AI Tools for Research & Writing Success

1. AI is a Brainstorming Tool, Not a Writing Substitute

Use AI to spark ideas, explore topics, or clarify confusing concepts—but write in your own voice.
🔍 Professors value original thinking. Use AI to support—not replace—it.

2. Always Fact-Check and Verify Sources

AI can provide inaccurate information or fake citations. Always check sources using library databases or trusted websites.
📚 Good research comes from good sources.

3. Be Transparent About How You Used AI

If AI is allowed, be honest about how you used it—brainstorming, outlining, grammar checks, etc.
💬 When in doubt, include a short note or ask your professor.

4. Don’t Use AI to Write Final Drafts

AI often lacks nuance, analysis, and depth. Overuse can weaken your work and cross ethical lines.
✏️ Writing is thinking. Don’t skip the learning process.

5. Know Your Instructor’s Expectations

Some professors allow limited AI use, others don’t at all. Check the syllabus or ask directly.

Tool: Perplexity.ai (https://www.perplexity.ai)

Use it for: Initial topic exploration with quick, easy summaries to get started.

What It Does
Searches and summarizes content with citations. Offers related questions.

How to Use It: Prompt examples for WRT188 and WRT288

Exploring research topics: 

• “Suggest some engaging research topics related to [course subject] for a college writing course." 
• "Can you help me brainstorm ideas for a research paper about [specific theme]?" 

Crafting a research question 

• "How can I turn my general interest in [topic] into a focused research question?" 
• "What are some examples of effective research questions for a paper on [subject]?" 

Identifying keywords 

• "Provide me with key terms and phrases to use when searching for sources on [research question]." 
• "How can I refine my keyword search to find more relevant resources about [topic]?" 

Finding supporting evidence 

• "What types of sources should I look for to back up my points on [main idea]?" 
• "Where can I find statistical data or examples to support my arguments about [thesis]?" 

Librarian Tip: Use Perplexity to prep for research appointments.

Tool: Consensus (https://consensus.app)

Use it for: Quickly testing and verifying research questions by finding consensus from scientific research, summarizing evidence from peer-reviewed studies to support or challenge claims.

Best Fit For: Students and facutly engaged in evidence-based research, literature reviews, or seeking quick evidence validation in fields such as social sciences, education, health, and psychology.

How to Use It

• Prompt Example (Upper-Level Undergrad – WRT288):

         “Is there scientific consensus on the effects of social media use on adolescent mental health?”

• Prompt Example (Graduate – Public Health or Education):

         “What does current research say about the impact of food deserts on community health outcomes?”

Tool: Elicit (https://elicit.org)

Use it for: Start with a broad research question for advanced topic exploration that will generate relevant academic literature for deeper research.

Best Fit For:  Upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty doing evidence-based research or literature reviews in fields like social sciences, education, health, and psychology.

How to Use It

• Prompt Example (Upper-Level Undergrad – WRT288):

   

  "What are evidence-based research questions about social media and teen mental health?"

   

• Prompt Example (Graduate – Public Health or Education):

"What are some logical and adaptive research questions about food deserts and their impact on community health?"

Tool: Semantic Scholar (https://www.semanticscholar.org)

Use it for: Finding, Reviewing and summarizing scholarly articles. After identifying a clear question or source, from one of the tools above you are ready for Semantic Scholar. Search for specific topics, papers, or authors.

What It Does
Provides AI-generated summaries and citation graphs for academic papers.

Librarian Tip: Use summaries to help compare arguments and structure literature reviews.

Tool: ChatGPT

Use it for: Source analysis, generating ideas, drafting research questions, explaining concepts, and summarizing information.

What It Does
ChatGPT can simulate CRAAP or SIFT analysis for a source when prompted. The CRAAP and SIFT tests evaluate sources by addressing the following: 

CRAAP Test- helpful when evaluating more traditional sources

• C - Currency
• R - Relevance
• A - Authority
• A - Accuracy
• P - Purpose

SIFT Method - Used to evaluate online, popular, or rapidly disseminated information

• S - Stop
• I - Investigate the Source
• F - Find Better Coverage
• T - Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to the Original Context

How to Use It

• Prompt example (WRT100): "Use the CRAAP test to evaluate this article from a blog: [URL]."

• Prompt example (WRT188): "Apply the SIFT method to this news article on climate change: [URL]. What are its sources?"

Librarian Tip: Always cross-check AI's findings with database search results or a librarian.

1. Do I Need to Cite AI?

You must cite AI if:

- You quote its exact words.

- You paraphrase its ideas or unique examples.

- You use its structure, outline, or generated content directly in your work.

You do not need to cite AI if:

- You only used it for private brainstorming or idea generation.

- Nothing from the AI appears in your final work.

- You used it like a conversation that inspired you but left no direct trace.

2. APA Style (7th ed.)

Reference list entry:

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (Aug 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/

In-text citations:

- Paraphrase: (OpenAI, 2025)

- Quotation: OpenAI (2025) stated, “...”

Optional transparency note (if brainstorming only):

Early brainstorming ideas were generated using ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) and later revised by the author.

3. MLA Style (9th ed.)

Works Cited entry:

OpenAI. ChatGPT, Aug. 14 2025 version, https://chat.openai.com/.

In-text citations:

- Paraphrase: (OpenAI)

- Quotation: OpenAI writes, “...”

Optional transparency note (if brainstorming only):

Initial ideas were developed in conversation with ChatGPT (OpenAI).

4. Quick Decision Flow

1. Did AI content appear in your paper? → Cite it.

2. Did it just inspire you without showing up in your paper? → No citation required (optional acknowledgment).

3. Professor requires disclosure? → Follow their policy.

References:

American Psychological Association. (2023, August). How to cite ChatGPT. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt

Modern Language Association. (2023, May). How do I cite generative AI in MLA style? https://style.mla.org/citing-generative-ai/