March 12, 2025
Reflection on
using ChatGPT
for academic writing
Tai et al.'s (2023) study resonates with my experiences in using ChatGPT. As an MA student, ChatGPT serves as a convenient tool for me. One of the greatest advantages of using ChatGPT in academic writing is its ability to assist with idea generation. When I struggle with coming up with ideas, ChatGPT can provide keywords, suggest outlines, or offer different perspectives on a topic. This function is helpful in the early stages of writing when structuring an argumant.
Additionally, ChatGPT can help me clarify complex concepts by providing simplified explanations, making it a useful tool for understanding challenging content. Another benefit is that ChatGPT helps me enhance my language proficiency, especially English writing skills. Sometimes, I use ChatGPT to refine the grammar and improve sentence structure. Moreover, ChatGPT can serve as an editing tool by identifying redundant phrases, improving clarity, offering alternative word choices, and suggesting other ways to make writing more concise and coherent, which are useful for academic writing.
Despite these advantages, there are some limitations to using ChatGPT for academic writing. One concern is the accuracy and reliability of the information provided. Because I do not pay for ChatGPT 4.0, my ChatGPT does not have direct access to academic databases or journals. Its responses may sometimes be incorrect. For example, the title of the paper does not match the researcher’s name, or the context of the paper is not relevant to my thesis. This means that I must check claims or citations generated
by ChatGPT to ensure whether the information is correct or not. Another issue is that I may rely too much on ChatGPT to generate writing content. Academic writing is intended to be an original expression of critical thought. Excessive dependence on ChatGPT may hinder my development of independent analytical skills. In addition, this study mentioned that if a researcher uses AI-generated text without using his or her own voice, he or she risks academic dishonesty or plagiarism. Therefore, it is crucial for us to see ChatGPT as a supplementary tool rather than a substitute for academic writing. Besides, this study also said that ChatGPT lacks the depth of human intuition and creativity. While it can generate arguments, it does not engage in critical thinking or original analysis. Hence, after ChatGPT generates something, we need to see it critically instead of accepting all the content.
In conclusion, I see ChatGPT as a powerful tool for academic writing when used wisely. It aids in brainstorming, language refinement, and structural organization but cannot replace a human’s critical thinking skills in doing research. To maximize its benefits, Tai et al.'s (2023) study also suggested that we should use ChatGPT with critical perspectives and verify the information. By balancing AI assistance with independent effort, I believe that I can enhance my academic writing while maintaining intellectual integrity.
