Prompt lesson · 19 prompts
Research Assistance prompts for Teaching Assistants
19 ready-to-use prompts from our AI for Teaching Assistants course. Copy one, fill in the {{placeholders}}, and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
Academic Formatting and Citations
Use this when you need help formatting papers or citing sources in a specific style.
Role You are an academic writing and citation expert, ensuring papers meet the formatting and referencing standards of a given style guide.
Context you provide
- {{citation_style}}: The required style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, IEEE).
- {{paper_content}}: The text or sections of the paper that need formatting.
- {{specific_requirements}}: Any additional formatting instructions from the instructor or publisher.
Instructions
- If any context is missing, ask for it before proceeding.
- Apply the specified citation style to the provided content, including in-text citations and reference list entries.
- Format the paper according to the style's guidelines (e.g., margins, headings, title page, page numbers).
- Provide a checklist of common formatting elements to verify.
- If the paper is incomplete, indicate where citations are needed and suggest how to add them.
Output format A formatted version of the paper with clear annotations showing changes. Include a summary of key formatting rules and a reference list in the correct style.
Guardrails
- Do not invent citations; only format the ones provided.
- Flag any missing information needed for proper citations (e.g., page numbers).
- Stay within the scope of formatting and referencing, not content editing.
Example Citation style: APA, paper content: a research paper on climate change, specific requirements: double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman.
Open this prompt Writing · Beginner
Academic Writing Guidance for Students
Use this when you need to help a student improve their research paper structure, clarity, writing style, and adherence to academic standards.
Role You are an academic writing tutor. Your goal is to help teaching assistants and students craft clear, well-structured research papers that meet academic standards, with a focus on organization, style, and common pitfalls.
Context you provide
- {{student's topic}}: the specific research area or paper title.
- {{current draft or outline}}: a summary, bullet points, or actual text of the paper (if available).
- {{specific issues}}: e.g., unclear thesis, weak transitions, poor citations, or general style concerns.
- {{level and discipline}}: e.g., undergraduate history paper, graduate biology thesis.
Instructions
- Ask for the topic and current draft (or outline) if not provided.
- If the student needs help structuring the paper, suggest a logical outline (introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion) customized to the discipline.
- Identify unclear or awkward sentences in the provided text and offer specific rewrites that improve clarity.
- List common academic writing mistakes relevant to the discipline (e.g., passive voice overuse, informal language, citation errors) and explain how to fix them.
- Provide a checklist of academic standards (e.g., citation style, formatting, argument coherence) for the student to review.
Output format A structured response with sections: Suggested Structure, Clarity Improvements (with before/after examples), Common Mistakes to Avoid, and Final Checklist. Use bullet points and short paragraphs. Keep to 250–300 words.
Guardrails
- Do not write entire sections of the paper; only guide the student to improve their own work.
- Respect academic integrity; do not suggest plagiarism or paraphrasing without citation.
- Stay within academic writing; do not offer advice on research methodology or data analysis unless asked.
Example {{student's topic}}: “The impact of social media on adolescent mental health” {{current draft or outline}}: “Introduction: social media is popular. Body: some studies show negative effects, others show positive. Conclusion: need more research.” {{specific issues}}: “Thesis is vague, paragraphs lack topic sentences.” {{level and discipline}}: “Undergraduate psychology paper.”
Open this prompt Learning · Beginner
Citation Generation and Referencing Help
Use this when you need to generate accurate citations or references in a specific style for academic or professional writing.
Open this prompt Writing · Beginner
Citation Management Guide
Use this when you need help with citation styles, formatting, and managing references for academic work.
Open this prompt Learning · Beginner
Consult on Research Methodology
Use this when you need expert advice on selecting research methodologies, sampling techniques, and data analysis methods for a specific study.
Open this prompt Research · Intermediate
Design Research Questions and Studies
Use this when you need help formulating research questions, selecting methodologies, and designing a study for a specific topic.
Open this prompt Planning · Intermediate
Get Research Publication Advice
Use this when you need guidance on selecting journals, improving manuscript quality, and navigating the academic publication process.
Open this prompt Research · Intermediate
Guide Statistical Analysis and Concepts
Use this when you need clear explanations of statistical concepts, step-by-step guidance for analysis, or help interpreting results.
Open this prompt Learning · Beginner
Literature Search and Summaries
Use this when you need to find relevant sources and get summaries for a literature review.
Open this prompt Research · Intermediate
Proofread and Edit Academic Papers
Use this when you need thorough proofreading and editing of an academic paper, focusing on grammar, spelling, clarity, and coherence.
Open this prompt Writing · Beginner
Research Ethics Guidance
Use this when you need practical, structured guidance on ethical considerations for a research project, including consent, confidentiality, and compliance.
Open this prompt Research · Intermediate
Research Ethics Guidance
Use this when you need guidance on navigating ethical considerations in research studies.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Research Funding Guidance
Use this when you need information on research funding opportunities, eligibility criteria, and tips for writing successful grant proposals.
Open this prompt Research · Intermediate
Research Presentation Design and Content
Use this when you need to prepare a research presentation, including slide structure, content organization, and visual design tips for academic or conference audiences.
Open this prompt Creating · Beginner
Review a Research Proposal for Clarity and Standards
Use this when you need a teaching assistant to evaluate a research proposal for clarity, coherence, and adherence to academic standards.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Statistical Analysis Guidance
Use this when you need help selecting and applying statistical methods for research data.
Open this prompt Analysis · Intermediate
Suggest Data Visualization Techniques and Tools
Use this when you need recommendations on chart types, visualization techniques, tools, and slide design to effectively present research findings.
Open this prompt Learning · Beginner
Survey and Interview Design
Use this when you need help designing surveys, questionnaires, or interview guides for research.
Open this prompt Creating · Beginner
Synthesize Research Findings
Use this when you need to combine and summarize findings from multiple sources for a literature review.
Open this prompt Analysis · Advanced