Essay Writing with AI as Your Tutor

The Blank Page Isn’t Your Enemy (Your Process Is)

In the previous lesson, we explored note-taking and knowledge organization. Now let’s build on that foundation. You have a paper due in a week. What do you do?

If you’re like most students, you spend five days “researching” (reading without direction), one day panic-writing, and one hour “editing” (fixing typos). The paper is mediocre, and you know it.

The problem isn’t talent. It’s process. Good writers don’t have fewer bad ideas – they have a system for developing ideas into strong arguments. AI can be a powerful part of that system, as long as the ideas and arguments remain yours.

This lesson walks you through the complete essay writing process with AI as your tutor at every stage.

Stage 1: Finding and Developing Your Thesis

Every strong paper starts with a clear argument. Not a topic. Not a question. An argument – a specific claim that reasonable people could disagree with.

Weak: “This paper discusses climate change and its effects.” (That’s a topic, not a thesis.)

Better: “Urban green infrastructure is a more cost-effective approach to climate adaptation than traditional engineering solutions.” (That’s an argument. Someone could disagree.)

Strong: “While traditional flood barriers dominate municipal climate budgets, cities that invest in urban green infrastructure achieve comparable flood reduction at 40% lower cost while generating additional social and health benefits.” (That’s specific, arguable, and suggests a clear paper structure.)

Use AI to develop your thesis, not generate it:

I'm writing a paper about [topic] for my [class]. My initial thinking is
that [your rough idea/position].

Don't write my thesis for me. Instead, help me develop it by:
1. Asking me why I hold this position (push me to be specific)
2. Identifying what makes this claim arguable (who would disagree and why?)
3. Suggesting how I could make it more specific and focused
4. Pointing out what evidence I'd need to support it

I want to arrive at my thesis through my own thinking, with your guidance.

Stage 2: Research with Direction

Once you have a working thesis, research becomes focused. You’re not reading everything about a topic – you’re looking for evidence that supports, complicates, or challenges your specific argument.

My thesis is: [your thesis].

Help me plan my research:
1. What types of evidence would strengthen this argument?
2. What counterarguments should I look for? (I need to address these)
3. What key terms should I search for in academic databases?
4. What are the potential weak points in my argument that I need
   evidence to shore up?

Don't find sources for me -- help me know what to look for.

Important: AI can suggest what types of sources you need, but you should find and read the actual sources yourself. AI can hallucinate citations. Always verify.

Stage 3: Outlining Your Argument

An outline is a roadmap. It ensures your paper has logical flow before you invest time writing prose.

Here's my thesis: [thesis]
Here's the evidence I've found: [brief summary of your sources/evidence]

I've drafted this rough outline:
[your outline]

Critique my outline:
1. Does the logic flow? Could a reader follow my argument step by step?
2. Where are the weakest points that need more support?
3. Am I addressing counterarguments effectively?
4. Does each section clearly connect to my thesis?
5. Is there a better order for presenting these points?

Suggest improvements to my structure, but don't rewrite the outline
for me.

Stage 4: Writing the Draft

Here’s where most students want AI to do the work. Resist that urge. The writing is where you process and articulate your thinking. If AI writes it, you miss the learning.

But AI can help in specific ways during drafting:

When you’re stuck on a section:

I'm writing the section of my paper about [section topic]. My argument in
this section is [what you're trying to say]. I've started writing but I'm
stuck.

Here's what I have so far:
[your draft so far]

Don't write the next paragraph for me. Instead:
1. What point should come next based on my argument's logic?
2. How does this section connect to the previous one?
3. What evidence from my research fits here?
4. Am I overcomplicating this? What's the simplest way to make this point?

When your writing is unclear:

Here's a paragraph I wrote:
[your paragraph]

I'm trying to say: [what you mean in plain language]

Is my paragraph actually saying what I mean? Where is it unclear?
How could I express this more precisely? Don't rewrite it -- tell
me what's not working and I'll fix it myself.

Stage 5: The Revision Process

This is where AI as a tutor truly shines. Most students “revise” by fixing typos. Real revision means strengthening arguments, improving clarity, and tightening structure.

The argument check:

Read my essay and evaluate the argument:
[paste your essay]

1. Is my thesis clear and stated early enough?
2. Does every paragraph directly support the thesis?
3. Where are the logical leaps -- places where I need more connection
   between points?
4. Are my counterarguments addressed or just mentioned?
5. Is my conclusion more than just a summary?

Be tough. I'd rather fix problems now than lose points later.

The clarity check:

Read this essay for clarity:
[paste your essay]

1. Where would a reader get confused?
2. Which sentences are trying to do too much? (Should be split)
3. Where am I using jargon without defining it?
4. Are there any paragraphs that don't have a clear point?
5. Where could I be more concise?

Don't fix the writing -- just tell me what needs work and why.

The flow check:

Check the transitions and flow of this essay:
[paste your essay]

1. Does each paragraph connect logically to the next?
2. Where are the jarring transitions?
3. Is information presented in the most effective order?
4. Do I repeat myself unnecessarily anywhere?
5. Does the paper build to a conclusion or just stop?

Stage 6: Polishing

Only after the argument and structure are solid should you focus on sentence-level polish:

I've revised my essay for argument and structure. Now I need to polish
the writing:
[paste your essay]

Check for:
1. Grammar and punctuation errors
2. Awkward phrasing
3. Passive voice that could be active
4. Wordy sentences that could be tighter
5. Consistency in tense and point of view

For each issue, point it out and explain the fix so I learn -- don't
just correct it silently.

Quick Check: Common Essay Mistakes AI Can Help You Catch

Watch for these patterns in your writing:

Mistake	What It Looks Like	AI Can Help By
Thesis buried	Thesis appears on page 3	Asking “where is your thesis?”
Evidence without analysis	Quoting a source without explaining what it means	Asking “what does this evidence prove?”
Counterarguments ignored	Only presenting your side	Asking “what would someone who disagrees say?”
Conclusion = summary	Last paragraph just repeats the intro	Asking “what does your conclusion add?”
Topic sentences missing	Paragraphs that wander	Asking “what’s the one point of this paragraph?”

Exercise: The Essay Tutor Session

Take a paper you’re currently working on (or a past paper). Run it through this sequence:

Share your thesis with AI and ask if it’s clear, specific, and arguable
Share your outline and ask for structural feedback
Share one body paragraph and ask for clarity feedback
Share the full draft for an argument check
Note every piece of feedback and decide which to act on (you’re the author)

Track how many issues you find that you wouldn’t have caught on your own. That’s the value of AI as a writing tutor.

Key Takeaways

AI should be your writing tutor, not your ghostwriter – use it for feedback, not drafting
Start with a working thesis (specific, arguable) to give your research and writing direction
Use AI to critique your outline structure before investing time in prose
When stuck while writing, ask AI for guidance on what comes next, not to write it for you
Real revision means strengthening arguments and clarity, not just fixing typos
Always tell AI to explain problems rather than just fix them – that’s how you learn
You’re the author: consider AI feedback carefully but make your own decisions

Next: Exam preparation strategies that use AI to maximize retention with less study time.

Up next: In the next lesson, we’ll dive into Exam Preparation and Study Strategies.