Weak prompt
List benefits of exercise.
Prompt Iteration & Failure Modes
Run. Observe. Refine. Repeat.
Even well-structured prompts can fail. Common failure modes include: - ambiguity - incorrect format - overly verbose output - missing constraints - conflicting instructions Instructional engineering is not about writing the perfect prompt on the first try. It is an iterative process: 1. run the prompt 2. observe the output 3. identify failures 4. refine the instructions 5. run again
Format drift
Improved
List exactly 3 benefits of exercise as bullet points. One sentence each.
The revised prompt reduces ambiguity and improves consistency by adding structure and constraints.
This process of testing, observing, and refining is one of the core workflows in instructional engineering.
Prompting is iterative behavioral refinement. You improve reliability by observing failures and adjusting instructions.
Practice
Start with a weak prompt. Improve it by making the task clear, defining the scope, and adding output constraints.