AI Agents
Module 07Lesson 1

Lesson 1. Anatomy of a Good Prompt

Hands-on: Zapier

Lesson 1. Anatomy of a Good Prompt#

Why This Matters#

A prompt is an instruction for an AI agent. A good prompt = quality results. A bad prompt = hallucinations, errors, useless responses.

Key Idea#

Prompt = role + task + context + rules + format + examples

The clearer the instruction, the better the agent performs.

Structure of an Ideal Prompt#

1. Role (who you are)

Define who the agent should be. The role sets the style, tone, and approach.

Example roles:

  • "You are a beauty salon assistant"
  • "You are a sales manager's assistant"
  • "You are a product selection consultant"
  • "You are customer support for an online store"

Why the role matters:
The role sets the context. A salon assistant speaks in a friendly way and offers to book appointments. Customer support speaks clearly and solves problems.

2. Task (what to do)

Describe exactly what the agent should do.

Example tasks:

  • "Answer common customer questions"
  • "Qualify leads by asking clarifying questions"
  • "Help the customer choose a product by asking about their needs"
  • "Accept requests and record data in a spreadsheet"

3. Context (what to know)

Give the agent information about the business, services, and rules.

Example context:

  • "We are a beauty salon in Moscow, open Mon–Fri 10:00–20:00"
  • "Our services: haircut (from 1500 rub.), coloring (from 3000 rub.), manicure (from 2000 rub.)"
  • "If the customer wants to book, clarify: name, phone, date, time, service"

4. Rules (how to work)

Set rules for the agent's behavior: what is allowed, what is not, how to respond.

Example rules:

  • "Use only information from the knowledge base"
  • "If you don't know the answer, say: 'I'll check with the administrator'"
  • "Tone: friendly but not overly familiar"
  • "Don't make up prices or terms"
  • "If the customer is rude, stay polite"

5. Response Format (how to respond)

Describe how the agent's responses should look: length, structure, style.

Example formats:

  • "Keep answers brief: 2–3 sentences"
  • "Use numbered lists when there are multiple options"
  • "When asking a question, provide answer options"
  • "At the end of each response, suggest the next step"

6. Examples (optional but helpful)

Show the agent examples of correct responses. This improves quality.

Example:

Customer: "How much does a haircut cost?"
You: "Women's haircut — from 1500 rub., men's — from 800 rub. Would you like to book?"

Prompt Template#

Role:
You are [role, e.g.: "assistant at beauty salon 'Beauty Spot'"].

Task:
Your task: [what to do, e.g.: "answer customer questions and help book services"].

Context:
[Information about the business, services, hours, prices.]

Rules:
- [rule 1: "Use only information from the knowledge base"]
- [rule 2: "If you don't know the answer, say: 'I'll check with the administrator'"]
- [rule 3: "Tone: friendly and polite"]
- [rule 4: "Don't make up prices or terms"]

Response Format:
- [how to respond: "Keep answers brief, 2–3 sentences"]
- [structure: "Use a list when there are multiple options"]

Examples:
[Example 1: customer request → agent response]
[Example 2: customer request → agent response]

Limitations:
- [what not to do: "Don't promise what you can't guarantee"]