The integration of Bing with ChatGPT has revolutionized the academic landscape, offering students a powerful tool for crafting well-structured, engaging essays. This practical guide aims to equip you with advanced techniques for creating essay prompts that help you harness Bing’s full potential through its ChatGPT capabilities. By mastering the art of prompt creation, you can generate exceptional content tailored to your academic needs. In this guide, we delve deeper into the process of crafting effective prompts, provide more prompt examples, discuss prompt structure, outline common prompt mistakes, and offer insights on how to review and criticize the final essay.
Writing a good essay involves several steps, such as finding a point or thesis, hooking the reader, giving background information, presenting and supporting the thesis with evidence, organizing and connecting the evidence, mapping the essay’s structure, and editing and proofreading the final draft. Research is also an essential step that helps the writer learn more about the topic and find reliable sources¹.
Different types of essays may have different requirements and goals, but the basic structure of an essay consists of three main parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion¹. The introduction should introduce the topic and the main argument of the essay, as well as capture the reader’s attention and interest. The body should develop and support the main argument with relevant evidence, analysis, and interpretation. The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis in a different way¹.
Depending on the type and length of the essay, the number and order of the steps may vary, but the basic principles remain the same¹. Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. You should also do your research and gather sources that will help you support your argument². Creating an outline is a useful way to plan out your structure before you start writing². After you finish writing your first draft, you should revise it for content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting. You should also check your essay for plagiarism and use a grammar checker to catch any errors².
Writing a good essay requires time and effort, but it can also be rewarding and enjoyable. If you follow these steps and tips, you can improve your writing skills and produce high-quality essays that will impress your readers³.
Before diving into the essay writing process, it’s crucial to start with a solid outline to ensure your essay is well-structured and covers all the important points. To kick off your essay writing journey, begin by using the following prompt for creating a comprehensive outline:
Prompt for Essay Outline:
“I’m writing an essay on [topic]. Can you write me an outline with what important points I should cover?”
By using this prompt, you will receive a well-organized outline from Bing’s ChatGPT, highlighting the key points and subpoints related to your chosen topic. This outline will serve as a roadmap, guiding you through the essay writing process and ensuring that you address all the critical aspects of your topic, ultimately leading to a coherent, engaging, and persuasive essay.
Should you find yourself struggling to generate compelling ideas or you just need some extra help for your essay, allow these prompts to serve as a catalyst for your creative process, igniting a spark that kindles the flame of inspiration within you.
Prompt for Research and Analysis:
When working on a research project or studying a particular topic, you may need to compile data and analyze your findings. Use the following prompt to get Bing’s ChatGPT to help you research and create a chart based on specified data points:
- Research [Topic]. Then create a chart data of [data points] with columns for [a, b, c, and d].
- Write a report and analyze what you found.
Prompt for Researching and Comparing Two Ideas:
Exploring the connections between two different ideas or topics can reveal interesting insights and enhance your understanding of both subjects. Utilize the following prompt to get Bing’s ChatGPT to research and identify shared ideas between two topics:
Research [idea/topic 1] and [idea/topic 2]. What are some shared ideas between these two things? Write a report explaining the major connections between these two ideas.
Prompt for Summarizing Text:
Whether you’re looking for a quick overview of a long article or need to simplify complex information, summarizing is a valuable skill. To get Bing’s ChatGPT to summarize a text for you, use the following prompt:
Summarize this [text/link] in [bullet points/ 3 paragraph/ simple language/ ELI5]
Prompt for Fixing Spelling and Grammar:
Proofreading and editing are essential for producing high-quality content. If you need assistance with checking spelling and grammar, use this prompt for Bing’s ChatGPT:
Edit this text for proper spelling and grammar. [text]
These prompts will enable you to harness the power of Bing’s ChatGPT for various tasks, from research and analysis to editing and summarization, providing valuable support for your academic and professional endeavours.
I. The Art of Crafting Essay Prompts
Creating effective prompts requires attention to detail and a deep understanding of your essay’s requirements. Here’s an in-depth look at each step:
- Define the purpose and topic of the essay: Identify the main argument, supporting points, and evidence you want to include. Consider your audience and the desired impact of your essay.
- Choose an appropriate conversation style for Bing: Bing offers three conversation styles: Creative (suggested by us), Precise, and Balanced. They are designed to respond in different tones and levels of accuracy and creativity.
- Creative mode generates longer, more imaginative answers that are filled with surprise and entertainment. It may deviate more from the information it learned in its dataset.
- Precise mode focuses on shorter, factual answers that prioritize accuracy and relevancy. It may not suggest anything if it sees no safe way to achieve a result.
- Balanced mode aims to provide a balance between the two styles, producing reasonable and coherent answers that are based on detailed search results and citations from websites.
You can switch between these modes by using a toggle button on the chat interface. Each mode may use different AI models that have received additional training from human responses to its output.
Choose a style that best suits your essay’s requirements and consider experimenting with different styles to discover the best fit.
- Provide clear and specific instructions: Be explicit about the word limit, number of paragraphs, citation style, and any other requirements. This clarity helps Bing understand the task better and deliver more accurate results.
- Avoid common prompt mistakes: Ensure your prompt is free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Refrain from using vague or ambiguous terms or phrases, and ensure your instructions are consistent and logical.
