Abstract:

ChatGPT, based on a wide range of pre-trained Internet text data, can assist in completing translations and creative writing. This study, however, is an experiment on writing a research paper with the help of ChatGPT. We selected a research topic and used ChatGPT to generate each section of the research paper — title, outline, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and references — according to the prompts provided. The results reveal that ChatGPT can successfully write an entire paper based on hypothetical data, generating high-quality text with appropriate content and language quickly and efficiently, which saves a significant amount of time and effort. The limitations are also obvious, including the use of outdated studies, inconsistent arguments, irrelevant and illogical explanations of the results, and incredible citations. We suggest integrating ChatGPT into academic writing courses offered at tertiary institutions. Teaching students to effectively use it could be made the core of the instruction. For instance, students may learn to ask questions, give correct and specific prompts, identify mistakes or problems in the generated texts, as well as ensure the texts’ accuracy, consistency, and credibility, and be knowledgeable about the topic selected for the paper. Students should learn to follow academic conventions and avoid plagiarism.

Keywords: ChatGPT; graduate thesis; advantages and limitations; academic writing teaching

摘要：

基于大规模语料库的ChatGPT能够帮助人们进行翻译和写作，但利用这一大语言模型撰写学术论文的案例还不多见。鉴于此，本研究利用ChatGPT直接生成一篇学位论文，以观察和探讨该工具的适用性。笔者选择了一个应用语言学论文主题，要求ChatGPT生成论文的题目、大纲、引言、文献综述、研究方法、结果、讨论、结语、摘要和参考文献等各个部分。结果显示，ChatGPT能够根据假设的数据，生成一篇内容和语言俱佳的高质量论文，效率很高；但不足之处也很明显，如引用的研究过时、信息失真、观点和解释不一致或不相干、给出的引用和出处不可靠等问题。鉴于人工智能语言模型技术发展势头迅猛，笔者建议在高校学位论文写作课程中引入这一技术并将其置于教学核心位置，帮助学生掌握向ChatGPT提问、发指令的方法，并借助ChapGPT学习论文写作（如设置论文主题）的必要知识及辨别错误的技巧，尤其是要让学生学会遵守学术诚信规范、避免抄袭剽窃，全面提高其数字素养。

关键词: ChatGPT, 学位论文, 优点与局限, 学术论文写作教学