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Academic writing has changed. Artificial intelligence (AI) has ushered in a new era of possibilities, and this includes writing. ChatGPT, the innovative language model, is an absolute game-changer for students.

It offers invaluable assistance for any essay writer. Whether you need help with structure, development, or writing, AI is there to help. With its human-like understanding of text and sentence generation, ChatGPT can elevate an essay in any genre.

But you still need an effective prompt. It’s important to guide the AI through the process, ensuring that it can express your thoughts more clearly.

Here’s everything you need to know about prompt engineering regarding essay writing using ChatGPT.

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Argumentative Essays

The hallmark of a good argumentative essay is a balance of critical analysis and persuasive arguments. You’ll need evidence to back up all your points, too.

Good ChatGPT prompts highlight this–they start with your own thinking process.

So, if your essay question looks like this:

• Discuss the pros and cons of [controversial topic].
• Argue for or against [policy/issue].
• What are the potential impacts of [event] on [community/society]?

Then you need an argumentative essay prompt. Below we offer some tips on what you can ask ChatGPT when you want to write an argumentative essay.

1. Creating an Argumentative Structure

You can begin by entering the question into ChatGPT and asking it to generate a structure.

Your ChatGPT prompt might look like this:

“I need to create an argumentative essay discussing the pros and cons of Nationwide Marijuana Legalization. Please provide a structure with a list of bullet points. Outline the necessary steps to write this topic effectively and achieve a high grade.”

2. Finding an Opposing Viewpoint

If you have a particular stance, that doesn’t really matter. You’ll need a counter-argument if you want a high grade. Fortunately, ChatGPT prompts can come to the rescue in your future research!

Try this:

“I need tips on how to craft an effective counterargument to the view that Nationwide Marijuana Legalization is good. I am arguing that it will reduce crime rates. What is a good counterargument?”

3. Adding Evidence

Making points is not enough; you need to explain them. That’s important in any good research paper. If you’re struggling with making your argument more convincing, you can use AI technology, but be careful. Sometimes, ChatGPT provides incorrect information.

So, to use this prompt effectively, try pasting a paragraph into the AI tool. Then, use this:

“I need advice on how to incorporate evidence into my argumentative writing to make it more convincing.”

Don’t forget to fact-check!

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Expository Essays

An expository essay should explain, inform, and describe a topic clearly and concisely. ChatGPT prompts can help you break down complex concepts and intricate processes. All the while, you can present information in an engaging way.

Your question might look like this:

• Explain the significance of [topic] in [context].
• Describe the process of [procedure/event].
• What are the main causes and effects of [issue]?

Here’s how AI can help.

1. Getting Started

Sure, you’ve read the journal article. You understand all the complex ideas, but you still need to clarify and explain these terms. Good writing prompts can go a long way in kicking off your essay.

Try this:

“I need a clear and concise way to explain deforestation to high school students.”

Remember, you need to clearly define your target audience for this to work.

2. Weighing Up the Argument

Sometimes, your expository piece needs to look at both sides of a debate. Once again, it’s ChatGPT to the rescue as you can use it to identify gaps in your debate.

Try this prompt:

“I need to write an expository article looking at different sides of the deforestation debate, exploring its implications.”

3. Simplifying Concepts

Sometimes, expository essays are incredibly complex. You can use a ChatGPT prompt to simplify your research topic. You can make something as complex as quantum physics as digestible as a blog post!

This is the prompt you can use:

“I’m looking for strategies to explain quantum physics in an easily understandable way. Please use analogies and examples.”

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays can be fun to write. You can flex your writing muscles and write something vivid and fun. It sure beats run-of-the-mill research papers!

Your research topic might look like this:

• Describe a memorable experience you had with [place/person/event].
• Paint a picture of [scene/event] using vivid details.
• What does [object/place] mean to you?

But how can you use AI technology for something that needs human creativity? We have included some tips below.

1. Enhancing Sensory Descriptions

Ideally, you should prompt ChatGPT with an experience you’ve genuinely had. That way, you can accurately make edits. That said, there’s nothing wrong with using it to inspire your writing process.

Try this:

“You are an acclaimed travel writer. Describe a memorable experience you had while visiting a bustling market in Marrakech. Use vivid sensory details to capture the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of the market.”

2. Adding Vivid Imagery

Descriptive essays are all about words. Beyond your engaging introduction, you need to create a scene that’s detailed and vivid. ChatGPT can outline the key elements of your scene.

“You are a novelist working on a new book. Paint a picture of a serene sunset at the beach. Describe the scene in vivid detail. Include the colors of the sky, sounds of the waves, texture of the sand, and other sensory elements.”

3. Including Personal Meaning

Often, your essay prompt will delve into personal significance. ChatGPT isn’t you, but you can still use it to help you articulate.

You can describe a personal object to ChatGPT in as much detail as possible. Then, ask it how a person might feel about such an object.

If you disagree with what it turns out, you can provide feedback. Remember, ChatGPT is a chatbot, essentially, so you can get it into a conversation to hone the answer.

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Narrative Essays

A narrative essay is another opportunity to share personal experiences, insights, and perspectives. It’s all about the art of storytelling.

Your question might look like this:

• Tell a story about a time you overcame a challenge.
• Describe an event that changed your perspective on [issue/topic].
• Narrate a significant personal experience and its impact on you.

Below, we offer some of the best ChatGPT prompts for a narrative essay.

1. Creating a Structure

This isn’t an informative article. You need to tell a story, and your writing prompts should reflect that. ChatGPT can come up with a beginning, middle, and end, with each following paragraph leading on from the previous.

It can provide this in bullet points, leading you to do the rest.

Try this:

“I need to create a narrative that will engage high schoolers with the story of a student overcoming issues with algebra.”

2. Exploring a Theme

Some of the best literary works cover a specific theme. You can get ChatGPT to help you explore a theme with this prompt:

“I’m looking for a compelling narrative that captures the attention of high schoolers and explores the theme of friendship.”

This captures both your target market and your desired message.

3. Developing the Narrative

Sometimes it’s difficult to come up with engaging characters, unexpected climaxes, and so on. You might know you want to explore the theme of climate change, but how will you tell this story? Or you might know you want to write historical fiction, but what’s the setting?

Fortunately, ChatGPT can help with all this and more. It can suggest ways for you to write your story and make it more engaging.

Try something like:

“I’m writing a narrative essay about climate change and I need help creating exciting characters. Please suggest three characters, each with distinct backgrounds, motivations, and conflicts, to bring this theme to life.”

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Persuasive Essays

Persuasive essays usually have a singular thesis statement. Your job is to persuade readers that your stance is correct, inspiring action. With the right persuasive strategy, you can appeal to logic, emotion, and ethics.

Your essay question might look like this:

• Persuade the reader to support [cause/initiative].
• Why should [policy/change] be implemented in [community/school]?
• Convince your audience about the benefits of [practice/product].

Writing a persuasive essay and don’t know where to start? Check out our tips below.

1. Starting Simple

The first prompt is fairly obvious: ask ChatGPT how to write persuasively on a specific topic.

It’s as simple as this:

“I need to write a persuasive essay convincing university students to switch to a plant-based diet. Please provide a structure.”

ChatGPT will help you generate a structure.

2. Strategizing

The second way to use AI for persuasion is to look for convincing arguments. Try asking it for strategies that will engage your specific target reader.

“I’m looking for strategies that will persuade university students to take action on switching to a plant-based diet.”

3. Finding Evidence

You’ll need evidence to make your argument compelling. You can try a prompt like this:

“I am writing a persuasive essay to convince university students to switch to a plant-based diet. I need help finding and incorporating strong evidence. Can you suggest some effective pieces of evidence and describe how to integrate them into my essay?”

Remember to double-check any facts ChatGPT provides.

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Comparative Essays

A comparative essay requires a keen eye for detail. You’ll need to analyze similarities and differences between multiple subjects. Thankfully, ChatGPT can help you draw thoughtful comparisons.

If your essay question looks like this:

• Compare and contrast [topic A] and [topic B].
• Discuss the similarities and differences between [event/person/place].
• Analyze the pros and cons of [two approaches/methods].

You need comparative prompts like the ones we have outlined below.

1. Reviewing the Literature

Your primary research should involve a careful literature review that covers the topic. Even for niche topics, AI can help you with this.

Try this:

“I need a literature review on the impact of social media on adolescent mental health. Can you help me create an outline for an introduction, key themes, and a conclusion?”

2. Writing More Thoughtfully

Once you have some of your ideas on paper, you can use AI to make your essay more engaging. You can get it to help you edit, ensuring your most important information comes first. It can even ensure your sentence structure is readable and engaging.

Here’s a prompt:

“Here is the essay I have written on the impact of social media on mental health. Please provide feedback on my work, critiquing the grammar, sentence structure, and content.”

3. Evaluating Pros and Cons

For a thorough analysis, you need to compare the pros and cons. ChatGPT can help you articulate these points clearly.

“I’m writing a comparative essay evaluating the pros and cons of social media use among teens. Please provide a detailed list of pros and cons.”

Best ChatGPT Prompts for Analytical Essays

Analytical essays require critical thinking and deep analysis. The right ChatGPT prompts can help you find patterns and draw effective conclusions.

So, if your question looks like this:

• Analyze the themes and symbols in [literary work].
• Examine the impact of [historical event] on [society/culture].
• Evaluate the effectiveness of [policy/strategy].

1. Referencing

One of the most time-consuming aspects of essay writing is the referencing. Speed it up by adding all of your references to ChatGPT and asking it to write a bibliography.

Make sure you tell it your referencing style, such as APA format.

2. Analyzing Impact

For essays that analyze the impact of something, you need to understand the broader context. ChatGPT can help you with the details.

“Help me analyze how the Industrial Revolution influenced social structures and economic conditions in 19th-Century English society.”

3. Evaluating

You may also need to evaluate, providing a more nuanced argument and drawing evidence-based conclusions. Try this:

“Help me outline the key areas to analyze in an essay about the Industrial Revolution. This may include access to healthcare, cost control, and health outcomes. Please provide a framework for evaluating these aspects.”

Bored of ChatGPT? Try Smodin!

Writing an engaging essay isn’t simple–it’s not supposed to be! However, with the rise of AI, there are ways you can make it easier.

This isn’t cutting corners. It’s just a way to streamline the process and give you inspiration. You don’t need to take everything ChatGPT says as gospel–feel free to edit it and make it your own.

And if you’re interested in leveraging AI to make your learning experience even better, check out Smodin!