II. Advanced Examples of Bing Essay Prompts
Using the following templates, you can create more specific and engaging essay prompts:
- Write an essay on [topic] with [5 paragraphs]. The essay should have an introduction with a hook, background information, and a thesis statement; three body paragraphs with topic sentences, supporting details, and transitions; and a conclusion with a summary, a restatement of the thesis, and a final remark. Use [referencing style] and cite at least [number] of sources from [website].
- Write an essay on [topic] with [5 paragraphs]. The first paragraph should introduce the topic and state your position or argument. The second paragraph should present the strongest point in favour of your position and provide evidence and examples. The third paragraph should present the second strongest point in favour of your position and provide evidence and examples. The fourth paragraph should present the strongest point against your position and explain why it is not convincing or valid. The fifth paragraph should restate your position and summarize your main points. Use [referencing style] and cite at least [number] of sources from [website].
- Write an essay on [topic] with [5 paragraphs]. The first paragraph should provide some background information on the topic and state the main problem or question that you will address. The second paragraph should explain the causes of the problem or question and how they affect the situation. The third paragraph should explain the effects of the problem or question and how they impact the situation. The fourth paragraph should propose some possible solutions or recommendations to the problem or question and how they can improve the situation. The fifth paragraph should evaluate the solutions or recommendations and state your opinion or conclusion. Use [referencing style] and cite at least [number] of sources from [website].
III. Mastering Referencing Rules and Styles
Proper referencing is crucial in academic writing. Here are some tips to help you master referencing rules and styles:
- Choose an appropriate referencing style based on your discipline or assignment requirements. Consult your instructor or academic department for guidance on the preferred style.
- Follow the specific rules and formats for in-text citations and reference lists: Each referencing style has its own set of guidelines for in-text citations and reference lists. Familiarize yourself with these guidelines to ensure you are citing sources correctly.
- Use referencing management tools: There are many referencing management tools, such as Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote, that can help you keep track of your sources and generate citations in your desired style.
- Proofread your essay for citation accuracy: Double-check your in-text citations and reference list to ensure you have cited all sources correctly and consistently.
IV. Reviewing and Criticizing the Final Essay
Once you receive your essay from Bing, it’s essential to review and critique it thoroughly. Here are some tips for doing so:
Check for coherence and flow: Ensure the essay’s structure is logical and that transitions between paragraphs and ideas are smooth.
Prompt:
“Evaluate the coherence and flow of this essay: [paste essay here]. Identify any areas where the structure or transitions can be improved.”
Verify the accuracy of facts and data: Double-check the information presented in your essay to ensure its accuracy, and make sure your sources are reliable and up-to-date.
Prompt:
“Review the facts and data presented in this essay: [paste essay here]. Please point out any inaccuracies or outdated information, and suggest corrections or updates as needed.”
Assess the quality of arguments and evidence: Evaluate whether the essay presents strong, well-supported arguments and provides sufficient evidence for its claims.
Prompt:
“Analyze the arguments and evidence in this essay: [paste essay here]. Highlight any weak or unsupported points, and suggest ways to strengthen them.”
Review the referencing and citations: Ensure all sources are cited correctly according to the chosen referencing style, both in-text and in the reference list.
Prompt:
“Check the in-text citations and reference list in this essay: [paste essay here] using [referencing style]. Identify any errors or inconsistencies and provide corrected citations if necessary.”
Evaluate the essay’s overall impact: Determine whether the essay achieves its intended purpose and effectively engages the reader.
Prompt:
“Assess the overall impact of this essay: [paste essay here]. Determine if it achieves its intended purpose and effectively engages the reader. Suggest any improvements that can enhance its overall effectiveness.”
By following this comprehensive guide, you will be well-equipped to create powerful essay prompts for Bing’s Chat and generate high-quality academic content. Armed with these tips and tricks, you’ll be on your way to scholarly success in no time.
ChatGPT Notes:
In this interactive collaboration, Manolo and I (ChatGPT) joined forces to develop an insightful and practical blog post on using Bing’s ChatGPT for essay writing assistance.
Throughout the process, Manolo provided valuable input, which included:
* Initial guidance on the blog post topic and target audience
* A detailed prompt with specific instructions for crafting the post
* Feedback on the title, outline, and initial draft, leading to content revisions and enhancements
* Requests for additional prompt examples, prompt structure, and common prompt mistakes
* Direction on creating a practical guide for students, with a focus on tips and tricks
* The addition of prompts for reviewing and criticizing the final essay
During our collaboration, we refined the content and format of the post, ensuring it would serve as a valuable resource for students. Manolo utilized Bing Chat to generate the prompts for use with Bing AI, further demonstrating the versatility of the AI platform.
Lastly, Manolo used a tool like MidJourney to generate the images accompanying the post, enhancing its visual appeal.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 07/05/2023
(1) The Beginner’s Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples. https://www.scribbr.com/category/academic-essay/.
(2) The Writing Process | 5 Steps with Examples & Tips. https://www.scribbr.com/academic-writing/writing-process/.
(3) Great essay writing in 8 steps | Oxbridge Essays. https://www.oxbridgeessays.com/blog/essay-writing-tips/.