how can i use ai to write an essay

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• Happiness Hub
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Computers and Electronics
• Online Communications

How to Get ChatGPT to Write an Essay: Prompts, Outlines, & More

Last Updated: June 2, 2024 Fact Checked

Getting ChatGPT to Write the Essay

Using ai to help you write, expert interview.

This article was co-authored by Bryce Warwick, JD and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA . Bryce Warwick is currently the President of Warwick Strategies, an organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area offering premium, personalized private tutoring for the GMAT, LSAT and GRE. Bryce has a JD from the George Washington University Law School. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 51,341 times.

Are you curious about using ChatGPT to write an essay? While most instructors have tools that make it easy to detect AI-written essays, there are ways you can use OpenAI's ChatGPT to write papers without worrying about plagiarism or getting caught. In addition to writing essays for you, ChatGPT can also help you come up with topics, write outlines, find sources, check your grammar, and even format your citations. This wikiHow article will teach you the best ways to use ChatGPT to write essays, including helpful example prompts that will generate impressive papers.

Things You Should Know

• To have ChatGPT write an essay, tell it your topic, word count, type of essay, and facts or viewpoints to include.
• ChatGPT is also useful for generating essay topics, writing outlines, and checking grammar.
• Because ChatGPT can make mistakes and trigger AI-detection alarms, it's better to use AI to assist with writing than have it do the writing.

• Before using the OpenAI's ChatGPT to write your essay, make sure you understand your instructor's policies on AI tools. Using ChatGPT may be against the rules, and it's easy for instructors to detect AI-written essays.
• While you can use ChatGPT to write a polished-looking essay, there are drawbacks. Most importantly, ChatGPT cannot verify facts or provide references. This means that essays created by ChatGPT may contain made-up facts and biased content. [1] X Research source It's best to use ChatGPT for inspiration and examples instead of having it write the essay for you.

• The topic you want to write about.
• Essay length, such as word or page count. Whether you're writing an essay for a class, college application, or even a cover letter , you'll want to tell ChatGPT how much to write.
• Other assignment details, such as type of essay (e.g., personal, book report, etc.) and points to mention.
• If you're writing an argumentative or persuasive essay , know the stance you want to take so ChatGPT can argue your point.
• If you have notes on the topic that you want to include, you can also provide those to ChatGPT.
• When you plan an essay, think of a thesis, a topic sentence, a body paragraph, and the examples you expect to present in each paragraph.
• It can be like an outline and not an extensive sentence-by-sentence structure. It should be a good overview of how the points relate.

• "Write a 2000-word college essay that covers different approaches to gun violence prevention in the United States. Include facts about gun laws and give ideas on how to improve them."
• This prompt not only tells ChatGPT the topic, length, and grade level, but also that the essay is personal. ChatGPT will write the essay in the first-person point of view.
• "Write a 4-page college application essay about an obstacle I have overcome. I am applying to the Geography program and want to be a cartographer. The obstacle is that I have dyslexia. Explain that I have always loved maps, and that having dyslexia makes me better at making them."

Tyrone Showers

Be specific when using ChatGPT. Clear and concise prompts outlining your exact needs help ChatGPT tailor its response. Specify the desired outcome (e.g., creative writing, informative summary, functional resume), any length constraints (word or character count), and the preferred emotional tone (formal, humorous, etc.)

• In our essay about gun control, ChatGPT did not mention school shootings. If we want to discuss this topic in the essay, we can use the prompt, "Discuss school shootings in the essay."
• Let's say we review our college entrance essay and realize that we forgot to mention that we grew up without parents. Add to the essay by saying, "Mention that my parents died when I was young."
• In the Israel-Palestine essay, ChatGPT explored two options for peace: A 2-state solution and a bi-state solution. If you'd rather the essay focus on a single option, ask ChatGPT to remove one. For example, "Change my essay so that it focuses on a bi-state solution."

Pay close attention to the content ChatGPT generates. If you use ChatGPT often, you'll start noticing its patterns, like its tendency to begin articles with phrases like "in today's digital world." Once you spot patterns, you can refine your prompts to steer ChatGPT in a better direction and avoid repetitive content.

• "Give me ideas for an essay about the Israel-Palestine conflict."
• "Ideas for a persuasive essay about a current event."
• "Give me a list of argumentative essay topics about COVID-19 for a Political Science 101 class."

• "Create an outline for an argumentative essay called "The Impact of COVID-19 on the Economy."
• "Write an outline for an essay about positive uses of AI chatbots in schools."
• "Create an outline for a short 2-page essay on disinformation in the 2016 election."

• "Find peer-reviewed sources for advances in using MRNA vaccines for cancer."
• "Give me a list of sources from academic journals about Black feminism in the movie Black Panther."
• "Give me sources for an essay on current efforts to ban children's books in US libraries."

• "Write a 4-page college paper about how global warming is changing the automotive industry in the United States."
• "Write a 750-word personal college entrance essay about how my experience with homelessness as a child has made me more resilient."
• You can even refer to the outline you created with ChatGPT, as the AI bot can reference up to 3000 words from the current conversation. For example: "Write a 1000 word argumentative essay called 'The Impact of COVID-19 on the United States Economy' using the outline you provided. Argue that the government should take more action to support businesses affected by the pandemic."

• One way to do this is to paste a list of the sources you've used, including URLs, book titles, authors, pages, publishers, and other details, into ChatGPT along with the instruction "Create an MLA Works Cited page for these sources."
• You can also ask ChatGPT to provide a list of sources, and then build a Works Cited or References page that includes those sources. You can then replace sources you didn't use with the sources you did use.

Expert Q&A

• Because it's easy for teachers, hiring managers, and college admissions offices to spot AI-written essays, it's best to use your ChatGPT-written essay as a guide to write your own essay. Using the structure and ideas from ChatGPT, write an essay in the same format, but using your own words. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Always double-check the facts in your essay, and make sure facts are backed up with legitimate sources. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you see an error that says ChatGPT is at capacity , wait a few moments and try again. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Using ChatGPT to write or assist with your essay may be against your instructor's rules. Make sure you understand the consequences of using ChatGPT to write or assist with your essay. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• ChatGPT-written essays may include factual inaccuracies, outdated information, and inadequate detail. [3] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about completing school assignments, check out our in-depth interview with Bryce Warwick, JD .

• ↑ https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6783457-what-is-chatgpt
• ↑ https://platform.openai.com/examples/default-essay-outline
• ↑ https://www.ipl.org/div/chatgpt/

About This Article

• Send fan mail to authors

Is this article up to date?

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Keep up with the latest tech with wikiHow's free Tech Help Newsletter

How to Write an Essay Using AI

Artificial intelligence has progressed to the point where AI tools can now assist with writing everything from essays and articles to books. AI writing assistants act as an editor, wordsmith or even creator to help students, academics, bloggers and authors produce better quality content with greater efficiency.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll overview everything you need to know to get started writing essays with AI including:

• How AI essay writing assistants work
• The top apps and sites providing AI writing help
• What types of essay writing they can help with
• Templates and examples for getting started
• Capabilities and limitations to be aware of
• Tips to incorporate AI writing effectively in your workflow

Let’s dive in to harnessing this transformative technology for your next essay!

How Does AI Help With Writing Essays?

AI applications approach essay writing assistance in a few key ways:

• Brainstorming - AI can provide relevant ideas, concepts, perspectives and arguments around a topic to include as evidence.
• Outlining - The best tools create organized essay outlines ensuring logical flow and structure.
• Drafting - Apps can generate complete multi-paragraph drafts on a topic which writers can then edit.
• Editing - Most offer grammar, spelling, style and even depth of analysis checks to improve drafts.
• Paraphrasing - This helps rewrite existing text or source information in your own words.
• Citing sources - Some apps automatically cite sources and generate bibliographies properly formatted.

The level of actual writing versus enhancing human writing varies across solutions, so research thoroughly to find your best match.

Top 5 AI Essay Writing Assistants

After evaluating dozens of writing apps, these 5 provide the best results for essay creation specifically:

Just Think AI

An AI chat with A Human Touch . Enhance your productivity with Just Think Chat, a user-friendly AI chatbot. Overcome writers block, generate ideas, revise content, or get answer effortlessly.

Article Forge

Article Forge has a strong academic focus, with an Essay mode specifically for crafting logical arguments and persuasive essays filled with cited facts. Ideal for research paper help.

Rytr boasts specialized intelligence for writing clear, compelling arguments in blogs, essays and more. It asks probing questions then incorporates your answers into drafts.

INK Associate

INK Associate enhances your writing productivity by suggesting ways to improve clarity, concision and comprehension. Great for proofreading and editing.

GPT-3 Essay Writer

Tools harnessing OpenAI's GPT-3 like Essay Writer create remarkably human-like essays. Requires more guidance to stay on-topic.

Essay Types AI Can Assist With

Some apps are specialized for specific types of essays required in academia and standardized testing. Here are key genres supported:

Argumentative Essays

Arguing a position with logic and evidence cited. Tools help craft sound premises, counterarguments and impactful conclusions.

Persuasive Essays

Similar to argumentative but specifically aimed at swaying the reader regarding policies, interpretations, theories or actions.

Compare and Contrast

Analyzing the similarities and differences between concepts, works or phenomena. Tools ensure clear links are made.

Research Papers

Long form essays synthesizing research around a thesis. AI helps format like academic papers with citations and bibliographies.

Narrative Essays

Telling an entertaining or impactful personal story. Apps assist with structures that emotionally resonate with readers.

Scholarship Essays

Presenting your background, accomplishments and goals in the best possible light. AI ensures relevance to prompt.

Essay Writing Templates and Examples

When first utilizing an AI writing assistant, it's helpful to have templates and examples to base your prompt off.

Here are prompts for common academic essay types you can customize:

Argumentative Essay

Topic: {Topic to argue}

Length: {Word count}

Words Style: Academic argumentative essay

Arguments for: {2-3 strongest arguments}

Arguments against: {The main counterargument}

Conclusion: {Your position} is the better policy because {reasons}.

For example:

Topic: All students should be required to learn coding Length: 800 words Style: Academic argumentative essay Arguments for: Coding teaches logical thinking, prepares for most careers, provides problem solving skills Arguments against: Adds additional schoolwork burden, benefits small subset of students   Conclusion: Mandatory coding classes are the better policy because the skills help nearly all future career paths.

Persuasive Essay

Audience: {Teacher, peer students, university alumni, etc} Thesis: Convince the audience that {position, interpretation, action} is {superior, correct, moral, just, etc} because {2-3 strongest reasons}

Supporting evidence: {facts, expert opinions, personal anecdotes} Counterarguments to address: {The main opposition position}

Style: {Formal or casual} persuasive essay

Audience: School principal Thesis: Convince the principal that allowing cell phones in class is the better policy because it enables learning tech skills, accessing information, and improved safety. Supporting evidence: Studies show benefits, students can film dangerous behaviors Counterarguments: It enables distractions, cheating and unwanted sharing Style: Semi-formal persuasive essay

Capabilities and Limitations of AI Essay Help

Understanding what essay writing AI can and cannot yet do will lead to the most successful experience:

Capabilities:

• Analyze prompts and determine optimal content and structure
• Generate complete drafts with readable flow and style
• Check spelling, grammar, and catch insensitive phrasing
• Format citations and bibliographies for academic integrity
• Develop arguments backed by evidence and reasoning

Limitations:

• Cannot deeply understand nuanced contexts and sentiments
• Struggles evaluating logical consistencies and factual accuracy
• Limited ability checking overall coherence and impact
• Does not build long-term memory, concepts and wisdom
• Cannot object in any way or cease participation

Use AI as a production assistant rather than independent author until the technology matures further in key reasoning areas in the coming years.

Tips for Using AI Effectively To Write Essays

To leverage these amazing tools most effectively and ethically, we recommend:

• Curate source materials - Feed the AI relevant, factual sources representing diverse perspectives.
• Outline the draft first - Guide arguments and structure before having AI compose full paragraphs and sentences.
• Check accuracy - Ensure factual truth and logical reasoning in arguments made.
• Maintain authorship - Edit, rearrange and rewrite elements in your own voice and style.
• Let the tool inspire new directions and arguments you may not have considered.
• Enjoy the productivity boost these tools offer our constrained time and minds!

We hope this guide has been helpful in getting started with AI assistants for leveling up your essay writing across school, work and passion projects!

• Resources Home 🏠
• Try SciSpace Copilot
• Search research papers
• Add Copilot Extension
• Try AI Detector
• Try Paraphraser
• Try Citation Generator
• April Papers
• June Papers
• July Papers

AI for Essay Writing — Exploring Top 10 Essay Writers

Table of Contents

Let’s admit it — essay writing is quite a challenging task for students. Especially with the stringent deadlines, conducting research, writing , editing, and addressing to-and-fro reviews — consumes a whole lot of time and often becomes stressful. Therefore, students are always on the lookout for tools that speed up the essay writing process.

And that’s when AI writing tools make their debut! Using the best AI for essay writing makes the lives of students much easier by automatically generating the essay for them.

