1. Brainstorming. Use AI to find the major arguments others have made. Prompts to try:
- “What are some current debates or controversial questions about [ your topic ]?”
- “Provide an overview of the major positions on [ topic or issue ].”
- “What are five possible research questions related to [ your area of interest ]?”
- “What are the historical, or political implications of [ topic ]?”
2. Finding Good Sources. AI is particularly bad at finding good sources, unless you prompt it in specific ways. Prompts to try:
- “What kinds of sources would be credible for this paper that are listed in [ ] database”
- “List some keywords and phrases I could use to search for peer-reviewed articles on [ topic ].”
- “Summarize the main argument of this article: [ paste abstract or excerpt ].”
- “Can you explain what this quote means in simpler terms: [ insert quote ]?”
3. Developing a Thesis. Once you have an initial idea, ask AI to help you narrow your idea into a preliminary argument. Prompts to try:
- “Based on our brainstorming and the following sources [ ], what might be a working thesis? Identify more than one.”
- “What are some counter-arguments or alternative views to this thesis: [ insert thesis ]?”
4. Building the Body and Conclusion. “Help me outline the main points in support of my thesis: [ insert thesis ].”
- “What evidence would be persuasive for this point: [ insert supporting point ]?”
- “How can I transition from this paragraph to the next one logically?”
- “Write a paragraph supporting my claim [ insert point ] which includes examples.” Note, real world examples are better than hypothetical examples.
- For the conclusion, “What would be the significance of my argument [ insert thesis ] ”
5. Final Review. “Check this paragraph for grammar and punctuation errors: [ insert text ]”
- “Give me feedback on the clarity and organization of this paper: [ paste section ].”
- “What’s missing or underdeveloped in this argument: [ paste thesis and outline ]?”
