Structure

Decision Framework

What's your primary goal?

├─ Get information/answers
│  └─ Use QUESTION format
│
├─ Create or transform content
│  └─ Use INSTRUCTION format
│
├─ Control style/tone precisely
│  └─ Use COMPLETION format
│
└─ Simulate interaction/dialogue
   └─ Use CONVERSATION format

Structure Comparison Table

Use Case	Recommended Structure	Example Start
Factual lookup	Question	"What is...?"
Writing content	Instruction	"Write a..."
Brainstorming	Completion	"Ideas for..."
Training scenarios	Conversation	"You are a..."
Code generation	Instruction	"Create a function that..."
Summarization	Instruction	"Summarize the following..."
Creative writing	Completion	"The story begins when..."
Problem solving	Question	"How would you solve...?"

Combining Structures

Advanced prompts often combine multiple structures:

Example: Instruction + Conversation

You are a helpful coding assistant. I'll describe bugs in 
my code, and you'll help me fix them.

Rules:
1. Ask clarifying questions if needed
2. Explain the bug before providing the fix
3. Suggest how to prevent similar bugs

I'll start:

My Python script crashes with "IndexError: list index out 
of range" when processing user data. Here's the code:
[code]

Example: Question + Completion

What are the main causes of climate change?

Format your answer as:
"The primary causes of climate change include:
1. [cause]: [explanation]
2. [cause]: [explanation]
..."

Example: Instruction + Question

Analyze the following business proposal and answer these 
questions:
1. What are the main strengths?
2. What are potential risks?
3. What's missing from the proposal?

[proposal text]

Practical Exercise

Exercise: Structure Transformation

Take this basic question and rewrite it in all four structures:

Original: "What are the benefits of meditation?"

View Solutions

Question Format:

What are the top 5 scientifically-proven benefits of 
regular meditation practice?

Instruction Format:

List and explain 5 key benefits of meditation, including 
scientific evidence for each. Format as bullet points.

Completion Format:

Based on scientific research, the main benefits of 
regular meditation include:
• Reduced stress levels, which occurs because
• 

Conversation Format:

You are a meditation instructor explaining the benefits 
to a skeptical beginner.

Student: I've heard meditation is good for you, but what 
does it actually do? I'm skeptical about all the claims.

Instructor:

Key Takeaways

Summary

1. Question format is best for information retrieval and explanations
2. Instruction format provides clear direction for content creation and analysis
3. Completion format gives precise control over style and tone
4. Conversation format enables interactive, contextual exchanges
5. Combine structures for complex tasks
6. Choose based on your goal, desired control level, and task type

What's Next?

Congratulations! You've completed Module 2. Test your knowledge with the Module 2 Quiz.

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