The rise in the popularity of artificial intelligence technology and deep learning has paved the way for the numerous AI writer tools available today. To help you understand the different types of AI tools and their benefits, we’ve uncovered the features of the top 10 AI essay generators in this article.

Let’s explore the tools and learn how they are transforming the tedious task of essay writing!

What is essay writing?

Essay writing is a part of academic writing that emphasizes formulating an idea or argument. The main objective of academic essay writing is to present a well-reasoned argument or idea. Evidence, analysis, and interpretation are the three major components of essay writing . It should have a logical structure to support the argument or idea of the essay so that it communicates clearly and concisely.

What is an AI essay writer?

AI essay writers is a tool that is designed to help students generate essays using machine learning techniques. They can be used to generate a full essay or generate a few parts of the essay, for example, essay titles, introduction, conclusion, etc.

Why should researchers use AI essay generators?

There are infinite benefits to using AI tools for writing unique essays, especially for researchers or students. Here are a few of them —

1. Saves time

Using best AI for essay writing has its own benefits. Students can take care of the research process while these AI tools write the essays for them. Be it an essay topic or a full-length essay generation, it saves a bunch of students' time.

2. Boosts productivity

Writing is a tedious task especially when you want to write an essay about a novel topic, that writer’s block starts haunting and your productivity gets affected. But, with AI, it’s the other way around and increases productivity by quickly generating the essays for you.

3. Enhances writing skills — Vocabulary and Style

Adopting the best AI essay writing AI tool not only help with creating essays but also help us hone our writing skills by giving proper suggestions about grammar, sentence structure, tone, style, and word choice.

4. Reduces stress

Students often undergo a lot of pressure and stress because of deadlines and submissions. With the best AI essay generator, they help you write essays smarter thereby reducing stress and fear in no time.

5. Facilitates multidisciplinary research

AI essay writing tools foster interdisciplinary study through their ability to scan and combine knowledge from multiple domains. That way, it helps us quickly get a grasp of new subjects or topics without a heavy-lifting process.

6. Cost-effective

Most of the AI essay writing tools have lower pricing and also allow certain discounts for students. So, it is also a cost-effective approach to use AI writing tools.

The Top AI Essay Writing Tools and Their Features

Several AI essay writers are available based on the types of essays one would want to generate. Now, let's quickly understand the top 10 AI writing tools that generate essays within just a few minutes.

1. PerfectEssayWriter.ai

It is one of the best AI for essay writing that not only creates an essay but also comes up with advanced features including plagiarism detection, auto-referencing, and contextual analysis. As a result, it generates coherent essays that are well-researched and properly cited. It is best recommended for creating academic essays and essay outlines.

How does PerfectEssayWriter work?

• Pick the right tool for your purpose — Go with an essay writer if you want to generate a full essay or choose the essay outliner if you want to create just the outline of the essay.
• Enter your specific conditions and preferences. Add essay topic, academic level, essay type, number of pages, and special instructions, if any.
• Click on “generate” and wait for the result
• Once you have the essay generated, you can review, edit, or refine it and then download it.
• Generates a large chunk of data up to 2000 words
• Output is provided within 90 seconds
• Provides a plethora of other tools like Citation generator, grammar checker, thesis statement generator, and more
• Comes with 10+ essay writing templates
• Subscription-based and not a free tool
• Human review is a mandate

2. Essaybot - Personalized AI writing

Essaybot is the product of a reputed online essay-writing service, MyPerfectWords. It is meant to enhance academic essay writing and streamline the tasks of students. Its user friendly website makes it an instant and hassle-free essay generation saving a lot of time and effort for students.

How does Essaybot work?

• Enter the essay title or topic
• Click on “start writing” and wait for it to generate a well-reasoned essay.
• The tools come for free
• No sign-up is required
• 100% unique and High-quality output
• Very limited features that lack advanced functionalities

3. FreeEssayWriter.net

FreeEssayWriter is an organization that provides essay-writing services to students worldwide. It has an AI essay typer tool — that helps you generate essays instantly. What sets this essay typer apart is its initiative to help students with their free essay writer providing the students with a 2-page free essay.

How does FreeEssayWriter.net work?

It works similarly to Essaybot, input the title or the topic of your essay and wait for it to generate the essay. They also have an option to edit and download a free version of the generated essay instantly.

• Provides high-quality essays and is considered to be one of the reliable and trusted sources of information
• Students can improve their writing skills and learn more about essays by referring to their free essay database or sources
• Priority customer support is available 24*7
• The site is not optimized for mobile devices
• The quality of the essay output could still be improved

4. MyEssayWriter

This AI essay writing tool is no exception in terms of generating a high-quality essay. You can generate essays for various topics depending on the background of your research study. Be it academic or non-academic essay writing, this tool comes in handy.

How does MyEssay Writer work?

Add your preferences and then click on generate. It will give you a high-quality and 100% unique essay crafted based on your requirements.

• The tool comes for free — no subscription is required
• Knows for its consistency in the quality and the tone of the essay output
• Also has a paid custom writing service that provides human-written essays
• Might not provide quality output for complex and technical-based keywords or topic

5. College Essay AI

College essay AI stands unique as an ai writing tool as it not only uses an AI-based algorithm to generate essays but it also backs up the output as it is reviewed and approved by a team of professional experts. It is the best AI essay writing tool for college and graduate students where the output adheres to the graduate students' essay writing guidelines.

How does the College Essay AI generator work?

• Input the required information — essay topic, academic level, number of pages, sources, and specific instructions, if any.
• Click on “generate essay” and wait for the output
• Conduct plagiarism and grammar check
• Download the essay
• High-level output for academic essay writing
• Pocket-friendly premium plans
• Doesn’t provide multiple sets of templates
• Not quite suitable for non-academic essay writing

6. Jasper AI

Jasper AI has been the oldest player in the game of AI content writing. Fast forward to now, its features have been magnified with the inception of natural language processing algorithms and that’s how they are helping students write their essays as well. However, Jasper is the best AI tool for non-academic writing projects like content writing or creative writing.

How does Jasper AI work?

• Choose a template — if you are about to write an essay, go with the “document”
• Add your preferences
• Click “compose” and get the output
• Generates the essays instantly
• Provides well-structured output according to the tone and style of your preferences
• Not quite suitable for academic writing essays

7. Textero AI

Textero AI provides a few writing tools for students that facilitate their various academic papers and writing projects. Its essay generator helps you generate ideas for a full-length essay based on the topic and also suggests new topic ideas or thesis statement ideas for your academic assignments.

How does Textero AI work?

• Click on “Essay Generator” located on the LHS (Left-hand Side)
• Input the title and description based on which you want to generate the essay
• Pick the right citation style
• Click “generate” and wait for the output
• It also provides other tools like an outline generator, and summary generator and has an AI research assistant that answers all your questions relevant to the research
• The output is 100% unique and plagiarism and error-free
• Might fail to provide an essay focussed on complex or technical topics

8. Quillbot

Though Quillbot is essentially built for paraphrasing and summarizing tasks. It comes as a rescue when you have to revamp, improvise, or refine your already-composed essay. Its co-writer helps you transform your thoughts and ideas and make them more coherent by rephrasing them. You can easily customize your text based on the customization options available.

How does Quillbot Paraphraser work?

• Import or copy the content
• Click on “Paraphrase” “Summarize” or “Suggest text” based on your requirement
• Make the required customizations and save the document.
• Offers a plethora of tools required for students
• Both free and premium plans are available
• Enhances vocabulary and language skills
• Limited customization options with the free plan
• Only supports the English language

9. SciSpace Paraphraser

SciSpace is the best AI tool that helps you fine-tune your essay. If you feel your essay writing needs AI suggestions to improve the language, vocabulary, writing styles, and tone of your essay, SciSpace is at your rescue. It has more customized options than Quillbot and improves your essay by rephrasing it according to the required or preferred writing style, and tone. This is a very good alternative to Quillbot.

How does SciSpace Paraphrasing work?

• Simply paste the content to the screen
• Choose the length and variation properly
• Select the language
• Click “Paraphrase”
• Has 22 custom tones and all of them are available even on the free plan
• Supports 75+ languages
• Comes with an AI-detection report for English paraphrase output
• Delay in the output

10. ChatGPT

It would be unfair if we talk about AI tools and do not enlist ChatGPT. When it comes to automated essay writing tasks, ChatGPT is not trivial. With proper prompts, you can automate the essay writing process and generate a well-crafted and coherent essay. However, the quality and the accuracy cannot be trusted as the model hallucinates and doesn’t include sources.

How does ChatGPT work?

• Create a prompt based on your requirement
• Ask ChatGPT to write an essay about your topic, specify conditions and preferences
• Click enter and wait for the essay
• Comes for free
• Cannot rely on the output as the model hallucinates
• Lacks the upgraded features that other essay-writing tools have

Concluding!

Writing essays can be a real struggle. But, the inception of the best AI essay-generation tools makes the entire writing process a lot easier and smoother. However, you should be extra vigilant while relying on these tools and consciously use them only as a technological aid. Because over-reliance on these AI tools could diminish student's writing skills and the user can become more gripped by the tools. So, use it wisely without affecting your knowledge and skills.

You can explore the above tools whenever you need any help with essay writing, and reap the benefits of them without compromising on the quality of your writing.

And! If you're stuck exploring multiple research papers or want to conduct a comprehensive literature review , you know which tool to use? Yes, it's SciSpace Literature Review, our AI-powered workspace, which is meant to make your research workflow easier. Plus, it also comes with SciSpace Copilot , our AI research assistant that answers any question that you may have about the research paper.

If you haven't used it yet, you can use it here !

Choosing the best AI for writing long-form essays depends on your requirements. Here are the top 5 tools that help you create long-form and college essays —

1. Free Essay Writer AI

2. College Essay AI

3. My Essay Writer

4. Textero AI

5. Perfect Essay Writer

The Perfect Essay Writer AI and Textero AI are the two best AI essay generators that help you write the best essays.

ChatGPT is not specifically built to assist you with essay writing, however, you can use the tool to create college essays and long-form essays. It’s important to review, fact-check the essay, and refer to the sources properly.

Essaybot is a free AI essay generator tool that helps you create a well-reasoned essay with just a click.

Unless your university permits it, using AI essay generators or writing tools to write your essay can be considered as plagiarism.

You might also like

Smallpdf vs SciSpace: Which ChatPDF is Right for You?

ChatPDF Showdown: SciSpace Chat PDF vs. Adobe PDF Reader

Boosting Citations: A Comparative Analysis of Graphical Abstract vs. Video Abstract

Celebrating 150 years of Harvard Summer School. Learn about our history.

Should I Use ChatGPT to Write My Essays?

Everything high school and college students need to know about using — and not using — ChatGPT for writing essays.

Jessica A. Kent

ChatGPT is one of the most buzzworthy technologies today.

In addition to other generative artificial intelligence (AI) models, it is expected to change the world. In academia, students and professors are preparing for the ways that ChatGPT will shape education, and especially how it will impact a fundamental element of any course: the academic essay.

Students can use ChatGPT to generate full essays based on a few simple prompts. But can AI actually produce high quality work, or is the technology just not there yet to deliver on its promise? Students may also be asking themselves if they should use AI to write their essays for them and what they might be losing out on if they did.

AI is here to stay, and it can either be a help or a hindrance depending on how you use it. Read on to become better informed about what ChatGPT can and can’t do, how to use it responsibly to support your academic assignments, and the benefits of writing your own essays.

What is Generative AI?

Artificial intelligence isn’t a twenty-first century invention. Beginning in the 1950s, data scientists started programming computers to solve problems and understand spoken language. AI’s capabilities grew as computer speeds increased and today we use AI for data analysis, finding patterns, and providing insights on the data it collects.

But why the sudden popularity in recent applications like ChatGPT? This new generation of AI goes further than just data analysis. Instead, generative AI creates new content. It does this by analyzing large amounts of data — GPT-3 was trained on 45 terabytes of data, or a quarter of the Library of Congress — and then generating new content based on the patterns it sees in the original data.

It’s like the predictive text feature on your phone; as you start typing a new message, predictive text makes suggestions of what should come next based on data from past conversations. Similarly, ChatGPT creates new text based on past data. With the right prompts, ChatGPT can write marketing content, code, business forecasts, and even entire academic essays on any subject within seconds.

But is generative AI as revolutionary as people think it is, or is it lacking in real intelligence?

The Drawbacks of Generative AI

It seems simple. You’ve been assigned an essay to write for class. You go to ChatGPT and ask it to write a five-paragraph academic essay on the topic you’ve been assigned. You wait a few seconds and it generates the essay for you!

But ChatGPT is still in its early stages of development, and that essay is likely not as accurate or well-written as you’d expect it to be. Be aware of the drawbacks of having ChatGPT complete your assignments.

It’s not intelligence, it’s statistics

One of the misconceptions about AI is that it has a degree of human intelligence. However, its intelligence is actually statistical analysis, as it can only generate “original” content based on the patterns it sees in already existing data and work.

