Practical Prompt Engineering Workbook

Advanced-friendly exercises to build prompting judgment through practice, not memorization

Design Philosophy

• Exercises build prompting judgment, not memorization
• Worksheets encourage reflection and iteration
• Each task mirrors how people actually use AI

Use these at the end of chapters or as a standalone workbook.

1

From Vague to Clear (Intent Training)

Goal: Help learners identify what they really want before prompting.

Step 1 — The Vague Prompt

Write your first instinct prompt:

Step 2 — Clarify the Goal

Answer in plain language:

• What am I trying to achieve?
• What would a "good" answer look like?

Step 3 — Rewrite with Intent

Rewrite the prompt clearly, without adding fluff:

Reflection Question:

What changed in clarity between versions?

2

Context Without Overload

Goal: Learn how to add just enough background.

Task

Take this prompt: "Summarize this report."

Add context by answering:

• Who is this for?
• Why does it matter?
• What should be ignored?

Rewritten Prompt:

Rule Reminder: If context doesn't narrow the answer, it doesn't belong.

3

Constraint Power Test

Goal: Experience how constraints improve quality.

Round A — No Constraints

Round B — With Constraints

Rewrite using:

Audience Length Tone

Compare Outputs:

Which one felt more usable? Why?

4

Iteration Loop

Goal: Build confidence in follow-up prompting.

1. Initial prompt:

2. First follow-up (clarify):

3. Second follow-up (improve or challenge):

Reflection:

How did the answer evolve across rounds?

5

AI as a Thinking Partner

Goal: Move beyond content generation.

Prompt:

Lesson:

Advanced prompting often starts after the first answer. Use AI to challenge its own reasoning, expose blind spots, and explore alternative perspectives. This transforms AI from a content generator to a thinking partner that helps you refine your own understanding.

Try this with any previous answer: Ask "What are the limitations of this approach?" or "What alternative perspectives should I consider?"

Companion Prompt Library

Reusable tools, not magic spells. Each prompt follows a clear structure you can adapt to your specific needs.

1

The Clarifier

Use when: Your request feels vague even to you.

Template:

I need [type of output] about [topic]. The purpose is [specific goal]. The audience is [who will use this]. Key requirements: [must-have elements]. Please avoid [irrelevant aspects]. Format as [preferred structure].

Example:

I need a comparison table about remote work policies. The purpose is to inform our company's policy update. The audience is HR leadership. Key requirements: include data on productivity, employee satisfaction, and cost implications. Please avoid theoretical studies; focus on recent data from tech companies. Format as a brief comparison table with pros/cons.

2

The Iterative Refiner

Use when: You need to improve an existing output.

Template:

Based on your previous answer: 1. Strengthen [specific aspect] by [how to improve it] 2. Reduce [what to shorten or remove] 3. Add [what's missing] 4. Adjust tone to be more [desired tone] 5. Reformat to [new structure if needed]

Example:

Based on your previous market analysis: 1. Strengthen the competitive analysis by adding 2 more direct competitors 2. Reduce the historical background section by 50% 3. Add a risk assessment section 4. Adjust tone to be more decisive and action-oriented 5. Reformat to executive summary followed by detailed sections

3

The Assumption Challenger

Use when: You need to pressure-test an idea or analysis.

Template:

For the following [concept/plan/analysis]: 1. List the top 3 implicit assumptions 2. Explain how the conclusion changes if each assumption is wrong 3. Suggest 2 alternative approaches that don't rely on these assumptions 4. Identify what additional data would strengthen or weaken the conclusion

Example:

For the following product launch plan: 1. List the top 3 implicit assumptions 2. Explain how the launch strategy changes if each assumption is wrong 3. Suggest 2 alternative launch approaches that don't rely on these assumptions 4. Identify what market data would strengthen or weaken the planned approach

4

The Perspective Expander

Use when: You're stuck in one viewpoint.

Template:

Analyze [situation/topic] from 3 different perspectives: 1. [Perspective A, e.g., customer] 2. [Perspective B, e.g., investor] 3. [Perspective C, e.g., employee] For each perspective, identify: - Primary concerns and goals - How they would measure success - Potential objections to the current approach

Example:

Analyze our proposed pricing change from 3 different perspectives: 1. Current premium customers 2. Prospective new customers 3. Our sales team For each perspective, identify: - Primary concerns and goals - How they would measure success - Potential objections to the current approach - What would make them supportive of the change

5

The Complexity Navigator

Use when: Dealing with multifaceted problems.

Template:

Break down [complex problem] into: 1. Core issue (the fundamental problem) 2. Contributing factors (3-5 key elements) 3. Constraints (what can't be changed) 4. Leverage points (where small changes have big impact) 5. Trade-offs (what might be sacrificed for progress) 6. First principles (fundamental truths that apply)

Example:

Break down our declining customer retention into: 1. Core issue (the fundamental problem) 2. Contributing factors (3-5 key elements) 3. Constraints (what can't be changed) 4. Leverage points (where small changes have big impact) 5. Trade-offs (what might be sacrificed for improvement) 6. First principles (fundamental truths about customer behavior)

How to Use This Library:

These aren't magic spells to copy-paste. They're thinking structures to adapt:

1. Internalize the structure - Understand why each element matters
2. Customize the variables - Fill in your specific context
3. Modify as needed - Add, remove, or adjust sections based on your situation
4. Combine templates - Use "The Clarifier" first, then "The Assumption Challenger"

Prompt Engineering Workbook • Designed for practice, not memorization • Advanced-friendly & practical

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