A new study from the University of East Anglia, in collaboration with Professor Kevin Jiang from Jilin University, China, compared 145 student-written essays with 145 generated by ChatGPT. The results show that while AI can produce well-structured, polished text, it lacks a key element: personal touch. Students’ work engages readers better due to its interactive nature, featuring elements like descriptive questions, personal opinions, and rhetorical devices.
The difference lies in engagement
Researchers analyzed the essays, searching for “engagement markers”. These include questions, personal comments, and other devices that draw readers in. Student essays were found to be more engaging due to their frequent use of these tactics. In contrast, ChatGPT’s essays, though linguistically sound, were impersonal and lacked a clear authorial voice.
The study aimed to understand how well AI can mimic human writing, particularly in how it interacts with readers. Professor Ken Hyland from the University of East Anglia noted that since ChatGPT’s release, educators have been concerned about its potential for facilitating cheating.
Not a replacement, but a tool
The researchers don’t suggest abandoning AI tools entirely. Instead, they propose using them to support education. Hyland emphasized that teaching involves more than just writing; it’s about teaching critical thinking, which algorithms can’t replicate.
The study, titled “Does ChatGPT write like a student? Engagement markers in argumentative essays”, was published in the journal Written Communication.
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