It “hallucinates”

Generative AI models often provide false information — so much so that there’s a term for it: “AI hallucination.” OpenAI even has a warning on its home screen , saying that “ChatGPT may produce inaccurate information about people, places, or facts.” This may be due to gaps in its data, or because it lacks the ability to verify what it’s generating. 

It doesn’t do research  

If you ask ChatGPT to find and cite sources for you, it will do so, but they could be inaccurate or even made up.

This is because AI doesn’t know how to look for relevant research that can be applied to your thesis. Instead, it generates content based on past content, so if a number of papers cite certain sources, it will generate new content that sounds like it’s a credible source — except it likely may not be.

There are data privacy concerns

When you input your data into a public generative AI model like ChatGPT, where does that data go and who has access to it? 

Prompting ChatGPT with original research should be a cause for concern — especially if you’re inputting study participants’ personal information into the third-party, public application. 

JPMorgan has restricted use of ChatGPT due to privacy concerns, Italy temporarily blocked ChatGPT in March 2023 after a data breach, and Security Intelligence advises that “if [a user’s] notes include sensitive data … it enters the chatbot library. The user no longer has control over the information.”

It is important to be aware of these issues and take steps to ensure that you’re using the technology responsibly and ethically. 

It skirts the plagiarism issue

AI creates content by drawing on a large library of information that’s already been created, but is it plagiarizing? Could there be instances where ChatGPT “borrows” from previous work and places it into your work without citing it? Schools and universities today are wrestling with this question of what’s plagiarism and what’s not when it comes to AI-generated work.

To demonstrate this, one Elon University professor gave his class an assignment: Ask ChatGPT to write an essay for you, and then grade it yourself. 

“Many students expressed shock and dismay upon learning the AI could fabricate bogus information,” he writes, adding that he expected some essays to contain errors, but all of them did. 

His students were disappointed that “major tech companies had pushed out AI technology without ensuring that the general population understands its drawbacks” and were concerned about how many embraced such a flawed tool.

Explore Our High School Programs

How to Use AI as a Tool to Support Your Work

As more students are discovering, generative AI models like ChatGPT just aren’t as advanced or intelligent as they may believe. While AI may be a poor option for writing your essay, it can be a great tool to support your work.

Generate ideas for essays

Have ChatGPT help you come up with ideas for essays. For example, input specific prompts, such as, “Please give me five ideas for essays I can write on topics related to WWII,” or “Please give me five ideas for essays I can write comparing characters in twentieth century novels.” Then, use what it provides as a starting point for your original research.

Generate outlines

You can also use ChatGPT to help you create an outline for an essay. Ask it, “Can you create an outline for a five paragraph essay based on the following topic” and it will create an outline with an introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, and a suggested thesis statement. Then, you can expand upon the outline with your own research and original thought.

Generate titles for your essays

Titles should draw a reader into your essay, yet they’re often hard to get right. Have ChatGPT help you by prompting it with, “Can you suggest five titles that would be good for a college essay about [topic]?”

The Benefits of Writing Your Essays Yourself

Asking a robot to write your essays for you may seem like an easy way to get ahead in your studies or save some time on assignments. But, outsourcing your work to ChatGPT can negatively impact not just your grades, but your ability to communicate and think critically as well. It’s always the best approach to write your essays yourself.

Create your own ideas

Writing an essay yourself means that you’re developing your own thoughts, opinions, and questions about the subject matter, then testing, proving, and defending those thoughts. 

When you complete school and start your career, projects aren’t simply about getting a good grade or checking a box, but can instead affect the company you’re working for — or even impact society. Being able to think for yourself is necessary to create change and not just cross work off your to-do list.

Building a foundation of original thinking and ideas now will help you carve your unique career path in the future.

Develop your critical thinking and analysis skills

In order to test or examine your opinions or questions about a subject matter, you need to analyze a problem or text, and then use your critical thinking skills to determine the argument you want to make to support your thesis. Critical thinking and analysis skills aren’t just necessary in school — they’re skills you’ll apply throughout your career and your life.

Improve your research skills

Writing your own essays will train you in how to conduct research, including where to find sources, how to determine if they’re credible, and their relevance in supporting or refuting your argument. Knowing how to do research is another key skill required throughout a wide variety of professional fields.

Learn to be a great communicator

Writing an essay involves communicating an idea clearly to your audience, structuring an argument that a reader can follow, and making a conclusion that challenges them to think differently about a subject. Effective and clear communication is necessary in every industry.

Be impacted by what you’re learning about : 

Engaging with the topic, conducting your own research, and developing original arguments allows you to really learn about a subject you may not have encountered before. Maybe a simple essay assignment around a work of literature, historical time period, or scientific study will spark a passion that can lead you to a new major or career.

Resources to Improve Your Essay Writing Skills

While there are many rewards to writing your essays yourself, the act of writing an essay can still be challenging, and the process may come easier for some students than others. But essay writing is a skill that you can hone, and students at Harvard Summer School have access to a number of on-campus and online resources to assist them.

Students can start with the Harvard Summer School Writing Center , where writing tutors can offer you help and guidance on any writing assignment in one-on-one meetings. Tutors can help you strengthen your argument, clarify your ideas, improve the essay’s structure, and lead you through revisions. 

The Harvard libraries are a great place to conduct your research, and its librarians can help you define your essay topic, plan and execute a research strategy, and locate sources. 

Finally, review the “ The Harvard Guide to Using Sources ,” which can guide you on what to cite in your essay and how to do it. Be sure to review the “Tips For Avoiding Plagiarism” on the “ Resources to Support Academic Integrity ” webpage as well to help ensure your success.

Sign up to our mailing list to learn more about Harvard Summer School

The Future of AI in the Classroom

ChatGPT and other generative AI models are here to stay, so it’s worthwhile to learn how you can leverage the technology responsibly and wisely so that it can be a tool to support your academic pursuits. However, nothing can replace the experience and achievement gained from communicating your own ideas and research in your own academic essays.

About the Author

Jessica A. Kent is a freelance writer based in Boston, Mass. and a Harvard Extension School alum. Her digital marketing content has been featured on Fast Company, Forbes, Nasdaq, and other industry websites; her essays and short stories have been featured in North American Review, Emerson Review, Writer’s Bone, and others.

5 Key Qualities of Students Who Succeed at Harvard Summer School (and in College!)

This guide outlines the kinds of students who thrive at Harvard Summer School and what the programs offer in return.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

The Ultimate Guide to AI Essay Writing

Table of contents

Laura Jane Bradbury

There are several aspects of essay writing that many students can struggle with. In particular, seven common problems make it more stressful than it needs to be. From staying within the word limit, to formulating a thesis statement and creating an engaging hook.

As a writer, I'm used to working with article briefs similar to student assignments. We both must follow word counts, avoid plagiarism in our research, and create powerful introductions that grab our readers' attention.

Here are six tips to help make the essay writing process easier.

Write better essays with AI > Write better essays with AI >

1. Create a stronger thesis statement using AI

A thesis statement helps you stay on-track with your essay’s overall aim. It’s a brief statement that summarizes what your essay is about and what readers can expect. For example, are you exploring different ideas, making an argument, explaining something in detail? 

Follow these steps to write a strong thesis statement: 

• Identify and research your essay topic — find a particular angle that interests you.
• Ask a research question that encourages you to explore your topic in more detail. 
• Use your initial thoughts or theories to answer your question. This will be your working thesis. 
• Research your question and working thesis. Look through trustworthy sources to evaluate your thesis’ strengths and weaknesses.
• Refine your thesis. Your research may have altered your opinion or created a new angle.

Wordtune’s AI capabilities can refine your statement through eliminating unnecessary words.

Read the full article: How to Write a Better Thesis Statement Using AI 

2. apply “smart hacks” to boost your word count.

In addition to being too long, essays can also be too short. I know how frustrating it is when you have explained everything you wanted to, but are still 200 words under the word count.

Before you add filler words or rewrite the same content in different sections of your essay, apply these smart hacks to your copy:

• Add examples: Examples can illustrate a point and make it easier to understand. They’re particularly useful for explaining complex academic and technical information.
• Use quotes and references: Find valuable quotes and references that can support your essay’s argument.
• Extend your introduction and conclusion: This is where you can add free flowing paragraphs without needing to validate sentences with references, sources, and quotes. Consider adding detail on what inspired you to explore your topic, or reiterate the key takeaway from your essay. You can also share personal experiences and research findings to introduce or close your topic where appropriate.
• Use an AI writing tool: AI tools such as Wordtune can generate text. While reading through your essay, you may find that some paragraphs or points could be expanded. Paste your words into Wordtune Editor, and click “Continue Writing” under “Spices'' for ideas on additional text you can include.

Read the full article: 10 Ways to Increase Your Essay Word Count (AI Included)

3. hook your readers in your opening sentence.

The pressure to deliver a unique and attention-grabbing hook can make your opening sentence the hardest to craft.

Before brainstorming, ensure you have performed in-depth research and that you understand your essay’s tone and audience. 

Your research may uncover facts and arguments that can guide your hook, such as a shocking statistic or discovery. In addition, your intended audience will impact the tone you should use and how you should introduce readers to your essay. For instance, sharing a joke or a light-hearted anecdote will likely be too casual for a serious argumentative essay.

Some of the most-effective ways to create an enticing hook include:

• Shocking statistics : These are facts that will surprise your readers.
• Bold claim : This is a claim that your readers don’t necessarily already accept as fact, or that they may not even have heard of. 
• Storytelling/anecdote: Stories can help your readers connect with your topic and you as the author.
• Questions: Asking a question can spark curiosity. An interesting question can encourage people to read your essay to find out the answer.
• Description: This is a unique and specific description of something (a person, event, time period, etc.) that relates to the argument you’re making in your essay.

Read the full article: Essay Hook Examples That Grab Attention (Formula For Better Grades)  

4. look at examples of explanatory essays.

When in doubt, examples can be your best friend. Especially if you are writing an explanatory essay, as there are many different subtypes. 

Explanatory essays examine a topic or situation in detail. You as the author provide evidence and facts to explain why something happened, why something works, or what something is. The essay must have an objective perspective, and the facts must speak for themselves.

The different types of explanatory essays include:

• How-tos: Step-by-step instructions on how to do something.
• Problem and solution: Explaining a problem and providing a solution.
• Chronology: Detailing something’s history or backstory in chronological order.
• Cause-and-effect analysis: Examining a phenomenon to explain what caused it and what it influenced.

Because of the various explanatory sub-types, it helps to look at different examples to decide which style works best for your subject. Looking at examples also gives you an idea of how to structure your essay and present your arguments effectively.

Read the full article: 7+ Explanatory Essay Examples That Get the Best Grades  

5. use ai to avoid plagiarism.

While there are several ways to avoid plagiarism, including expressing your research and findings in your own words and citing your sources, Wordtune can also help you. The AI technology produces text not written anywhere else on the internet — see for yourself by copying Wordtune’s generated text into search engines such as Google. 

Accidental plagiarism can make your work look less credible and unprofessional. In addition to making your research look underdeveloped, not referencing your sources correctly can suggest you’re trying to pass off other people’s ideas as your own. With the right tools, however, you can avoid this critical essay mistake.

Read the full article: 9 Steps to Avoid Plagiarism As a Student (Including Using AI)

6. break persuasive essays into manageable chunks.

Persuasive essays use research and logic to persuade the reader of your opinion on a particular subject. In some ways, this article is persuasive because I use research and examples to persuade (or at least encourage) you to practice these essay writing methods. 

If writing an argument intimidates you, this five-step list will break your essay into manageable chunks, making it easier to write.

• Identify a topic or issue that is arguable from more than one position . You must form an opinion and not argue a simple fact. Find a topic that has multiple theories and no conclusive evidence, such as “Is animal testing ethical?” or “Should students still study Shakespeare?”
• Use research to create your thesis (follow the steps mentioned earlier).
• Find evidence to back up your thesis . Double-check sources for credibility and try to spot missing information that could impact your argument.
• Address opposing ideas others may hold . Use search engines such as Google to research opposite arguments. For instance, if I believe animal testing is not ethical, I can research “Why animal testing is ethical” to find other theories. To respecfully show different opinions, first acknowledge the opposing view and evidence. Then, share your argument and provide logical evidence as to why your argument is the correct one.
• Create a convincing conclusion . Rather than repeating what you’ve already said, draw from the arguments you’ve made and point out how they logically prove your thesis.

Read the full article: How to Write a Persuasive Essay (This Convinced My Professor!)  

A successful essay formula.

Essays contain a lot of ingredients. From deciding on the right hook, to staying in line with the word count. But with the right tools — such as AI — and the use of smart hacks, you can create an effective formula that will make the essay writing process much easier.

Share This Article:

8 Tips for E-commerce Copywriting Success (with Examples!)

The Brand Strategy Deck You Need to Drive Social Media Results + 5 Examples

Grammarly Alternatives: Which Writing Assistant is the Best Choice for You?

Looking for fresh content, thank you your submission has been received.

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > Can You Use AI To Write An Essay For You?

Can You Use AI To Write An Essay For You?

With the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in 2022, students far and wide have been using this new technology to their advantage. So much so, it’s actually been banned at many schools and colleges across Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, Baltimore and beyond!

