Polk Library

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: Consensus (https://consensus.app/) ⚠️ Public AI Tool

Use it for: Initial topic exploration with quick summaries to get started. Pull out keywords to use in the library catalog and databases.

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

How to Use It: Prompt examples for WRT188 and WRT288

Exploring Research Topics

Sample Prompt – Generating Engaging Topics: 

I’m a college student writing a research paper for a writing and research class. Suggest several engaging and specific research  topics related to

 [course subject or general theme, such as technology and society, sustainability, or popular culture] that would work well for a college writing assignment.

For each topic, include a short explanation of why it could make  a strong and researchable paper idea. Include a few key questions for each topic I might

investigate and mention what kinds of evidence or sources could support each  one. Each question should require analytical analysis and for the researcher

to ultimately take a position on a contentious and timely topic.

Crafting a Research Question

Prompt C – Narrowing a Broad Topic

I’m interested in [general topic, such as climate change, artificial intelligence, or gender representation in film], but I need

to turn it into a focused research question. Suggest 2–3 clear, arguable, and specific research questions I could explore in a college

paper, and briefly explain why each one would make a strong foundation for research. Each question should require analytical analysis

 and for the researcher to ultimately take a position on a contentious and timely topic.

Prompt D – Seeing Model Research Questions

Give me examples of strong, well-focused research questions related to [subject or issue, such as renewable energy, social media

and mental health, or cultural identity]. Explain briefly what makes each example effective for a college-level paper (for example,

being specific, arguable, and researchable). Each question should require analytical analysis and for the researcher to ultimately take a

position on a contentious and timely topic.

Identifying Keywords

Prompt E – Building Search Terms:

I’m getting ready to search for credible sources for my research question: [insert your research question].
Suggest useful keywords, synonyms, and related terms I could use to search academic databases or library

catalogs effectively. Present them in an easy-to-scan list or table.

Prompt F – Refining Search Strategies:

I’ve been searching for sources about [topic or issue], but my results are too broad or not very relevant.
Suggest better keyword combinations or Boolean search phrases (like “climate change AND youth activism”)

that could give me more focused and scholarly results. Briefly explain how each one improves the search.

Finding Supporting Evidence

Prompt G – Identifying Useful Source Types:

I’m writing a paper about [main idea or thesis] and need to find credible evidence to back up my points.
Suggest what types of sources I should look for (for example, academic journals, data reports, interviews, or

policy documents) and briefly explain how each source type could support my argument.

Prompt H – Finding Data and Case Examples:

I’m looking for concrete evidence—like statistics, studies, or examples—to support my argument about

[topic or thesis]. Recommend reliable databases, organizations, or publications that would have relevant

data or research findings. Include a short note on what kind of information each one provides.

Librarian Tip: You can use Consensus to prep for research appointments.

Tool: Consensus (https://consensus.app) ⚠️ Public AI Tool

Use it for: Quickly testing and refining research questions by summarizing evidence from peer-reviewed studies to support or challenge claims.

Best Fit For: Students and faculty engaged in evidence-based research or literature reviews, especially in 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) ⚠️ Public AI Tool

Use it for: Starting with a broad research question and generating 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) 📚 Research Discovery Tool (Public Sources)

Use it for: Finding, reviewing, and summarizing scholarly articles. After you identify a clear question (from tools above), use Semantic Scholar to search for specific topics, papers, or authors.

Best Fit For: Upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty finding, analyzing, and tracing scholarly sources in fields like social sciences, education, health, and STEM.

What It Does
Provides paper summaries and citation graphs to help you scan and compare research.

How to Use It

• Prompt Example (Upper-Level Undergrad – WRT288): “social media and teen mental health”
• Prompt Example (Graduate – Public Health or Education): “Low-Income Families’ Direct Participation in Food-Systems Innovation to Promote Healthy Food Behaviors”

Librarian Tip: Use summaries to compare arguments and structure literature reviews—then retrieve full text through library databases when needed.

Tool: ChatGPT ✅ UWO Approved AI Tool

Use it for: Practice source analysis—compare it against your own. Be critical of the AI tool; your analysis may be better!

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 for 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: [https://www.mytonomy.com/blog/living-in-a-food-desert].”

• Prompt example (WRT188): “Apply the SIFT method to this webpage on detoxifying foods: [https://www.naturalnews.com/2018-08-06-here-are-the-best-naturally-detoxifying-foods-you-can-eat-every-day.html].”

• Personally evaluate the source and compare to ChatGPT’s evaluation.

Librarian Tip: Always cross-check AI’s findings with database search results, your own 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/