3.1 Module 3 · Single-Agent Design Patterns

System Instructions That Work

Build system instructions using a structured template, then compare vague vs precise instructions side-by-side to see the difference in agent behaviour.

Instruction Template Builder Before/After Comparator

Instruction Template Builder

Construct system instructions section by section. Each section targets a specific aspect of agent behaviour. Fill them in to generate a complete, structured system prompt.

Sections Complete
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Key insight: Vague instructions like "be helpful" produce unpredictable behaviour. Structured instructions that define identity, boundaries, tools, output format, and escalation rules turn an LLM into a reliable agent that behaves consistently across thousands of interactions.

Before/After Comparator

See real examples of how vague instructions produce poor outputs while structured instructions produce reliable, high-quality results. Select a scenario to compare.

Vague Instructions
System Prompt

Agent Response

Structured Instructions
System Prompt

Agent Response