How to Write Better Essays with AI
AI tools can transform your essay writing—making research faster, arguments stronger, and prose clearer. Here's how to use them effectively while maintaining academic integrity.
Important
Why Use AI for Essay Writing?
The students getting the best results with AI aren't using it to write their essays. They're using it to think better, research smarter, and revise more effectively. AI amplifies your effort—but you still need to put in the work.
Speed Up Research
Summarize papers, find related sources, identify key debates
Strengthen Arguments
Find counterarguments, develop analysis, test your logic
Polish Your Prose
Improve clarity, fix grammar, vary sentence structure
How to Use AI in Each Phase
Different phases of essay writing benefit from AI in different ways. Here's what works at each stage.
Phase 1: Brainstorming
AI role: Idea generator, not idea owner
What AI can help with:
- Explore different angles on your topic
- Generate research questions
- Find connections you hadn't considered
- Narrow broad topics to arguable claims
Try this prompt:
I'm writing about [TOPIC] for my [CLASS]. I don't know my angle yet. Ask me 5 questions about what interests me in this topic, then suggest 3 specific thesis directions based on my answers.
Phase 2: Research
AI role: Research assistant, not source
What AI can help with:
- Identify search terms and databases
- Summarize complex sources
- Find gaps in your research
- Organize sources by theme
Try this prompt:
I'm researching [TOPIC]. I've found sources about [LIST TOPICS]. Help me: (1) See what major perspectives I'm missing, (2) Organize these into themes, (3) Identify which sources might contradict each other.
Phase 3: Outlining
AI role: Structural advisor
What AI can help with:
- Create logical flow between arguments
- Develop topic sentences
- Plan transitions
- Ensure thesis is supported throughout
Try this prompt:
My thesis is [THESIS]. My main evidence points are [LIST POINTS]. Create an outline that builds to my strongest argument, suggests transitions between sections, and identifies where I need more evidence.
Phase 4: Drafting
AI role: Writing coach, not ghostwriter
What AI can help with:
- Get past writer's block
- See different ways to phrase ideas
- Integrate quotes smoothly
- Develop your analysis
Try this prompt:
I wrote this paragraph but it feels weak: [PARAGRAPH]. My argument is [ARGUMENT]. Show me 2 ways to strengthen the analysis and connect it more clearly to my thesis—but keep my voice.
Phase 5: Revising
AI role: Critical reader
What AI can help with:
- Identify unclear passages
- Find logical gaps
- Strengthen weak arguments
- Improve sentence variety
Try this prompt:
Read my essay as a critical professor. Identify: (1) The weakest paragraph and why, (2) Any logical gaps in my argument, (3) Sentences that are unclear, (4) My strongest point that I should emphasize more. [PASTE ESSAY]
Do's and Don'ts
Do This
- ✓Use AI to brainstorm and explore ideas
- ✓Have AI explain concepts you don't understand
- ✓Use AI to get feedback on your drafts
- ✓Ask AI to suggest how to strengthen your arguments
- ✓Use AI to help organize your research
- ✓Let AI help you understand source material
- ✓Use AI to improve clarity and fix grammar
Avoid This
- ✗Submit AI-generated text as your own writing
- ✗Use AI to write your thesis or conclusion
- ✗Let AI replace your own critical thinking
- ✗Copy AI output without verification
- ✗Use AI-suggested sources without checking they exist
- ✗Rely on AI for facts (it can hallucinate)
- ✗Skip reading sources because AI summarized them
The Esy Advantage
While ChatGPT gives you generic responses, Esy's agentic workflows can reference your actual documents—PDFs, notes, research papers—giving you AI assistance grounded in your real sources.
📚 Document Reference
Upload your sources and let Esy find relevant quotes and evidence
🔗 Prompt Chaining
Build workflows that research, outline, and draft step-by-step
✨ Citation-Aware
AI responses cite your actual sources, not hallucinated ones