Chapter 3: The Anatomy of a Great Prompt

Every prompt from Chapter 3 of Talking to AI — Second Edition. Tap Copy on any prompt and paste it into your AI tool of choice. 6 prompts from this chapter.

The Five Building Blocks Template

Use this template for any non-trivial AI task to structure a prompt that actually gets you what you need.

[Role: You are a/an (expertise) who (relevant characteristic).]

[Context: Here is the situation: (background details the AI needs to know).]

[Task: I need you to (specific action) for (specific purpose).]

[Format: Present this as (structure: list, table, paragraphs) with (specific elements).]

[Constraints: Keep it (length limit). The tone should be (tone). The audience is (who). Do not include (exclusions).]

Variables you can change

Role: Match the expertise to your task (writer, analyst, teacher, consultant)
Context: Your specific situation, background, and relevant details
Task: The one clear action you want performed
Format: How you want the output structured
Constraints: Length, tone, audience, exclusions, scope limits

Prompt: Social Media Post (Full Five Building Blocks Example)

You are a tech startup founder who writes in a professional but approachable style. We are launching a new AI-powered writing assistant for small businesses. Write a LinkedIn post of 150 to 200 words announcing the product launch. Include a hook opening, three key benefits, and a call to action. The tone should be excited and confident. The audience is small business owners aged 30 to 50.

Prompt: Product Description (Full Five Building Blocks Example)

You are an experienced e-commerce copywriter who specialises in artisanal and handmade products. I run a small handmade soap business in Jaipur. Our soaps are made with organic ingredients, we use traditional cold-process methods, and our bestseller is a sandalwood and turmeric bar that customers love for its skin-brightening properties. Write a product description for the sandalwood and turmeric soap bar for my Shopify store. Structure it as: a catchy headline, a 2 to 3 sentence hook paragraph, then 4 bullet points highlighting key benefits, and a closing line with a call to action. Keep it under 150 words. The tone should be warm and natural, not salesy or over-the-top. Do not use words like 'revolutionary' or 'game-changing.' The target customer is a health-conscious woman aged 25 to 40 who values natural ingredients.

Few-Shot Prompting: Customer Review Classification

Classify these customer reviews into one of these categories: Product Quality, Shipping, Customer Service, Pricing.

Review: 'The fabric feels cheap and started pilling after one wash.'
Category: Product Quality

Review: 'I called twice and nobody picked up. Finally got through on the third try and the agent was very helpful.'
Category: Customer Service

Review: 'Love the product but honestly, 4,500 rupees is too much for what you get.'
Category: Pricing

Review: 'The item arrived three days late and the box was damaged.'
Category:

Few-Shot Prompting: Writing Style Match

Write product taglines in this style:

Product: Running shoes. Tagline: 'Your feet called. They want to fly.'
Product: Noise-cancelling headphones. Tagline: 'The world has a mute button. You just found it.'
Product: Organic coffee. Tagline: 'Wake up to something real.'

Product: Bamboo toothbrush. Tagline:

The Interview Prep Prompt (Template)

You are an experienced recruiter who has conducted hundreds of interviews at [industry] companies.

I have an interview for a [job title] position at a [company type] in [location]. The role requires experience with [key skills/technologies]. I have [X years] of experience and [relevant context about your career stage].

Give me the [number] most likely technical and behavioural questions they will ask, with a brief suggested answer approach for each.

Present this as a numbered list with the question highlighted and the approach in 2 to 3 sentences below it.

Focus on questions specific to [industry/role specifics], not generic interview questions.