the prompt this whole guide is built on
Here's my essay draft and the assignment rubric for [class]. Act like a tough but fair TA. Don't rewrite any of it, and don't give me example sentences. Tell me the three biggest problems, ranked, and point to the paragraph where each one shows up. Then tell me how the draft would do on each part of the rubric and why.
The draft is done. You've read it so many times the words stopped meaning anything, and the writing center is booked until after it's due.
AI can give you a fast second read, as long as you keep it from writing for you. The trick is in the prompt: no rewrites, no example sentences, just the problems and where they are. You do the fixing, so the essay stays yours.
How to do it
- Paste the rubric first, then your draft, then the prompt above.
- Read the three problems. You don't have to agree with all of them, but take each one seriously.
- Fix them yourself, one at a time, starting with the biggest. Reading the paragraph out loud helps.
- Run the thesis check below, since the rest of the essay hangs on it.
- Read the final version out loud once before you submit. You'll catch things no tool will.
Test your thesis
Here's my thesis: [paste it]. Don't rewrite it. Ask me three questions a skeptical reader would ask about it, and tell me whether my body paragraphs actually answer them.
Check the flow
List the main point of each paragraph in one short line, in order. Don't change anything. I want to see if the order makes sense.
that's it. go try it tonight.
