Prompt Suggestions for Improving Research Papers

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.

Outlining and Organizing

Structure paper outlines, improve flow, and suggest section headings.

• Prompt 1:

Here’s my thesis: 'Social media platforms contribute to political polarization.' Can you suggest a possible outline for a persuasive research paper based on this claim?

• Prompt 2:

I have these five points for my paper. Can you organize them into a logical flow and suggest section headings? [Insert bullet points]

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?

Clarifying Feedback for Revision

Interpret instructor comments and suggest revisions.

• Prompt 1:

My instructor wrote: ‘This paragraph lacks clarity and needs stronger analysis.’ Can you help me interpret this feedback and suggest how to revise the paragraph?

• Prompt 2:

Here’s a section of my draft. I received feedback that it’s too vague. Can you help me revise it to be more specific and analytical? [Insert paragraph]

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.

• 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 explain it without using jargon?

Practicing Thesis Statement Development

Strengthen or refine thesis statements.

• Prompt 1:

Here’s my current thesis: ‘The internet is changing the way people communicate.’ Can you suggest two stronger, more specific versions?

• Prompt 2:

Can you help me write a debatable thesis statement based on this topic: racial disparities in healthcare access?