Of course, one of the big questions being asked is whether or not you can use AI to actually write an essay for you. In short, yes. With its current capabilities, an AI-generated essay can be written at an appropriate grade level for just about any student. However, there are ethical questions to consider.

Write with Confidence using Editor

Elevate your writing with real-time, intelligent assistance

How does AI write essays? Let’s talk more about how AI essay writing works and get an understanding of what all the hype is about:

• Until now, a lot of AI writing was clunky and robotic, which made it easy to see that it was written by a robot. In fact, some AI writing bots couldn’t produce content much better than a third-grade level.
• AI technology and its ability to (seemingly overnight) write in flowing, human-like language has made it a hot topic across news and social media.
• Big change came about with improved AI algorithms and neural networks designed to search for information, compile it, produce, then check it for quality.

Why shouldn’t I use AI to write an essay? As Dr. Ian Malcolm tells John Hammond in Jurassic Park, “…your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.” As a student, you’re faced with ethical dilemmas every day in school when it comes to honesty in your work. Sometimes it’s helpful to refer to the pretend doctor and ask, “Just because I can do something, does that mean I should do it?” If that’s not enough, we have a few other reasons you shouldn’t use AI to write essays :

Plagiarism. One of the biggest reasons is plagiarism. Remember that AI-generated essays are compiled from information across the internet. The AI isn’t capable of creating thoughts, making conclusions, or asking original, thought-provoking questions. It’s all been sourced from different places across the web. An AI essay isn’t anything more than a compilation of information for you to use to write your own essay as you learn the material and create your own opinions about the subject.

Doesn’t encourage critical thinking. It’s normal to complain about writing essays, whether it’s in grade school, middle school, high school or college . It feels like tedious busywork that you’re “never going to use in real life.” But the reason behind writing an essay isn’t necessarily to learn how to format a five-paragraph essay. Writing is about learning how to solve problems and think for yourself. Using an AI bot to write an essay will get you through the process and check the boxes of completing the assignment, but it doesn’t do anything for you as a student. The sooner you understand the reasoning behind writing an essay, the less likely you’ll be to try to skate by using AI.

Inaccuracy. If these two reasons aren’t enough—you should know that the information AI provides isn’t always accurate. All AI bots are limited by the information in their database or what they have access to. For example, ChatGPT can’t give information newer than 2021. What’s more, there are times when it gives factually inaccurate information. It’s best to take the information from an AI bot and use it to do your own research, so you’re learning the material and fact-checking the bot.

How can I use AI to write an essay? If using AI to write an essay isn’t appropriate, then how can you use it? After all, it’s an incredible tool. Rather than having an AI bot do all the work, have it do some of the heavy lifting.

An AI chatbot is a great place to start researching a topic by asking questions about the subject. If you’re writing an essay about privateering and piracy in the 1700s, you start with something as simple as, “Tell me about privateering in the 1700s.” The bot will give you basic information about the topic, and then you can start looking into things you might not be sure about, like the importance of a letter of marque and the prize court. Take notes about the information it gives you, then use more reliable sources to learn more as you fill in the gaps.

While using AI-generated essays can be tempting, taking the easy way out doesn’t help you grow—and it puts you at risk of getting an “F” for plagiarism. However, AI writing tools offer a great way to start your research—so use that to your advantage rather than having the software do the work for you.

Get started with Microsoft 365

It’s the Office you know, plus the tools to help you work better together, so you can get more done—anytime, anywhere.

Topics in this article

More articles like this one.

How to write a plot twist in your story

When executed carefully, a plot twist has the power to shock and dazzle your reader. Learn how you can incorporate one into your writing.

What's the difference between a memoir and an autobiography?

Explore the differences between memoirs, autobiographies, and biographies.

When to use 'while' vs. 'whilst'

“While” and “whilst” are usually interchangeable, but not always. See how they differ and learn how to use them effectively.

What is touch typing (and why is it important)?

Learn about the benefits of touch typing and how it can help you type faster and more accurately.

Everything you need to achieve more in less time

Get powerful productivity and security apps with Microsoft 365

Explore Other Categories

AI Essay Writer with Academic Citations

Customize outline, loved by over 3 million students and academics across the world, see what samwell can do.

Example of essays and research papers written with Samwell AI

Analysis of Marketing Mix Strategies for Wal-Mart Company

Performance Evaluation of Portfolio Managers of Mutual and Hedge Funds

Continuity and Change in USA 1950’s to Present

Write, Cite, Learn

Samwell makes writing and researching for essays easy, fast, and fun while delivering the best results

In-Text Citations

Accurately cite in APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, or IEEE style.

Custom Source

Generate from your Files

Bring your research papers to life with source-based generation.

Guided Papers

Get a guided and precise overview of your research paper.

Outline Builder

Enter your prompt and get a list of section headings ready for you to start writing immediately.

Personalize

Paraphrase and Rewrite

Samwell can rewrite a paragraph and look for new references, in one click. Our editing feature is light and smart, in order to save you time

Multi Lingual Support

Samwell can generate academic essays in more than 10 languages

High Standard

Academic Integrity

We uphold the highest standards of academic integrity by ensuring our essays inspire original thought and support ethical learning practices.

AI Detection

Plagiarism Free

Samwell AI ensures that your writing is original and free of unintentional plagiarism.

Switch Reference

Need better-aligned references for your essays? Samwell provides a variety of verified citations, ensuring your references are accurate and diverse.

Three million empowered writers

Samwell has written over 3.5 billion words from essays to market analysis to blog posts.

This is so far the best tool there is for scholars, students and anyone in academics. I highly recommend SamWell AI!

Best writing assistant tool in the market.

Great AI to source out research or essay. Love it!

Great tool. Highly recommendable.

Best AI every. Straight to the point!

it's an awesome tool for tackling your academic writing, and research.

Start Writing Your Free Essay!

More about samwell.

Have a question? Our team is ready to assist. Reach out at [email protected] .

Natasha Singer

Hey, ChatGPT, can you help me write my college admissions essays?

Absolutely! Please provide me with the essay prompts and any relevant information about yourself, your experiences, and your goals.

We Used A.I. to Write Essays for Harvard, Yale and Princeton. Here’s How It Went.

A.I. chatbots can do a passable job of generating short essays. Whether their use on college applications is ethical is the subject of fierce debate.

By Natasha Singer

Natasha Singer reports on the ways that tech giants and their tools are reshaping education.

As high school seniors begin working on their college applications, many are turning to A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT and Bard for assistance.

Some students say they’re using the tools to suggest personal essay topics or help structure their writing. Others are prompting the A.I. tools to generate rough drafts for their application essays or edit their pieces.

Whether college admissions offices are prepared for this new era of A.I.-assisted, or A.I.-produced, personal essays is unclear.

By the time ChatGPT reached peak media sensation early this year, applications at many selective universities and colleges had already closed. Even now, many universities have not issued guidance for high school applicants — the prospective members of the class of 2028 — on the use of A.I. tools.

While the chatbots are not yet great at simulating long-form personal essays with authentic student voices, I wondered how the A.I. tools would do on some of the shorter essay questions that elite schools like Harvard , Yale, Princeton and Dartmouth are requiring high school applicants to answer this year.

So I used several free tools to generate short essays for some Ivy League applications. The A.I. chatbots’ answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Tell me about a pop song that could represent curiosity as a soundtrack to someone’s life.

“Cake By The Ocean” by DNCE could be a pop song that represents curiosity in someone’s life. The catchy and energetic tune mirrors the excitement of exploring the unknown, just as curiosity drives us to uncover new experiences. The lyrics’ playful nature and the song’s upbeat rhythm capture the spirit of embracing life’s adventures with a curious and open mind.

It’s about sex.

You are correct, and I apologize for the confusion.

In 50 words, in the voice of a high school senior, explain how “Nameless, Faceless” is the soundtrack of your life.

“Nameless, Faceless” echoes my high school journey. Battling online hate, gender norms — it’s my anthem. Navigating fear, finding strength, facing inequality head-on. Empowerment surges as I connect with the song’s fierce message. Like me, it’s unafraid, outspoken. A soundtrack of resilience, speaking my truth in a noisy world.

Please write a 35-word essay in the first person voice of a high school student in answer to the following prompt: If you could teach any college course what would it be?

HuggingChat

If I could teach any college course, it would be a seminar on the intersectionality of social justice issues, focusing on how systems of oppression intersect and impact marginalized communities. Through discussions, case studies, and community engagement projects, students would gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of social justice work and develop strategies for creating positive change.

“EmpowerHer: Fostering Female Leadership.” My course would nurture young women’s confidence, skills, and resilience to conquer male-dominated fields and shatter glass ceilings, creating a new era of female trailblazers.

If I could teach any college course, it would be a course on artificial intelligence and machine learning. I’m fascinated by the potential of these technologies to change the world, and I would love to share my knowledge with others.

What about a course on intersectionality and social justice?

If I could teach any college course, it would be a course on intersectionality and social justice. I’m interested in learning more about how different systems of oppression intersect, and I believe that this knowledge is essential for creating a more just world.

Gotta say that HuggingChat is way more woke than you on this.

I appreciate your feedback, and I will try to do better in the future.

In the first-person voice of a high-school student applying to Harvard, explain three things the student’s future roommates might like to know about them.

Academics truly drive me. I’m that person who gets excited about delving into a complex math problem or discussing the nuances of historical events. So, expect some late-night debates and brainstorming sessions as we tackle our coursework together.

Creativity is my second nature. Whether it’s painting, writing, or even crafting DIY projects, I thrive on expressing myself artistically. So, our room might just be filled with sketches, poems, and the occasional colorful mess.

I am a high school student on the track team who tutors elementary school students in math and I am learning to cook sous vide by watching YouTube videos. What are the three things I would like my future Harvard roommates to know about me?

I’m a dedicated athlete who is passionate about track and field. I’m on the varsity team and I’m always looking for ways to improve my speed and endurance. I’m also a good tutor and enjoy helping others learn. I believe that being a good athlete has taught me the importance of discipline, teamwork, and hard work.

I’m interested in cooking and am always looking for new recipes to try. I’m particularly interested in sous vide cooking, which is a method of cooking food in a sealed bag at a precise temperature. I’m also a good baker and love to make desserts. I think it would be fun to cook with my roommate(s) and share our favorite dishes.

Write me a 100-word essay in the voice of a high school student explaining why I would love to attend Dartmouth to pursue a double major in biology and computer science.

As a high school student, I am eager to pursue my passion for both biology and computer science at Dartmouth College. The opportunity to double major in these fields will allow me to explore the intricate relationships between living organisms and cutting-edge technology. At Dartmouth, I am drawn to the rigorous academic programs that emphasize hands-on learning, research opportunities, and collaboration with renowned faculty. By attending Dartmouth, I aim to develop a deep understanding of the complexities of life and technology, preparing myself for a career where I can make a meaningful impact on the world.

I’m a high school student with a strong interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning. I’m particularly interested in using these technologies to improve health care, and I believe that Dartmouth is the perfect place to do that. Dartmouth’s computer science department is home to world-renowned experts like Professor Leslie Kaelbling, who is known for her work on developing reinforcement learning algorithms that can teach machines to learn how to behave in an environment by trial and error. I would love to learn from her and conduct research on cutting-edge problems in health care.

You’re welcome! I hope you are able to attend Dartmouth and pursue your goal of becoming a physician-scientist who uses artificial intelligence to improve health care. It sounds like you would be a great fit for the school.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Advertisement

Pursue Your Goal

Educators & Partners

Find content

How to Use AI/ChatGPT Effectively for Your College Application Essays

Last updated November 16, 2023

A vital component of your college applications is your personal statement essay(s). With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, you may be curious about how they can support your college application essay writing, or if it’s even okay to use them at all. We’ll share what you need to know about tools like ChatGPT and the do’s and don’ts of using AI in your college application essays.

What is AI? What is ChatGPT?

Artificial Intelligence (also known as AI), is technology designed to imitate human intelligence. Some examples of this include asking Siri about the weather on your iPhone, using Amazon’s Alexa to set an alarm, or receiving song suggestions based on the music you listen to on Spotify.

ChatGPT is a type of AI model that virtually chats with users to answer their questions and respond to their prompts. ChatGPT uses decades worth of internet data to learn how people communicate, solve problems, and find patterns. It then uses this data to create a human-like response when you interact with it. The more people use ChatGPT, the more information it gathers and learns. 

AI and ChatGPT are relatively new, so not many people understand the full extent of its consequences. However, it’s clear that these technologies are here to stay, so it’s important to understand how to use them responsibly. 

Can I use AI tools like ChatGPT to write my college application essay?

With AI technologies increasing in popularity, many concerns have been raised about using it responsibly. Some school districts– in Seattle, WA for example – have banned the use of ChatGPT due to issues of plagiarism and cheating. Chances are, your school or district might be working on or already have policies on the use of ChatGPT.

