Using a chatbot to grade an essay and suggest improvements: Useful results

 It's not news that chatbots can grade, and comment on, an essay. What about their ability to suggest ways to improve the essay? 

I tried that with Perplexity. 

STEP ONE

After going through the usual steps and getting the grades and comments (Content, Organisation, Language) on a tryout essay, I asked the Chatbot to give me suggestions for improving the Language dimension of the essay. Below is the Output: 

OUTPUT

Certainly! Here are some suggestions to improve the essay specifically in terms of Language:

1. Correct Minor Errors:

   • Change all instances of "Al" to "AI" to avoid confusion and show attention to detail.

2. Vary Sentence Structures:

   • Introduce a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences to make the essay more engaging and demonstrate grammatical range.

   • For example, instead of repeating "AI companies have a duty...," try:
     "Because AI companies create and control the technology, they bear a significant responsibility to ensure user safety."

3. Use More Precise and Varied Vocabulary:

   • Replace common words with more precise alternatives or add synonyms to avoid repetition. For example, instead of repeatedly saying "dangerous" or "risky," use terms like "hazardous," "threatening," or "harmful."

   • Use academic linking words and phrases (e.g., "Moreover," "Furthermore," "On the other hand," "Consequently") to improve flow and coherence.

4. Use Modal Verbs and Conditionals for Nuance:

   • Add modal verbs (should, must, might, could) to express degrees of responsibility or possibility, which will make arguments sound more nuanced and careful.

   • For instance, "AI companies should implement safety measures" vs. "Parents could play a crucial role in monitoring usage."

5. Add Cohesive Devices:

   • Use pronouns, substitutions, and conjunctions to connect ideas smoothly, preventing choppiness. For example, instead of repeating "AI companies" every time, use "they," "these companies," or "such organizations."

6. Practice Parallelism:

   • When listing ideas or contrasting views, maintain parallel structure for clarity and rhythm.

   • Example: "AI companies must detect harmful content, block inappropriate messages, and protect users' privacy."

7. Expand Use of Formal Academic Style:

   • Avoid overly casual expressions or contractions. Maintain a formal tone suitable for essay writing.

In summary, improving language involves accuracy, variety, precision, and fluency. Paying attention to these will make the essay clearer, more engaging, and more professional.

STEP TWO

I asked the chatbot to revise a specific part of the essay to show these improvements in action

OUTPUT:

BOTTOM LINE: 

1. The improvement suggestions are quite concrete and useful. 

2. The comparison between the original paragraph and the revised paragraph provides concrete examples to Ss how they can improve the Language of an essay.