Section 3: Example prompts
Purpose of This Section
This section explains how example prompts should be used—as learning scaffolding rather than fixed instructions—and why prompt literacy depends on understanding structure, not memorization.
- example prompts demonstrate thinking patterns
- copying without adaptation limits learning
- prompt quality reflects clarity of intent
Prompts are a means, not an endpoint.
The Core Idea
Example prompts are starting positions, not solutions.
- they show how to frame context
- they illustrate how to define tasks
- they model how to set boundaries
Understanding why a prompt works matters more than the prompt itself.
What Example Prompts Are For
Example prompts are designed to help users:
- see effective structure in action
- understand how context shapes output
- recognize the role of constraints
- build confidence through iteration
They are instructional, not prescriptive.
What Example Prompts Are Not
Example prompts are not:
- magic formulas
- shortcuts to expertise
- universal answers
- commands to follow blindly
Uncritical reuse undermines judgment.
How to Use Example Prompts Well
Responsible use includes:
- adapting prompts to specific situations
- adjusting tone, scope, and constraints
- iterating based on output quality
- refining intent as understanding improves
Control comes from composition, not copying.
Building Prompt Discipline
Effective prompt use requires asking:
- what outcome am I trying to achieve?
- what context matters here?
- what would a bad output look like?
These questions shape better prompts than templates alone.
Outgrowing Example Prompts
Example prompts are scaffolding.
Over time, users should:
- rely less on provided examples
- build prompts from first principles
- adapt structure across tools and tasks
- maintain judgment under changing conditions
The goal is independence, not dependence.
Common Failure Mode
Common mistakes include:
- collecting prompts without understanding them
- reusing prompts without modification
- prioritizing convenience over clarity
- treating prompts as authoritative instructions
Prompt reuse without judgment reduces capability.
The Conjugo Rule
Prompts are guides, not gospel.
- structure supports thinking
- judgment directs outcomes
Skill lies in composition.
Section Takeaway
- example prompts teach structure
- copying limits learning
- adaptation improves outcomes
- judgment shapes prompt quality
- independence is the goal
- responsibility remains human
End of Module 13
You have completed Module 13: Where to Go Next.
This module covered:
- building skill through practice
- enabling trust with internal guidelines
- using example prompts responsibly
This section marks the last section of the last module in this curriculum.
What comes next will be addressed separately.