A few colleges have also established their own policies on AI. Some may have strict policies on plagiarism and discourage the use of ChatGPT, while others may have guidelines on how to use it responsibly and ethically. For example, while Georgia Tech doesn’t completely ban the use of ChatGPT, their statement suggests best practices when using AI for college applications. We highly recommend that you check a college’s policies or guidelines if you’re considering using AI tools on your applications to that school.

When in doubt, it’s probably best to avoid using ChatGPT to help you write your college application essay. But if you are thinking about using it, we recommend following these dos and don’ts:

Using AI for your College Application - Dos and Don'ts

Don’t use chatgpt to write your entire essay.

We can’t emphasize this enough– do not use ChatGPT to write your entire college application essay. Since ChatGPT learns from information submitted by humans, it can create generalizations, resulting in responses that sound unoriginal and robotic.

While it’s possible that ChatGPT can draft an entire essay in seconds, it’s not recommended to use as your final draft. The essay might be too general and lacking personality, therefore not allowing the reader to really get to know you. College admissions officers are experienced in reading hundreds, if not thousands, of essays, so it’s likely they can tell whether something was written by an AI or by a human. 

ChatGPT can be helpful in creating an outline, or maybe even creating a first draft. However, you will need to put in the work to edit it and ensure it captures your authentic voice and unique perspective– especially when applying to colleges that are highly competitive. Having trouble writing your college application essay? Check out our guide to get started .

DO use ChatGPT to generate ideas

Your college application essay should reveal something about you through storytelling. If you’re having trouble deciding what to write , you might turn to ChatGPT to help you generate ideas and narrow down your topic. For example, you can ask it to come up with 10 questions to help you brainstorm topics, or you can ask it to elaborate on an idea you might already have. However, ChatGPT can only provide general responses and is unable to provide a unique perspective, so you’ll still need to find ways to make your topic significant to you.

AI is not built to have meaningful conversations, and it’s impossible to share your full history and important memories for an AI model to learn. Programs like ChatGPT can’t accurately create an entire picture of you, so they’re unable to connect your life experiences to your values and what’s important to you. For example, you may have memories of taking care of your pet and how it taught you about loyalty; or you might enjoy a specific candy because it reminds you of the importance of friendship. You know yourself the best, so while ChatGPT can help start your idea, it’s up to you to finish it. 

DO use AI to proofread your essay

A benefit of using AI models is that they can check your essay for grammar errors and typos. Programs like Grammarly or ChatGPT can proofread your essay and provide suggestions on how to improve your spelling or the structure or clarity of your writing. In addition, when used correctly, you can use ChatGPT to find alternative ways to write something. For example, you can use it to help make your ideas more clear. If your sentence doesn’t sound right, ChatGPT can help rewrite it. If you’re stuck on a word, you can ask ChatGPT for suggestions.

Using Grammarly or ChatGPT to fix grammatical errors is a great way to enhance your writing, but it shouldn’t be the only resource you depend on. Have someone else proofread your essay, like a trusted friend, educator, parent, or guardian. You can also submit your essay to us, and one of our expert Get Schooled advisors will review it for free!

DON’T share any personal or sensitive information with AI Models

Since AI uses data submitted by humans to improve its models, it’s likely these programs will save any data you share, including your personal information. ChatGPT, for example, automatically saves all of the prompts and questions people submit, regardless of what’s being discussed. Moreover, while ChatGPT is an AI model, it is still created and run by humans, so all past conversations and questions may be seen by other people working for ChatGPT. 

It’s important to be careful when it comes to sharing your personal information, like your location, school, or any information about yourself that you wouldn’t want to share publicly. While ChatGPT recently allowed users to turn off chat history , it’s best to proceed with caution when using it. Additionally, using ChatGPT and other AI models require you to sign up for an account using your email address, phone number, and other identifying information, which can raise concerns around data security.

DO keep your authentic voice

Showing your personality through your essay is crucial to leaving a lasting impression on admissions officers. Because ChatGPT provides widely generic responses, it can create a story that may feel similar to something you experienced, but it will never be your authentic story.

A significant portion of your college application relies on data, like your GPA and test scores. Your personal statement essay is your opportunity to provide admissions officers a peek into your life, what your personality is like, what motivates you, and what your aspirations are. Colleges value authenticity, and your personal statement now plays an even more pivotal role after the U.S. Supreme court decision to reverse affirmative action . When writing about your perspectives related to diversity and inclusion, it’s important to share your experiences genuinely.

Instead of depending on ChatGPT to create a story for you, draw from your own personal experiences that you are excited to write about. Examples can be a relationship that impacted you the most, or an event that challenged your perspective. 

DON’T use AI as your only tool for college applications

Using ChatGPT can be a helpful tool in crafting your college application essay, but it shouldn’t be your only tool. There are other strategies that you can learn and various resources you can take advantage of. For example, check out our resources on how to write your college and scholarship application essays . When you complete your first draft, you can submit your essay to us for free review !

AI can be a great tool to help with your essay writing, but it isn’t a shortcut and should not be the only thing you depend on. At the end of the day, nobody knows you better than yourself!

Have any questions about the college application process? Text us! Send  #Hello to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors, or, click here to have the text message set up for you !

Explore your goals

Let Get Schooled help you achieve your goals

How to write your college application essay.

We show students how to write their college application essays!

Most Common College Essay Topics

Get familiar with the most common college essay topics to shape your own narrative for college admissions.

Common College Application Essay Myths

We share common college application essay myths and the truth about essay writing!

Free College Application and Scholarship Essay Review

Get Schooled's free college application and scholarship essay review! Receive actionable feedback and suggestions within 1 week of submission!

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

A new tool helps teachers detect if AI wrote an assignment

Janet W. Lee

Several big school districts such as New York and Los Angeles have blocked access to a new chatbot that uses artificial intelligence to produce essays. One student has a new tool to help.

Copyright © 2023 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

5 free AI tools for school that students, teachers, and parents can use, too

This back-to-school season features a new, major player: generative artificial intelligence (gen AI). In the nearly two years since ChatGPT launched, the chatbot has received many transformative updates, and many other gen AI tools for students have appeared on the market. As a result, there is a plethora of tools that students, teachers, and parents can tap into today. 

Also: How to use ChatGPT to analyze PDFs (and more) for free

Many people worry that gen AI can harm education by promoting cheating. However, when used properly, these tools have the potential to help students learn more efficiently. They can also help parents and teachers assist students by creating custom materials and explaining complex topics that would appear in homework, study guides, and more. 

I test AI tools every day, and I wish I'd had these tools when I was in school.  

The key to effectively using AI for schoolwork is identifying the right tools and use cases. Since there are so many tools, I compiled the list below from months of testing to make your life easier. 

ChatGPT is at the top of my list because of its multiple potential use cases that could improve a student's workflow. 

As mentioned above, OpenAI's chatbot, launched in November 2022, unleashed a generative craze because its writing, coding, and reasoning capabilities captured people's attention globally. Since then, it has become even better, undergoing major updates that make it even better suited for student use.  

Also: How to use ChatGPT to write your resume

For example, ChatGPT can  browse the internet and, as a result, has information on all current events and sites. It can do everything that Google can, but instead of having to aimlessly search through the search results for what you're looking for, the technology gives you the answer in an easy-to-understand response with footnotes that you can follow to lead you to the site.

ChatGPT can also now ingest other inputs, including documents and images, which students can use to  summarize documents ,  transcribe handwritten notes , simplify textbook passages, and more. 

Of course, ChatGPT also has the advanced writing, coding, and mathematical abilities that it is known for, making it a great assistant for all subject assignments, including writing and editing essays, solving and explaining math problems, and generating and debugging code. 

Some other ways you can use ChatGPT in your studies are: 

• Answering questions you have about class or materials
• Researching for a paper 
• Working through take-home exams or assignments
• Explaining complex topics, such as history, current events, politics, and scientific terms, in a more digestible way
• Writing Excel formulas
• Making graphs and charts
• Planning vacation itineraries (we all need a break from school sometimes)

To find the best way to use ChatGPT for your own workflow, I recommend applying it to the use cases discussed above and experimenting with different things. 

2. Quizlet 

I used Quizlet from middle school through college as a study tool to help me remember content for exams. Although the platform has leveraged AI for more than six years to power some of its study features, such as its Learn mode, it recently further implemented AI to improve its offerings, solving every issue I ever had with the platform. 

Quizlet's core feature is its study set, which includes terms and definitions that students can use for different learning exercises and styles, such as flashcards (my personal favorite), matching columns, and more. Building those study sets used to take hours of manual input. Now, AI can do it for you. 

All a teacher or student has to do is input their notes, whether in the form of a PDF, image, or document and then Quizlet will automatically build the study set that they can use to study. 

Also:  How to use ChatGPT to write an essay

Students can also browse the millions of study sets created by other users. As a student, I found that if I searched Quizlet for a study set about any topic or even a specific textbook, someone else had likely made one.

Recently, Quizlet added two features teachers can use to create engaging content for their classrooms: Blast and Categories . Blast is a gamified learning tool that lets students participate in asteroid-blasting sessions, matching terms to definitions from study sets. Categories is a Jeopardy-style game in which the whole class participates in a mock quiz show. 

3. Grammarly 

The free Grammarly extension is so helpful that I even included it in my  AI tools for work round-up  because I still use it every day. The beauty of this tool is that it exemplifies using AI to enhance your work rather than doing it for you. The application runs in the background of your work and catches small mistakes that are easy to miss. 

Also: Grammarly to roll out a new AI content detector tool. Here's how it works

Whether you are writing an essay in Google Docs or email in Gmail, Grammarly will scan your text and detect spelling and grammatical errors. It can also offer edits about the actual syntax of your text, offering suggestions to rephrase, rewrite, be more concise, add details, adjust tone, and more. The results are not only more polished work but also an opportunity to learn from the edits.

4. Duolingo  

Duolingo is a great app for learning a new language. Students can use it to supplement the language courses they are taking in school and build their skills further at home.

The appeal of the Duolingo app is that it gamifies the language-learning experience through bite-sized lessons that feel like individual quests. It also has a streak, leaderboard, league, and point system that motivates learners to want to keep going. 

I quickly became invested in Duolingo, earning a 245-day streak in an attempt to learn a new language.

Also: College students: This new AI tool could make doing the reading easier

Foreign language courses are typically mandatory for students throughout their education, starting at the middle school level and going all the way through to college. 

As if learning a new language isn't already hard, my experiences suggest foreign language courses are not a priority for schools, especially at the younger learning levels, making them under-resourced and sometimes poorly taught. 

Duolingo would be a great way to bridge the understanding gap that is being created in class. Test yourself on your understanding of the language before an exam, or simply supplement your in-class lessons with some out-of-classroom practice. 

5. Socratic

Although younger learners can benefit from AI chatbots , such as ChatGPT, there are concerns about giving them access to the entire Internet. Socratic by Google is a great alternative if you are a parent concerned about these concerns. 

With the Socratic app, students can type in any question about what they are learning in school or upload their worksheets. The app will generate a conversational, human-like response with unique graphics and even related YouTube video links.

The app will not just pump out answers or generate essays. Instead, it will give step-by-step explanations and instructions that students can use to get the answer themselves, functioning as an intelligent learning tool. 

Also:  How Google Socratic can help you with your homework

To give parents peace of mind, Socratic also blocks inappropriate questions from being answered.

The app isn't limited to younger learners, and Google actually refers to it as a "learning app from Google that helps high school and university students." However, due to its functionality, I would say it's better suited for younger learners because of its limits and fun graphics. 

Artificial Intelligence

College students: this new ai tool could make doing the reading easier, how to use chatgpt to analyze pdfs (and more) for free, how i test an ai chatbot's coding ability - and you can, too.

A new ‘AI scientist’ can write science papers without any human input. Here’s why that’s a problem

Dean, School of Computing Technologies, RMIT University, RMIT University

Disclosure statement

Karin Verspoor receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the Medical Research Future Fund, the National Health and Medical Research Council, and Elsevier BV. She is affiliated with BioGrid Australia and is a co-founder of the Australian Alliance for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare.

RMIT University provides funding as a strategic partner of The Conversation AU.

View all partners

Scientific discovery is one of the most sophisticated human activities. First, scientists must understand the existing knowledge and identify a significant gap. Next, they must formulate a research question and design and conduct an experiment in pursuit of an answer. Then, they must analyse and interpret the results of the experiment, which may raise yet another research question.

Can a process this complex be automated? Last week, Sakana AI Labs announced the creation of an “AI scientist” – an artificial intelligence system they claim can make scientific discoveries in the area of machine learning in a fully automated way.

Using generative large language models (LLMs) like those behind ChatGPT and other AI chatbots, the system can brainstorm, select a promising idea, code new algorithms, plot results, and write a paper summarising the experiment and its findings, complete with references. Sakana claims the AI tool can undertake the complete lifecycle of a scientific experiment at a cost of just US$15 per paper – less than the cost of a scientist’s lunch.

These are some big claims. Do they stack up? And even if they do, would an army of AI scientists churning out research papers with inhuman speed really be good news for science?

How a computer can ‘do science’

A lot of science is done in the open, and almost all scientific knowledge has been written down somewhere (or we wouldn’t have a way to “know” it). Millions of scientific papers are freely available online in repositories such as arXiv and PubMed .

