The Ultimate Guide to AI Essay Writing
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.
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.
