GPT Powered Writing

Introduction

I've spent the past couple of weeks figuring out how I can get the most use out of GPT in order to improve the quality of my writing, and the speed of my writing process.

I've gone through a few writing textbook materials in order to create prompts that follow along a process for drafting, and iterating on those drafts.

This page is simply for organizing the process. The prompts can be found here. My writing research log can be found here.

The Writing Process (Simplified)

Assess The Rhetorical Sitation: Get an idea of what you are writing, who you are writing for, and why you are writing. Use this prompt to refine your rhetoric.
Choose A Topic: Brainstorm topics or subjects to write about within your rhetorical sitation. Use this prompt to brainstorm topics to write about.
Get an Overview: Get an overview of the topic, a list of keywords for research, a list of questions to consider, and a list of resources to dive into. The starting point for research. Use this prompt to get an overview of your research/writing topic.
Thesis Statement: What the main message or idea is for the section of text. This prompt can be used to help draft and revise a thesis statement.
Detailed Research: Using a Research Log to keep your keywords, notes, and working bibliography organized. Will focus on taking information from sources and turning it into properly cited evidence to support points or ideas in the draft. You can use this prompt to create a citation or bibliography for a source. As well as this prompt to paraphrase, quote, or summarize source material.
Outline: Oragnizing the information, stories, ideas, and evidence into a clear, and logically sound order to use when writing the draft. Still needs some more modification, but this prompt seems to do a well enough job so far.
Opening Sentences: The first paragraph, and first sentence of every paragraph after are the most important.
Draft: Taking all of the information gathered thus far and writing the first draft. Allowed to be a bit more loose, as it will be refined upon later.
Evaluate The Draft: Using tools such as grammarly, peer review GPTs, and having peers actaully reading and providing feedback.
Improve Draft Based On Feedback: Using the advice gained from the previous tools, improve the draft.

GPT Powered Feedback

These are the areas that GPT can provide feedback on the quality and clarity of writing, in order to make suggestions for improvements.

Logical Order or Flow: Clarify the sequence of actions or logical flow of ideas. Are transition sentences properly used. Are their any jumps in understanding or actions?
Can A 5 Year Old Understand It: Look for things, terms, or concepts that are confusing. Look for ways to ensure that anyone can understand what is being explained or discussed. Provide enough context and background explaination to those unfamilair with the subject.
Review from different persepctives: Have GPT take the role of different people with different levels of experience and come up with a list of questions and assumptions that would be made about the text. For content on the website, ensure that it portraies a good image for both friends and potential employers.
Consistency in Style and Tone: Ensure that the entry piece of writing has a consistent tone and sytle. Ensure that the text follows specific style choosen.
Does The Text Properly Cue The Reader: Does the introduction provide a forecasting statement? Does the first or last sentence of each paragraph provide the main idea of that paragraph? Does each paragraph have a single idea? Are transition sentences well used and placed? Are cohesive devices used throughout the writing?

Next Steps

Notes

This section is summarized versions of all of the notes I've taken thus far.

Choosing A Topic

Identify Your Writing Form. Determine the form of writing you are working on (e.g., narrative, profile, analytical piece, story).
Reflect on Your Interests. Choose a topic that sparks your curiosity or passion.
Consider the Audience. Think about who will be reading your work and choose a topic that will be interesting and informative for them.
Assess the Scope. Ensure that the topic is manageable within the constraints of your writing form and length.
Evaluate the Relevance. Choose a topic that is relevant to current discussions or has personal significance.
Research Availability. Make sure there are enough resources available to research your topic thoroughly.
Analyze the Potential for Conflict or Controversy. Depending on your writing form, consider choosing a topic with inherent conflict or controversy.
Consider the Potential for Solution or Evaluation. If your writing form requires proposing solutions or evaluations, ensure that your topic lends itself to these approaches.
Reflect on Emotional Resonance. Especially for narratives and stories, choose a topic that has emotional significance or can evoke a strong response from readers.
Finalize Your Topic. Once you have gone through these steps, finalize your topic choice and begin planning and outlining your writing.