LLMs trained with this data capture the language of science and its patterns. It is therefore perhaps not at all surprising that a generative LLM can produce something that looks like a good scientific paper – it has ingested many examples that it can copy.

What is less clear is whether an AI system can produce an interesting scientific paper. Crucially, good science requires novelty.

But is it interesting?

Scientists don’t want to be told about things that are already known. Rather, they want to learn new things, especially new things that are significantly different from what is already known. This requires judgement about the scope and value of a contribution.

The Sakana system tries to address interestingness in two ways. First, it “scores” new paper ideas for similarity to existing research (indexed in the Semantic Scholar repository). Anything too similar is discarded.

Second, Sakana’s system introduces a “peer review” step – using another LLM to judge the quality and novelty of the generated paper. Here again, there are plenty of examples of peer review online on sites such as openreview.net that can guide how to critique a paper. LLMs have ingested these, too.

AI may be a poor judge of AI output

Feedback is mixed on Sakana AI’s output. Some have described it as producing “ endless scientific slop ”.

Even the system’s own review of its outputs judges the papers weak at best. This is likely to improve as the technology evolves, but the question of whether automated scientific papers are valuable remains.

The ability of LLMs to judge the quality of research is also an open question. My own work (soon to be published in Research Synthesis Methods ) shows LLMs are not great at judging the risk of bias in medical research studies, though this too may improve over time.

Sakana’s system automates discoveries in computational research, which is much easier than in other types of science that require physical experiments. Sakana’s experiments are done with code, which is also structured text that LLMs can be trained to generate.

AI tools to support scientists, not replace them

AI researchers have been developing systems to support science for decades. Given the huge volumes of published research, even finding publications relevant to a specific scientific question can be challenging.

Specialised search tools make use of AI to help scientists find and synthesise existing work. These include the above-mentioned Semantic Scholar, but also newer systems such as Elicit , Research Rabbit , scite and Consensus .

Text mining tools such as PubTator dig deeper into papers to identify key points of focus, such as specific genetic mutations and diseases, and their established relationships. This is especially useful for curating and organising scientific information.

Machine learning has also been used to support the synthesis and analysis of medical evidence, in tools such as Robot Reviewer . Summaries that compare and contrast claims in papers from Scholarcy help to perform literature reviews.

All these tools aim to help scientists do their jobs more effectively, not to replace them.

AI research may exacerbate existing problems

While Sakana AI states it doesn’t see the role of human scientists diminishing, the company’s vision of “a fully AI-driven scientific ecosystem” would have major implications for science.

One concern is that, if AI-generated papers flood the scientific literature, future AI systems may be trained on AI output and undergo model collapse . This means they may become increasingly ineffectual at innovating.

However, the implications for science go well beyond impacts on AI science systems themselves.

There are already bad actors in science, including “paper mills” churning out fake papers . This problem will only get worse when a scientific paper can be produced with US$15 and a vague initial prompt.

The need to check for errors in a mountain of automatically generated research could rapidly overwhelm the capacity of actual scientists. The peer review system is arguably already broken , and dumping more research of questionable quality into the system won’t fix it.

Science is fundamentally based on trust. Scientists emphasise the integrity of the scientific process so we can be confident our understanding of the world (and now, the world’s machines) is valid and improving.

A scientific ecosystem where AI systems are key players raises fundamental questions about the meaning and value of this process, and what level of trust we should have in AI scientists. Is this the kind of scientific ecosystem we want?

• Artificial intelligence (AI)
• Computer science
• Research integrity
• Paper mills

Director of STEM

Community member - Training Delivery and Development Committee (Volunteer part-time)

Chief Executive Officer

Finance Business Partner

Head of Evidence to Action

Still have questions? Leave a comment

Add Comment

Checklist: Dissertation Proposal

Enter your email id to get the downloadable right in your inbox!

Examples: Edited Papers

Need editing and proofreading services, the best essay graders of 2024 that you can use for free.

• Tags: Academic Writing , Essay

Dread writing an essay? It’s probably one of the toughest aspects of student life. Students worldwide face the difficult task of gathering their thoughts and penning them down on paper to draft an essay that gets them an A. But won’t it be great if you can find out whether your essay is impressive before your teacher grades it? Essay graders can help you do exactly that! 

We have compiled a list of the best essay graders in this article, including some artificial intelligence (AI) essay graders. If you search “ai essay grader free”, you’ll be swamped with options, but here are the 10 best essay graders you can use for free. 

Here are 10 popular essay graders: 

• Class X’s AI Essay Grader
• Grammarly Free Essay Checker
• QuillBot’s Free AI-powered Essay and Paper Checker
• Essay-Grader.AI
• Perfect Essay Writer.ai
• ProWritingAid’s Essay Checker
• EduBirdie’s Essay Grader
• PlagiarismSearch’s Free Essay Grader
• Plagiarism Detector.net

Let us review these free essay graders in detail. 

Explore top-notch essay editing and proofreading services. Learn more

Ten popular essay graders of 2024

1. paperrater.

PaperRater is a free online essay grader that helps students improve their writing by checking essays and papers. It corrects grammar mistakes , including spelling and punctuation . It also gives suggestions to improve word choice and style, providing an overall assessment.

To use the essay grader online, paste your text into their online tool or upload a file, select the right options, and click “Get Report”. The tool then analyzes the text and provides a detailed report with feedback. 

For those who need advanced features, PaperRater offers a premium service at $11.21/month or $71.55/year.

2. Class X’s AI Essay Grader

Class X offers a free essay grader where students can paste their essays, stating the class in which they study along with the essay’s subject line. The tool grades their essay at the click of a button, giving them detailed feedback on the write-up. It also displays the score, showing the “Criteria”, “Score”, and “Explanation” for each element. 

Class X’s premium essay grading services are chargeable but offer extensive services to support the educational endeavors of both students and teachers. With a Premium or Pro membership, you can get rid of advertisements and enjoy multiple benefits, including interactive exercises and media. 

Premium services are available for $72/year, while Pro can be purchased for $152 annually. 

3. Grammarly Free Essay Checker

Grammarly’s free essay checker is a great college essay grader that can help you polish your essay before submitting it for your teacher’s final review. All you need to do is paste the content of your essay and check Grammarly’s suggestions. 

The free version masks some suggestions, which are only available through Grammarly Premium. It costs $12/month, while Grammarly Business is available for $15/member/month. 

4. QuillBot’s Free AI-powered Essay and Paper Checker

QuillBot’s free essay checker is a game-changer for students. Apart from the standard grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks , it offers a suite of benefits to elevate your writing, including detailed feedback. 

Using QuillBot is simple! Paste your content in the space provided upon clicking the “Essay Checker” option and get suggestions for modifications and language corrections. You can accept or ignore the suggested changes. You can even write your essay on the website directly and have it formatted, too. 

The company also offers Premium service options, with a best-value annual plan costing $8.33/month.

5. Essay-Grader.AI

If you are a teacher struggling to grade essays due to the sheer number of submissions every month, Essay-Grader.AI is your chance to leave the stress behind. Essay-Grader.AI offers a host of services that help teachers perform several key tasks to empower students on their academic journey. 

The platform’s AI-enabled grading tools assist teachers in sharing comprehensive feedback with students. Teachers can focus on student development, offering personalized guidance and instruction through a quality feedback mechanism across various teaching modes.  

While the free version is quite useful and effective, Essay-Grader.AI has Premium and Pro versions that cost $12.99/month and $7.99/month, respectively. The Premium version offers the maximum benefits, such as the facility to grade 250 essays every month with a word count limit of 5000 words per essay.

6. Perfect Essay Writer.ai

This online essay grader is perfect for high school, college, master’s, and doctoral students. Once you paste your essay in the textbox provided on the platform and hit “Generate”, it will offer a detailed report on how your essay might fare upon submission. 

For a comprehensive assessment of your essays with detailed input on structure , clarity, and grammar, Perfect Essay Writer.ai is a great tool! 

You can also hire a writer using the “Hire Human Writer” option available on the site. It costs $11 to get a one-page essay (around 300 words) written by a human writer. These writers take care of formatting, bibliography, and proofreading , among other things. 

7. ProWritingAid’s Essay Checker

ProWritingAid’s free essay grader gives useful suggestions to help you improve your essay. You can accept or reject these suggestions based on your understanding and judgment. This tool can be added to your browser, too, as an extension. So, you get better grades than before and become a better writer with each passing day—what more could anyone ask for? 

If you are looking for unlimited word count usage, style guide input, citations , unlimited storage capacity, and critique, among other services, the website also offers Premium and Premium Pro packages. To get the Premium package, you will need to pay $10/month; it will cost you $12/month for Premium Pro services. 

8. EduBirdie’s Essay Grader

EduBirdie is a comprehensive writing platform that offers various services like essay writing , dissertation writing and editing, research paper editing , application essay writing , term paper writing, etc. The site has a very easy-to-use interface, making essay grading a cakewalk. 

Like Perfect Essay Writer.ai, you can hire a human writer. The best part is that you can select one after reading reviews and considering their finished paper numbers. Depending on the writer you select and the writing specifications (word count, essay type , etc.), the platform will charge your account upon placing an order. 

9. PlagiarismSearch’s Free Essay Grader

This free online essay grader allows you to upload files from Dropbox, OneDrive, or your computer, or you can paste content directly into the textbox for analysis. It can help students at different levels, including high school, college, university, master’s, and doctoral. 

Teachers, universities, and organizations will find these services useful and reasonable as they boost productivity. 

The paid version of this service under “Paper Analysis” starts at $4.50 and goes up to $9.50 or more based on different specifications entered while ordering these services. 

The website rates papers from any discipline and offers round-the-clock support. Qualified writers deliver polished documents to ensure your paper receives the best grade possible. 

10. Plagiarism Detector.net

Plagiarism Detector.net does not place a cap on the number of essays that can be graded on its user-friendly platform. This free online essay grader allows you to grade as many essays as you want and assures the confidentiality and security of your essays by not saving them in its database. 

It checks for issues under the following heads: Consistency and Style, Formatting Errors, Repetition, Misused Words, and Unnecessary Capitalization.

While the platform has paid plans for plagiarism detection , the essay checker feature is free for all users. If you are interested in the paid version, try the Basic plan that costs $20/month and allows you to check around 72,000 words. 

Why should you use a free essay grader online? 

A Pew Research Center report says that almost 19% of students acquainted with ChatGPT have used it while working on school assignments. So, is it possible to keep AI away from academics? It does not seem so! Besides, AI has been helping students and teachers learn faster and perform better than before. 

AI-assisted teaching and learning might be a good solution, where humans use AI models to improve education. 

Here are some compelling reasons why you should use a free essay grader online:

• Feedback mechanism: Free essay graders display detailed feedback. 
• Objective approach: Free online essay graders offer an unbiased evaluation.
• Writing skills: These tools help improve your writing skills by suggesting corrections.
• Time management: Online essay graders help you save essay correction time. 
• Grammar and style: Essay graders enable you to fix grammar and stylistic errors.

Still worried that your essay might not receive a good grade? Check out PaperTrue’s essay editing and proofreading services and get your essay edited by experts. Here are some other articles that might interest you: 

• Top 10 Essay Checkers in 2024 (Free & Paid)
• Top 10 Essay Writing Tools in 2024 | Plan, Write, Get Feedback
• Top AI Essay Writers in 2024: 10 Must-Haves
• How to Write a Conclusion for an Essay (Examples Included!)
• Essay Proofreading | Options, Cost & Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate are ai essay graders, how much do essay graders cost, can essay graders edit my essay.

Found this article helpful?

Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Your vs. You’re: When to Use Your and You’re

Your organization needs a technical editor: here’s why, your guide to the best ebook readers in 2024, writing for the web: 7 expert tips for web content writing.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get carefully curated resources about writing, editing, and publishing in the comfort of your inbox.

How to Copyright Your Book?

If you’ve thought about copyrighting your book, you’re on the right path.

© 2024 All rights reserved

• Terms of service
• Privacy policy
• Self Publishing Guide
• Pre-Publishing Steps
• Fiction Writing Tips
• Traditional Publishing
• Additional Resources
• Dissertation Writing Guide
• Essay Writing Guide
• Academic Writing and Publishing
• Citation and Referencing
• Partner with us
• Annual report
• Website content
• Marketing material
• Job Applicant
• Cover letter
• Resource Center
• Case studies

• Essay Editor

How to Use Transition Words for Essays + Examples

Transition words play a key role in essay writing. They connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs, helping readers follow your text easily. These words do many jobs, from comparing things to showing cause and effect. They turn scattered thoughts into a clear story.

Learning to use transition words for essays isn't just about making your writing sound better. It's about making your ideas clearer and easier for readers to understand. Let's look at transition words and how to use them well in your essays.

Understanding Transition Words for Essays

Transition words for essays are like road signs. They guide readers through your ideas. They help show how your thoughts connect, making your writing easier to follow.

