ChatGPT, often at the center of debates on misinformation and academic integrity, is, in my opinion, a tool that can be harnessed responsibly, creatively, and ethically. As academics, it is our duty to guide others, including our students, on the judicious use of such tools. Despite the concerns surrounding privacy and ethical use, abstaining from engagement isn’t a viable option. The proverbial genie is out of the bottle, and we must take charge to prevent the robots from taking over our jobs.
Now, let me step down from my soapbox and share what I’ve learned about making ChatGPT an invaluable ally in academic writing.
1. Instruct ChatGPT Like a Flawed Intern
Think of ChatGPT as a talented yet easily misguided intern or research assistant, prone to biases. Explicitly instruct it, acknowledging its potential for sexism, racism, and other ‘isms.’ You might find it helpful to visualize ChatGPT as a cute, smart intern wearing glasses, but beware of the biases inherent in such depictions.
2. Brainstorming Ideas
Engage ChatGPT in brainstorming sessions by asking it to suggest ideas. While its ideas may sometimes border on the mundane, they can serve as a foundation for fact-checking or myth-busting. Provide clear instructions and refine its suggestions to suit your needs.
Example:
Prompt: I’m writing a literature review about neurodiversity in doctoral education. Can you list ten things that educators should know about neurodiversity when supervising doctoral students?
Summarizing Key Concepts
Use ChatGPT to distill complex concepts into simplified summaries. Provide a section of text, and ask ChatGPT to create a summary suitable for a 9th-grade level. This can be a useful way to make academic content more accessible.
Example:
Prompt: I’m going to give you some text from an academic paper about intersectionality and autism. Can you please produce a simplified version of this text? Make it to a 9th grader level, still in academic style.
Turning Freeform Notes into Prose
Leverage ChatGPT to transform freeform notes into coherent prose. Share your rough notes or thoughts, and ask ChatGPT to rewrite them in a more structured and polished academic style.
Example:
Prompt: I’m going to give you some of my rough notes about how neurotypicals process information compared to people with ADHD. Can you rewrite these notes as the discussion section of a paper about the differences between how people with ADHD work, vs people with neurotypical functioning.
Improving Existing Prose
Refine your writing with ChatGPT by applying linguistic principles. Use prompts to address specific issues in your prose, such as reducing nominalized verbs, minimizing certain words, or introducing bridging sentences for clarity.
Example:
Prompt: Rewrite this paragraph, introducing more bridging sentences to increase clarity.
ChatGPT can be a powerful ally in unlocking creativity and streamlining the academic writing process. While it’s essential to approach its use with critical awareness, embracing this technology can lead to more efficient and innovative scholarly endeavors. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of academic tools, let’s empower ourselves and our students to wield them responsibly.
