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Research with Generative AI: Improve Research Papers

There are many ideas out there on how to use GenAI for coursework - some suggestions are good while others either don't work consistently or don't support your learning. While the best advice comes from professors and academic support staff, these suggestions offer effective ways for you to use GenAI to help you learn how to write better research papers when working on your own.

Prompt Suggestions

Brainstorming and Refining

Narrow broad interests into focused, researchable questions and generate topic ideas.

  • Prompt 1:
    I'm interested in gender and technology. Can you suggest five focused research questions I could explore in a college-level paper?

  • Prompt 2:
    Help me narrow down a broad topic on climate change into three distinct, researchable questions suitable for a 10-page paper.

Modeling Critical Thinking and Source Evaluation

Identify counterarguments and assess source credibility.

  • Prompt 1:

Here’s a claim from one of my sources: 'Standardized testing is an objective measure of student ability.' What are potential counterarguments or criticisms of this claim?

  • Prompt 2:

How can I tell if this article from a nonprofit organization is a reliable source for my paper on healthcare policy?

Practicing Embedding Citations

Model proper paraphrasing.

  • Prompt 1:

Here’s a sentence from a source I want to use: ‘Algorithms often reflect the biases of their creators.’ How can I embed it in my sentence? [insert original sentence]

  • Prompt 2:

Can you show me three different ways to introduce this quote in an academic paper? [Insert quote]

Locating Gaps in Evidence and Logic

Point out where evidence or clarity is missing. Be sure to critically evaluate the suggestions GAI makes as they are not always the best solutions.

  • Prompt 1:

Here’s a paragraph from my paper. Can you identify any claims that need more evidence or explanation? [Insert paragraph]

  • Prompt 2:

Does my argument here make any assumptions that I haven’t supported? What kind of evidence should I add? [Insert argument or outline]

Translating Concepts Across Disciplines

Rephrase specialized knowledge for new audiences or cross-disciplinary understanding.

  • Prompt 1:

This is a technical explanation of CRISPR from a biology source. Can you rewrite it in plain language that a non-scientist would understand?

  • Prompt 2:

I’m writing about algorithmic bias for a general education class. Can you help me define and explain it without using jargon?

 

Keep in Mind

  • Follow the GAI guidelines set by your professor, discipline, or publication.
  • Don't use GAI for citations as it can be inaccurate.
  • Don't use GAI to replace your own thinking. Compare what GAI suggested to what you wrote to learn how to improve.
  • Don't let GAI erase your voice. Asking GAI to make your writing "more academic" removes your own style. There is no single correct way to write scholarship. 
  • Be mindful about what you upload to different GAI tools, particularly copyrighted materials. The data you enter is not kept private and is used to further train models without direct consent. 
  • Ask yourself if you really need to use GAI. GAI tools have an environmental, labor, and social toll.
  • Consider using an attribution statement that discloses that you used GAI and how. Transparency is important for maintaining academic integrity.