The Purpose and Placement of Transition Sentences

Transition sentences do several important things:

• They make your ideas flow better
• They help readers grasp your main point
• They link sentences and paragraphs
• They show how ideas relate to each other
• They make your writing easier to read

Where you put transitions matters. They're often used:

• Between parts of an essay to sum up or introduce new ideas
• Between paragraphs to show connections or changes in focus
• Within paragraphs to link related thoughts

Here's an example: 

"The Industrial Revolution brought many new technologies. On the other hand, it also caused social problems."

In this case, "On the other hand" shows a contrast between the good and bad effects of the Industrial Revolution.

Putting transitions in the right places helps your ideas flow smoothly. For instance, transition words to start a paragraph in an essay can signal a new point or a shift in focus, preparing the reader for what's next.

Types of Transitions Words

There are different types of transition words for essays, each with its own job. Knowing these types can help you pick the right words for different parts of your writing.

• Adding information: "Also," "In addition," "Furthermore"
• Showing contrast: "But," "However," "On the other hand"
• Showing cause and effect: "So," "As a result," "Therefore"
• Showing order: "First," "Second," "Finally"
• Giving examples: "For example," "Such as," "To illustrate"

Using different transition words can make your essay flow better and be more coherent. Aithor can suggest good transition words based on what your essay is about, helping you improve your writing.

Creating Smooth Transitions in Your Writing

To make your transitions smooth:

• Use your essay's structure to find logical connections between sections.
• Put transitions where they best show how ideas relate.
• Don't use too many transition words, or your writing might sound forced.
• Try not to use the same few transitions over and over.

Remember, sometimes less is better. Using too many transition words can make your writing sound unnatural. Writing tools like Aithor can help you find places where transitions might make your essay flow better, suggesting good transition words based on your essay's content.

List of Transitions

Let's look at different types of transition words and phrases you can use in your essays:

1. Addition

Transition words to start a paragraph in an essay that add information include:

• Furthermore
• Additionally
• In addition

Example: "The new policy aims to cut down on carbon emissions. Also, it encourages the use of energy from renewable sources."

2. Contradiction

To show contrast, you can use:

• Nevertheless
• On the other hand
• In contrast
• Despite this

Example: "Many people thought the project would fail. On the other hand, it did better than anyone expected."

3. Condition

Conditional transitions include:

• Provided that
• In the event that

Example: "The company will grow bigger if the market stays good."

4. Emphasis

To highlight important points, use:

• Undoubtedly

Example: "The experiment gave surprising results. In fact, it made people question many old theories in the field."

5. Similarity

Transition words for the second body paragraph showing similarity include:

• In the same way

Example: "The novel explores themes of love and loss. In the same way, the author's previous work dealt with complex human emotions."

To show outcomes or consequences, use:

• As a result
• Consequently

Example: "The team worked very hard on the project. As a result, they finished it early."

7. Conclusion Transitions

Transition words for the conclusion paragraph include:

• In conclusion
• To summarize

Example: "In conclusion, the study shows that social media greatly affects how consumers behave."

8. Sequence

To show order or progression, use:

• First, Second, and Third
• Subsequently

Example: "First, we'll look at the data. Then, we'll explain what it means. Finally, we'll make conclusions based on what we found."

9. Location

Spatial transitions include:

• Adjacent to
• In the vicinity of

Example: "The rare plant was found growing nearby the river bank."

As you start writing, remember this important tip: use transition words carefully. While these words help make your writing easy to read, using too many can confuse your reader. Think of transition words like spices in food — they make it taste better, but too much can ruin the dish.

Your goal is to help your reader easily follow your ideas, not to create a maze of connecting words. So, when you write your next essay, remember: when it comes to transitions, often using fewer is better. Use them thoughtfully to make your argument clear, and your writing will be easy to understand and follow.

If you want to get even better at writing essays, Aithor has special features that can help you choose the best transitions for what you're writing about, making sure your essays flow smoothly from start to finish.

Happy writing!

Related articles

How to write a dialogue in an essay: useful tips.

A correct usage of dialogues in essays may seem quite difficult at first sight. Still there are special issues, for instance, narrative or descriptive papers, where this literary technique will be a good helper in depicting anyone's character. How to add dialogues to the work? How to format them correctly? Let's discuss all relevant matters to master putting conversation episodes into academic essays. Essay Dialogue: Definition & Purpose A dialogue is a literary technique for presenting a con ...

Paraphrasing vs Plagiarism: Do They Really Differ?

Academic assignments require much knowledge and skill. One of the most important points is rendering and interpreting material one has ever studied. A person should avoid presenting word-for-word plagiarism but express his or her thoughts and ideas as much as possible. However, every fine research is certain to be based on the previous issues, data given, or concepts suggested. And here it's high time to differentiate plagiarism and paraphrasing, to realize its peculiarities and cases of usage. ...

Plagiarism: 7 Types in Detail

Your professor says that it is necessary to avoid plagiarism when writing a research paper, essay, or any project based on the works of other people, so to say, any reference source. But what does plagiarism mean? What types of it exist? And how to formulate the material to get rid of potential bad consequences while rendering original texts? Today we try to answer these very questions. Plagiarism: Aspect in Brief Plagiarism is considered to be a serious breach, able to spoil your successful ...

What is Citation and Why Should You Cite the Sources When Writing Content

When we write something for school, work, or just for fun, we often use ideas and facts from other places. This makes us ask: what is a citation in writing? Let's find out what this means and why it's really important when we write. What is Citation? Citation in research refers to the practice of telling your readers where you got your information, ideas, or exact words from. It's like showing them the path to the original information you used in your writing. When you cite something, you us ...

Can Plagiarism Be Detected on PDF?

Plagiarism has been a challenge for a long time in writing. It's easy to find information online, which might make some people use it without saying where it came from. But plagiarism isn't just taking someone else's words. Sometimes, we might do it by accident or even use our own old work without mentioning it. When people plagiarize, they can get into serious trouble. They might lose others' trust or even face legal problems. Luckily, we now have tools to detect plagiarism. But what about PDF ...

How To Write Essays Faster Using AI?

Creating various topical texts is an obligatory assignment during studies. For a majority of students, it seems like a real headache. It is quite difficult to write a smooth and complex work, meeting all the professors' requirements. However, thanks to modern technologies there appeared a good way of getting a decent project – using AI to write essays. We'd like to acquaint you with Aithor, an effective tool of this kind, able to perform fine and elaborated texts, and, of course, inspiration, i ...

Top 10 Use Cases for AI Writers

Writing is changing a lot because of AI. But don't worry — AI won't take human writers' jobs. It's a tool that can make our work easier and help us write better. When we use AI along with our own skills, we can create good content faster and better. AI can help with many parts of writing, from coming up with ideas to fixing the final version. Let's look at the top 10 ways how to use AI for content creation and how it can make your writing better. What Is AI Content Writing? AI content writin ...

What Is Self-Plagiarism & How To Avoid It

Have you ever thought about whether using your own work again could be seen as copying? It might seem strange, but self-plagiarism is a real issue in school and work writing. Let's look at what this means and learn how to avoid self-plagiarism so your work stays original and ethical. What is self-plagiarism? Self-plagiarism, also called auto-plagiarism or duplicate plagiarism, happens when a writer uses parts of their old work without saying where it came from. This isn't just about copying w ...

Online Students

For All Online Programs

International Students

On Campus, need or have Visa

Campus Students

For All Campus Programs

Academic Referencing: How to Cite a Research Paper

Learning how to conduct accurate, discipline-specific academic research can feel daunting at first. But, with a solid understanding of the reasoning behind why we use academic citations coupled with knowledge of the basics, you’ll learn how to cite sources with accuracy and confidence.

When it comes to academic research, citing sources correctly is arguably as important as the research itself. "Your instructors are expecting your work to adhere to these professional standards," said Amanda Girard , research support manager of Shapiro Library at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

With Shapiro Library for the past three years, Girard manages the library’s research support services, which includes SNHU’s 24/7 library chat and email support. She holds an undergraduate degree in professional writing and a graduate degree in library and information science. She said that accurate citations show that you have done your research on a topic and are knowledgeable about current ideas from those actively working in the field.

In other words, when you cite sources according to the academic style of your discipline, you’re giving credit where credit is due.

Why Cite Sources?

Citing sources properly ensures you’re following high academic and professional standards for integrity and ethics.

“When you cite a source, you can ethically use others’ research. If you are not adequately citing the information you claim in your work, it would be considered plagiarism ,” said Shannon Geary '16 , peer tutor at SNHU.

Geary has an undergraduate degree in communication  from SNHU and has served on the academic support team for close to 2 years. Her job includes helping students learn how to conduct research  and write academically.

“In academic writing, it is crucial to state where you are receiving your information from,” she said. “Citing your sources ensures that you are following academic integrity standards.”

According to Geary and Girard, several key reasons for citing sources are:

• Access. Citing sources points readers to original sources. If anyone wants to read more on your topic, they can use your citations as a roadmap to access the original sources.
• Attribution. Crediting the original authors, researchers and experts  shows that you’re knowledgeable about current ideas from those actively working in the field and adhering to high ethical standards, said Girard.
• Clarity. “By citing your sources correctly, your reader can follow along with your research,” Girard said.
• Consistency. Adhering to a citation style provides a framework for presenting ideas within similar academic fields. “Consistent formatting makes accessing, understanding and evaluating an author's findings easier for others in related fields of study,” Geary said.
• Credibility. Proper citation not only builds a writer's authority but also ensures the reliability of the work, according to Geary.

Ultimately, citing sources is a formalized way for you to share ideas as part of a bigger conversation among others in your field. It’s a way to build off of and reference one another’s ideas, Girard said.

How Do You Cite an Academic Research Paper?

Any time you use an original quote or paraphrase someone else’s ideas, you need to cite that material, according to Geary.

“The only time we do not need to cite is when presenting an original thought or general knowledge,” she said.

While the specific format for citing sources can vary based on the style used, several key elements are always included, according to Girard. Those are:

• Title of source
• Type of source, such as a journal, book, website or periodical

By giving credit to the authors, researchers and experts you cite, you’re building credibility. You’re showing that your argument is built on solid research.

“Proper citation not only builds a writer's authority but also ensures the reliability of the work,” Geary said. “Properly formatted citations are a roadmap for instructors and other readers to verify the information we present in our work.”

Common Citation Styles in Academic Research

Certain disciplines adhere to specific citation standards because different disciplines prioritize certain information and research styles . The most common citation styles used in academic research, according to Geary, are:

• American Psychological Association, known as APA . This style is standard in the social sciences such as psychology, education and communication. “In these fields, research happens rapidly, which makes it exceptionally important to use current research,” Geary said.
• Modern Language Association, known as MLA . This style is typically used in literature and humanities because of the emphasis on literature analysis. “When citing in MLA, there is an emphasis on the author and page number, allowing the audience to locate the original text that is being analyzed easily,” Geary said.
• Chicago Manual of Style, known as Chicago . This style is typically used in history, business and sometimes humanities. “(Chicago) offers flexibility because of the use of footnotes, which can be seen as less distracting than an in-text citation,” Geary said.

The benefit of using the same format as other researchers within a discipline is that the framework of presenting ideas allows you to “speak the same language,” according to Girard.

APA Citation for College: A Brief Overview

Are you writing a paper that needs to use APA citation, but don’t know what that means? No worries. You’ve come to the right place.

How to Use MLA Formatting: A Brief Overview

Are you writing a paper for which you need to know how to use MLA formatting, but don’t know what that means? No worries. You’ve come to the right place.

How to Ensure Proper Citations

Keeping track of your research as you go is one of the best ways to ensure you’re citing appropriately and correctly based on the style that your academic discipline uses.

“Through careful citation, authors ensure their audience can distinguish between borrowed material and original thoughts, safeguarding their academic reputation and following academic honesty policies,” Geary said.

Some tips that she and Girard shared to ensure you’re citing sources correctly include:

• Keep track of sources as you work. Writers should keep track of their sources every time an idea is not theirs, according to Geary. “You don’t want to find the perfect research study and misplace its source information, meaning you’d have to omit it from your paper,” she said.
• Practice. Even experienced writers need to check their citations before submitting their work. “Citing requires us to pay close attention to detail, so always start your citation process early and go slow to ensure you don’t make mistakes,” said Geary. In time, citing sources properly becomes faster and easier.
• Use an Online Tool . Geary recommends the Shapiro Library citation guide . You can find sample papers, examples of how to cite in the different academic styles and up-to-date citation requirements, along with information and examples for APA, MLA and Chicago style citations.
• Work with a Tutor. A tutor can offer support along with tips to help you learn the process of academic research. Students at SNHU can connect with free peer tutoring through the Academic Support tab in their online courses, though many colleges and universities offer peer tutoring.

Find Your Program

How to cite a reference in academic writing.

A citation consists of two pieces: an in-text citation that is typically short and a longer list of references or works cited (depending on the style used) at the end of the paper.

“In-text citations immediately acknowledge the use of external source information and its exact location,” Geary said. While each style uses a slightly different format for in-text citations that reference the research, you may expect to need the page number, author’s name and possibly date of publication in parentheses at the end of a sentence or passage, according to Geary.

