Step-by-step guide to use ChatGPT for your thesis, report or dissertation

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ChatGPT has become an instrumental tool for professionals across various industries, including academic writing. It offers a streamlined solution to tackle the common problem of writer’s block. With its assistance, writing a thesis will not be a daunting task anymore. The platform has revolutionized the writing process, allowing writers to create work that is professional and of high quality. Its user-friendly interface and easy-to-navigate features have made it the go-to choice for writers looking to enhance their productivity and output. We recommend exploring the benefits of ChatGPT and utilizing it to elevate your writing potential to the next level.

ChatGPT is a versatile tool that offers more than just report writing capabilities. It has the ability to compose poems, songs, and even computer programs. The latest version of ChatGPT, which was released on March 14th, 2023, is built on the innovative GPT 4 OpenAI model. It can be subscribed to for a specific duration, making it a valuable asset for businesses and individuals alike.

Chatgpt login screen

Create an account

Now that you know what ChatGPT is, you can start making an account that can help you start writing your report, dissertation or thesis.

Step 1: Official website

To access OpenAI’s chatbot, go to the official website of OpenAI.

ChatGPT login screen

Step 2: Log in

Once you visit the website, you will be given the option to either log in or create an account if you don’t already have one. You will be prompted to provide details such as your phone number and date of birth during the signup process. It is also possible to use your Google or Microsoft account to sign in. Verification of your phone number is required in order to proceed with the login process and gain access to ChatGPT.

Step 3: interact with ChatGPT

After logging in, you will have access to our AI chat feature. To initiate a chat, simply click the “New Chat” button located on the left-hand side of your screen. The AI is designed to assist with various writing tasks such as proofreading, grammar corrections, and style adjustments to improve the quality of your written content.

ChatGPT interface

Master Academic Writing with ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a wonderful too, that can help in many ways. It can help you fix your grammar, or make it sound more professional. Do know, that most universities have now set up guidelines on the use of artificial intelligent chatbots, such as ChatGPT. In some cases this has been strictly prohibited.

Write a report from scratch

You can utilize ChatGPT to help you write a report for your course on a specific topic. To get started, simply prompt it with the subject you want to explore. To ensure coherence, consider providing some guidelines or boundaries. By doing so, you’ll give ChatGPT a clear starting point and context for your report. This way, you can effectively leverage ChatGPT’s capabilities to enhance your writing process and create a well-structured report with ease.

One clear way is to mention the following:

  • Topic
  • Purpose
  • Audience
  • Instructions (of what you want ChatGPT to do).

Instructions: Impact of smoke breaks on the well-being of employees.

Purpose: To understand and examine the impact of smoke breaks on the well-being of employees with findings and recommendations

Audience: Management team

Instructions: Conduct research on the impact of smoke breaks on the well-being of employees. Conduct research on the impact of productivity. Add critical factors such as work-life balance, communication, etc. Give company recommendations on how to manage smoke breaks and how it may increase productivity.

Proofread

Ideally, the majority, if not all, of the text has been authored by the writer. However, human error in grammar or syntax may still occur. In the past, engaging professional proofreaders was a costly and time-consuming process, spanning several days or weeks. Now, with the advent of ChatGPT, rectifying these errors takes less than a minute.

Moreover, ChatGPT offers the additional advantage of style modification. You may consider changing the tone of the text to one of the following styles:

  • Formal
  • Friendly
  • Professional,
  • Scientific

It is as easy as copying the text you want it to proofread, and ask it to correct it for you.

Personal experience

Based on my personal experience in writing academic reports, articles, and dissertations, I understand the allure of relying on ChatGPT for various writing tasks. Writer’s block can be a significant challenge, and ChatGPT has indeed proven valuable in overcoming these hurdles. It offers helpful assistance and can be a valuable tool in the writing process. However, it’s essential to strike a balance and recognize its limitations to ensure that the final output is accurate, original, and aligned with academic standards. I may remind you that some universities have been starting to use software to detect AI-written text, I will explain more about that in the next section.

I have used ChatGPT to proofread my own work, primarily to correct grammar and syntax mistakes, and occasionally, to enhance sentence structure and phrasing. It is a cost-effective solution, as I no longer need to rely on professional proofreaders.

I would advice against letting ChatGPT write a report from scratch. While it can produce coherent and convincing-sounding content, it may not always be accurate or reliable, especially for complex or technical subjects. Relying solely on ChatGPT for critical reports can lead to inaccuracies and misinformation. Secondly, ChatGPT’s responses are based on pre-existing data, which means that it might produce content that resembles existing works. This can raise concerns about plagiarism or lack of originality in your report.

AI detection tools

It’s crucial to exercise caution when incorporating AI-generated texts into your document, as some universities may have policies prohibiting the use of AI-generated content in theses. Certain institutions employ AI-detection tools to scrutinize thesis submissions. To avoid potential issues, consider using online detection software to assess whether the text is flagged as AI-generated. If necessary, revise the content accordingly before submission. Being mindful of these factors ensures compliance with university regulations and academic integrity.

Some examples of AI-detection tools are:

AI Detection software
AI Content Detector2
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