Generative AI is becoming part of daily life, which requires students to brush up on their research, referencing and critical thinking skills. Although students may have access to these skills, they are rarely taught in depth. As we move into an age of faster responses with fluent answers being created in seconds, these skills are becoming even more important.
Whilst AI is becoming more common, students need to know how to assess what they’re provided with. AI tools generate text that can be very confident; however, the sources will be made up. If students cannot verify, locate a credible source and assess the logic behind a claim, then they are at a disadvantage. Often universities assume students will have these skills anyway or will get feedback on their assessed work to help them develop.
Whilst AI can give students quick answers to summarise and get a structure, it is ultimately down to the student to ensure everything is correct. With fast changes to academic integrity policies, different universities will have varied expectations around how students use sources confidently and clearly.
Research
Researching in an academic context goes beyond a quick search. Students need to know which databases to use, differentiate between peer-reviewed research and commentary, compare conflicting sources and understand the limitations of the evidence.
Often students will just go with what comes up first online. Having a brief research plan can help to improve your assignment. This should include what your question is, what type of sources you expect to find and how you’ll determine if they’re credible.
Referencing
Often seen as a boring task, referencing has 3 purposes:
- Giving credit to others.
- Allowing readers to find the evidence.
- Showing where your argument fits in.
There are many differences between different referencing styles (APA, Harvard, MLA, Chicago) and variations between referencing styles used by different institutions.
Within the AI era, students should always double-check any sources suggested by an AI tool. Ensure they do actually exist, read them and reference the original.
Critical Thinking
This is the skill academics and employers mention most and can be the hardest to explain. It simply means asking who is making the claim, what evidence there is to support it, what is missing and what other explanations could there be?
Simple strategies can help you:
- Ask yourself ‘so what?’ after each paragraph.
- Think of the best argument against your point of view.
- Identify when you’re describing vs evaluating.
Many assignments will lose marks for being descriptive only.
Top Tips For Students
- Double-check: Any statistics, quotes or references from the original source.
- Track your sources: Keep track of where each idea came from so your referencing is accurate and quick.
- Be critical of your draft: Read through each section as if you were a sceptical marker. What is well evidenced?
Resources To Help You
These skills will require practice and examples. SampleAssignments.com provide free example answers to show you how to break down your question and structure your argument.
They also provide referencing generators for different styles (APA, Harvard, MLA, Chicago & Vancouver), plagiarism checker and quality checker tools and live sessions with subject experts.
These are study resources and reference material. Please ensure to follow your institution’s academic integrity and AI guidelines.
Encouraging Universities
They also encourage universities to incorporate these skills earlier in the degree. Short workshops, integrated library sessions and feedback explaining how to improve will help.
Students who learn to question their sources, give genuine credit and create logical arguments will be better prepared for their coursework and workplaces where using AI-generated information will be normal.
About Us
SampleAssignments.com is an Australia-based academic support platform. They provide education advice and reference material to help you study independently.
The platform offers free samples, referencing generators, plagiarism & quality checkers and live expert sessions. Their services are for learning, research and development. They have an Academic Integrity policy available on their website.