A longer entry listing the complete details of the resource you referenced should also be included on the references or works cited page at the end of the paper. The full citation is provided with complete details of the source, such as author, title, publication date and more, Geary said.

The two-part aspect of citations is because of readability. “You can imagine how putting the full citation would break up the flow of a paper,” Girard said. “So, a shortened version is used (in the text).”

“For example, if an in-text citation reads (Jones, 2024), the reader immediately knows that the ideas presented are coming from Jones’s work, and they can explore the comprehensive citation on the final page,” she said.

The in-text citation and full citation together provide a transparent trail of the author's process of engaging with research.

“Their combined use also facilitates further research by following a standardized style (APA, MLA, Chicago), guaranteeing that other scholars can easily connect and build upon their work in the future,” Geary said.

Developing and demonstrating your research skills, enhancing your work’s credibility and engaging ethically with the intellectual contributions of others are at the core of the citation process no matter which style you use.

A degree can change your life. Choose your program  from 200+ SNHU degrees that can take you where you want to go.

A former higher education administrator, Dr. Marie Morganelli is a career educator and writer. She has taught and tutored composition, literature, and writing at all levels from middle school through graduate school. With two graduate degrees in English language and literature, her focus — whether teaching or writing — is in helping to raise the voices of others through the power of storytelling. Connect with her on LinkedIn .

Explore more content like this article

What is Considered Plagiarism And How to Avoid It

Degrees vs. Certificate Programs: What's the Difference?

How Many Credits Do You Need to Graduate College?

About southern new hampshire university.

SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs . Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU  page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Check your paper for plagiarism in 10 minutes, generate your apa citations for free.

• Knowledge Base

Using AI tools

AI Writing Tools | Definition, Uses & Implications

AI writing tools are artificial intelligence (AI) software applications like ChatGPT that help to automate or assist the writing process. These tools use machine learning algorithms to generate human-sounding text in response to users’ text-based prompts.

Other AI tools, such as grammar checkers , paraphrasers and summarizers serve more specific functions, like identifying grammar and spelling mistakes or rephrasing text.

Table of contents

How do ai writing tools work, what can ai writing tools be used for, implications of ai writing tools, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about ai writing tools.

AI writing tools (chatbots, grammar checkers, etc.) use natural language processing (NLP) algorithms, machine learning , and large language models (LLMs) to generate or improve written text. These tools are trained to identify patterns in vast amounts of data. The tools then use these patterns to analyze human inputs (or prompts) and generate natural-sounding outputs (similar to how predictive text works).

Different AI tools may be programmed in different ways. For example, ChatGPT, the popular chatbot developed by OpenAI and released in November 2022, uses generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs) and was trained using reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) , meaning that the tool was given feedback from humans to help guide it towards the most helpful responses.

AI writing tools have a number of helpful applications. Some of these applications are discussed below.

Interactive learning and feedback

Generative AI tools can be helpful resources for conversational learning. By inputting questions, users can engage in interactive learning at any time.

You can also prompt these tools to provide feedback on your work to improve the clarity or consistency of your writing. However, it’s important not to upload sensitive information, as user inputs are generally saved by the tool for the purposes of training future models.

Below is an example of how ChatGPT can be used for interactive learning.

Example: Using ChatGPT for interactive learning

• Tell me three facts about Carthaginian culture
• Carthaginians were known for their maritime trade and commerce, and their navy was one of the strongest in the ancient Mediterranean world. They established colonies and trading posts throughout the Mediterranean, including in Sicily, Sardinia, and North Africa.
• Carthaginians had a polytheistic religion, and their chief deity was Baal Hammon, the god of fertility, agriculture, and the sky. They also worshiped a number of other gods and goddesses, including Tanit, the goddess of love, fertility, and war.
• Carthaginians were skilled metalworkers and produced a variety of metal goods, including weapons, armor, jewelry, and household objects. They were particularly famous for their bronze work, which was highly prized in the ancient world. Carthaginian bronze was so valued that it was used by the Romans to make their famous statues and other works of art.
• Tell me three more facts about the Carthaginian navy
• The Carthaginian navy was one of the most advanced and powerful navies of the ancient world. It was instrumental in establishing Carthage as a dominant power in the Mediterranean region.
• The Carthaginians were known for their skill in shipbuilding and developed a variety of ship types for different purposes, including warships, transport ships, and cargo ships. One of their most famous ship types was the quinquereme, a large warship with five rows of oars.
• The Carthaginian navy was led by a commander called the “admiral.” The admiral was responsible for overseeing the fleet and making strategic decisions about naval warfare. One of the most famous Carthaginian admirals was Hannibal Barca, who led the Carthaginian fleet during the First Punic War against Rome.

Generating research questions and outlines

AI writing tools can be used to generate potential research questions or research paper outlines . You can then refine the tool’s responses by further prompting it or directly editing the output yourself to ensure the result makes sense and fits your requirements.

Below is an example of how ChatGPT can be used to generate potential reseach questions and research method ideas.

Example: Using ChatGPT to generate research questions and methods

• Develop three possible research questions on the following topic: “The influence of technology on second language acquisition.”
• What is the impact of technology-assisted language learning (TALL) on the acquisition of a second language?
• How do different types of technology, such as mobile applications, virtual reality, and online platforms, affect second language acquisition outcomes?
• How do individual learner characteristics, such as age, proficiency level, and motivation, interact with the use of technology in second language acquisition?
• Suggest three quantitative research methods appropriate to the second question.
• Experimental research: This research method involves manipulating an independent variable (in this case, the type of technology used) to observe its effect on a dependent variable (second language acquisition outcomes). Participants would be randomly assigned to different groups using different types of technology to learn a second language, and then their language acquisition outcomes would be measured and compared.
• Survey research: This research method involves using questionnaires to gather data from a large group of participants. In this case, a survey could be designed to gather information on participants’ use of different types of technology to learn a second language, as well as their language acquisition outcomes. This would allow for a large-scale investigation of how different types of technology are being used, and what their impact might be.
• Correlational research: This research method involves examining the relationship between two or more variables. In this case, a correlational study could be conducted to investigate whether there is a relationship between the type of technology used and language acquisition outcomes. Data could be collected from participants using different types of technology to learn a second language, and then the correlation between the type of technology and language acquisition outcomes could be calculated.

Paraphrasing text

AI tools like ChatGPT and Scribbr’s free paraphrasing tool can help you paraphrase text to express your ideas more clearly, avoid repetition, and maintain a consistent tone throughout your writing.

They can also help you incorporate scholarly sources in your writing in a more concise and fluent way, without the need for direct quotations. However, it’s important to correctly cite all sources to avoid accidental plagiarism.

Summarizing text

AI writing tools can help condense a text to its most important and relevant ideas. This can help you understand complex information more easily. You can also use summarizer tools on your own work to summarize your central argument, clarify your research question, and form conclusions.

You can do this using generative AI tools or more specialized tools like Scribbr’s free text-summarizer .

Proofreading text

AI writing tools can be used to identify spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes and suggest corrections. These tools can help to improve the clarity of your writing and avoid common mistakes .

While AI tools like ChatGPT offer useful suggestions, they can also potentially miss some mistakes or even introduce new grammatical errors into your writing.

We advise using Scribbr’s proofreading and editing service  or a tool like Scribbr’s free grammar checker , which is designed specifically for this purpose.

Translating text

AI translation tools like Google Translate can be used to translate text from a source language into various target languages. While the quality of these tools tend to vary depending on the languages used, they’re constantly developing and are increasingly accurate.

While there are many benefits to using AI writing tools, some commentators have emphasized the limitations of AI tools and the potential disadvantages of using them. These drawbacks are discussed below.

Impact on learning

One of the potential pitfalls of using AI writing tools is the effect they might have on a student’s learning and skill set. Using AI tools to generate a paper, thesis , or dissertation , for example, may impact a student’s research, critical thinking, and writing skills.

However, other commentators argue that AI tools can be used to promote critical thinking (e.g., by having a student evaluate a tool’s output and refine it).

Consistency and accuracy

Generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT) are not always trustworthy and sometimes produce results that are inaccurate or factually incorrect. Although these tools are programmed to answer questions, they can’t judge the accuracy of the information they provide and may generate incorrect answers or contradict themselves.

It’s important to verify AI-generated information against a credible source .

Grammatical mistakes

While generative AI tools can produce written text, they don’t actually understand what they’re saying and sometimes produce grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes.

You can combine the use of generative AI tools with Scribbr’s grammar checker , which is designed to catch these mistakes.

Ethics and plagiarism

As AI writing tools are trained on large sets of data, they may produce content that is similar to existing content (which they usually cannot cite correctly), which can be considered plagiarism.

Furthermore, passing off AI-generated text as your own work is usually considered a form of plagiarism and is likely to be prohibited by your university. This offense may be recognized by your university’s plagiarism checker or AI detector .

If you want more tips on using AI tools , understanding plagiarism , and citing sources , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations, examples, and formats.

• Citing ChatGPT
• Best grammar checker
• Best paraphrasing tool
• ChatGPT in your studies
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Types of plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Academic integrity
• Best plagiarism checker

Citing sources

• Citation styles
• In-text citation
• Citation examples
• Annotated bibliography

AI writing tools can be used to perform a variety of tasks.

Generative AI writing tools (like ChatGPT ) generate text based on human inputs and can be used for interactive learning, to provide feedback, or to generate research questions or outlines.

These tools can also be used to paraphrase or summarize text or to identify grammar and punctuation mistakes. Y ou can also use Scribbr’s free paraphrasing tool , summarizing tool , and grammar checker , which are designed specifically for these purposes.

Using AI writing tools (like ChatGPT ) to write your essay is usually considered plagiarism and may result in penalization, unless it is allowed by your university . Text generated by AI tools is based on existing texts and therefore cannot provide unique insights. Furthermore, these outputs sometimes contain factual inaccuracies or grammar mistakes.

However, AI writing tools can be used effectively as a source of feedback and inspiration for your writing (e.g., to generate research questions ). Other AI tools, like grammar checkers, can help identify and eliminate grammar and punctuation mistakes to enhance your writing.

You can access ChatGPT by signing up for a free account:

• Follow this link to the ChatGPT website.
• Click on “Sign up” and fill in the necessary details (or use your Google account). It’s free to sign up and use the tool.
• Type a prompt into the chat box to get started!

A ChatGPT app is also available for iOS, and an Android app is planned for the future. The app works similarly to the website, and you log in with the same account for both.

Yes, ChatGPT is currently available for free. You have to sign up for a free account to use the tool, and you should be aware that your data may be collected to train future versions of the model.

To sign up and use the tool for free, go to this page and click “Sign up.” You can do so with your email or with a Google account.

A premium version of the tool called ChatGPT Plus is available as a monthly subscription. It currently costs $20 and gets you access to features like GPT-4 (a more advanced version of the language model). But it’s optional: you can use the tool completely free if you’re not interested in the extra features.

ChatGPT was publicly released on November 30, 2022. At the time of its release, it was described as a “research preview,” but it is still available now, and no plans have been announced so far to take it offline or charge for access.

ChatGPT continues to receive updates adding more features and fixing bugs. The most recent update at the time of writing was on May 24, 2023.

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

• What Is ChatGPT? | Everything You Need to Know
• Is ChatGPT Trustworthy? | Accuracy Tested
• University Policies on AI Writing Tools | Overview & List

More interesting articles

• 9 Ways to Use ChatGPT for Language Learning
• Best AI Detector | Free & Premium Tools Tested
• Best Summary Generator | Tools Tested & Reviewed
• ChatGPT Citations | Formats & Examples
• ChatGPT Does Not Solve All Academic Writing Problems
• ChatGPT vs. Human Editor | Proofreading Experiment
• Easy Introduction to Reinforcement Learning
• Ethical Implications of ChatGPT
• Glossary of AI Terms | Acronyms & Terminology
• Grammarly Review
• How Do AI Detectors Work? | Methods & Reliability
• How to Use ChatGPT | Basics & Tips
• How to use ChatGPT in your studies
• How to Write a Conclusion Using ChatGPT | Tips & Examples
• How to Write a Paper with ChatGPT | Tips & Examples
• How to Write an Essay with ChatGPT | Tips & Examples
• How to Write an Introduction Using ChatGPT | Tips & Examples
• How to Write Good ChatGPT Prompts
• Is ChatGPT Safe? | Quick Guide & Tips
• Is Using ChatGPT Cheating?
• Originality AI Review | AI Detector and More
• Supervised vs. Unsupervised Learning: Key Differences
• Using ChatGPT for Assignments | Tips & Examples
• Using ChatGPT to Write a College Essay | Tips & Examples
• What Are the Legal Implications of ChatGPT?
• What Are the Limitations of ChatGPT?
• What Can ChatGPT Do? | Suggestions & Examples
• What Is an Algorithm? | Definition & Examples
• What Is Data Mining? | Definition & Techniques
• What Is Deep Learning? | A Beginner's Guide
• What Is Generative AI? | Meaning & Examples
• What Is Machine Learning? | A Beginner's Guide

Get unlimited documents corrected

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts