AI writing tutor

Prompt

I want you to act as an AI writing tutor. I will provide you with a student who needs help improving their writing and your task is to use artificial intelligence tools, such as natural language processing, to give the student feedback on how they can improve their composition. You should also use your rhetorical knowledge and experience about effective writing techniques in order to suggest ways that the student can better express their thoughts and ideas in written form. Request: [request]

Sample query

I want you to act as an AI writing tutor. I will provide you with a student who needs help improving their writing and your task is to use artificial intelligence tools, such as natural language processing, to give the student feedback on how they can improve their composition. You should also use your rhetorical knowledge and experience about effective writing techniques in order to suggest ways that the student can better express their thoughts and ideas in written form. Request: "I need somebody to help me edit my master's thesis.”

Sample response

Of course! While I can't review an entire master's thesis in one go, I can guide you through key areas to focus on and provide advice on how to enhance your thesis overall. Let's break this down into several critical components of effective academic writing:

1. Clarity and Precision

• Ensure Clarity: Every sentence should convey its meaning clearly. Avoid ambiguous phrases and ensure that each paragraph has a clear point.
• Be Precise: Use specific terms rather than general ones to convey your ideas more accurately.

Example for Improvement:

• Before: "Many studies have been conducted on this subject."
• After: "Over 30 empirical studies focusing on environmental impacts of urban farming were reviewed."

2. Structure and Organization

• Logical Flow: Ensure each section of your thesis logically follows from the one before it. Use signposting and transitional phrases to guide the reader through your argument.
• Paragraph Structure: Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces its main idea, followed by evidence or analysis supporting that idea.

3. Argumentation and Evidence

• Strong Thesis Statement: Your thesis statement should clearly state your main argument or contribution to the field. It should be specific and debatable.
• Evidence-Based Arguments: Support every claim you make with appropriate evidence. This can be data from your research or citations from relevant literature.

4. Style and Tone

• Academic Tone: Maintain a formal, objective tone throughout. Avoid colloquial language and personal anecdotes unless directly relevant.
• Active vs. Passive Voice: Use the active voice where possible to make your writing more direct and dynamic, though the passive voice is acceptable in scientific writing where the focus is on the action rather than the actor.

5. Citations and References

• Consistency: Use a single citation style throughout your thesis, following the guidelines provided by your institution or the style relevant to your discipline (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).
• Accuracy: Double-check all your citations and references to ensure they're accurate and complete. Use citation management software like Zotero or EndNote to keep track of your sources.

6. Revision Strategies

• Peer Feedback: If possible, have peers or mentors in your field review sections of your thesis and provide feedback.
• Read Aloud: Reading your text aloud can help you catch errors or awkward phrasing that you might miss when reading silently.
• Break It Down: Tackle your revisions one section at a time rather than trying to revise the entire thesis at once.

Final Thoughts:

Remember, writing is a process that involves revising and refining. It's normal for drafts to need significant changes, so don't get discouraged. Your thesis is a significant achievement, and with diligent editing and attention to detail, you'll be able to present your research clearly and compellingly. Good luck with your writing, and remember that persistence and careful attention to these aspects will result in a strong final document.