Drafting Process

Choose a Topic or Subject: Select a focus for your writing, whether it's an event, concept, issue, or story.
Define Your Purpose: Clarify what you aim to achieve with your text (e.g., inform, persuade, evaluate, analyze).
Conduct Research: Gather information and insights relevant to your topic and purpose. This may include field research, literature review, or interviews.
Formulate a Working Thesis or Main Argument: Develop a preliminary statement or claim that will guide your writing.
Outline Your Text: Create a structured plan that organizes your main points and supporting evidence effectively for your readers.
Develop Your Content:
- Describe key elements vividly (people, places, concepts).
- Use dialogue, quotations, or other elements to add depth and character.
- Consider adding visual or multimedia elements if applicable.
Refine Your Argument or Narrative:
- Clarify the sequence of actions or logical flow of ideas.
- Address potential objections or alternative perspectives.
- Highlight the significance or implications of your subject.
Draft Opening Sentences: Write an engaging introduction that sets the tone and provides a clear entry point into your text.
Draft Your Text: Expand on your outline, incorporating your research and developing your argument or narrative.
Revise and Refine: Review your draft for coherence, clarity, and impact. Make necessary adjustments to ensure your text effectively communicates your intended message.

Research Writing Planning Guide

A comprehensive guide to help you plan and execute your research writing project effectively.

Define Your Research Task and Set a Schedule: Understand the assignment requirements and set a clear deadline with interim due dates.
Analyze Your Rhetorical Situation: Determine your purpose, genre, audience, and the appropriate medium for your research project.
Establish a Research Log: Create a list of keywords, start a working bibliography, and take detailed notes on your sources.
Choose and Narrow Your Topic: Select a relevant, interesting, and manageable topic, review background materials, and narrow your focus based on source availability and project scope.
Draft Questions to Guide Your Research: Formulate specific questions that your research aims to answer.
Search for In-depth Information: Conduct a thorough search using your keywords, evaluate and select relevant sources, annotate your bibliography, and draft a preliminary thesis statement.
Refine Your Search: Assess the adequacy of your findings, modify your search strategy if needed, and update your thesis statement.
Use Your Research to Support Your Ideas: Synthesize ideas from multiple sources, use evidence appropriately, and include your own analysis to demonstrate how the information supports your ideas.
Avoid Plagiarism: Paraphrase carefully, integrate source material seamlessly, and cite all sources accurately using the appropriate citation style.

Peer Review Questions

Overall Impression.
- Summarize your overall impression of the text. What are its strengths and weaknesses?
- Praise a specific aspect of the text that you found particularly effective or engaging.
- Suggest one area where the text could be improved for clarity or impact.
Clarity and Coherence.
- Is the main purpose or argument of the text clear and easy to identify?
- Are there any parts of the text that are confusing or difficult to follow? How could they be made clearer?
- Does the text flow logically from one idea to the next? If not, where could transitions be improved?
Structure and Organization.
- Is the text well-organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion?
- Are the ideas presented in a logical order that supports the main argument or purpose?
- Can you identify any sections that feel out of place or could be rearranged for better coherence?
Engagement and Relevance.
- Does the text engage the reader's interest throughout? Are there any parts that feel dull or unnecessary?
- Is the topic or argument relevant and significant to the intended audience?
- How could the writer enhance the text's appeal or relevance to its readers?
Evidence and Support.
- Is the argument or main point of the text supported by sufficient evidence or examples?
- Are the sources (if any) credible and appropriately integrated into the text?
- Suggest ways in which the writer could strengthen their argument or provide more compelling support.
Style and Tone.
- Is the writing style appropriate for the intended audience and purpose?
- Does the tone of the text remain consistent throughout, or are there shifts that feel jarring?
- Are there any stylistic elements (such as word choice or sentence structure) that could be improved?
Grammar and Mechanics.
- Are there any recurring grammatical or punctuation errors in the text?
- Is the text free of typos and spelling mistakes?
- Provide examples of sentences that could be revised for better clarity or correctness.

Improving Your Draft

Understanding Your Audience:
- Who is your intended audience, and what are their expectations or needs?
- How can you make your text more engaging or relevant to your readers?
Enhancing Content:
- What can you do to make your narrative, explanation, or argument more compelling?
- Are there any additional insights or evidence you can provide to support your position more effectively?
Improving Clarity and Organization:
- How can you organize your text to be more clear and logical for your readers?
- Are there any sections that need to be expanded, condensed, or clarified for better understanding?
Refining Language and Style:
- How can you adjust your language and writing style to better suit your audience and purpose?
- Are there any phrases or sentences that can be revised for greater impact or precision?
Polishing the Final Draft:
- Have you addressed any feedback or concerns from your initial draft?
- Is there anything else you can do to enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of your text?