Revising AI-Generated Content
AI can help generate first drafts, but effective revision is essential for creating authentic, high-quality academic work that truly reflects your understanding.
The Importance of Revising AI-Generated Content
Using AI to generate a first draft can be a helpful starting point, but submitting AI-generated text without substantial revision has several drawbacks:
- It may contain factual errors or outdated information
- It likely doesn't reflect your personal voice or understanding
- It might be detected by AI detection tools
- It bypasses the learning that happens during the writing process
- It may not directly address your specific assignment requirements
Thoughtful revision transforms AI-generated content into authentic academic work that demonstrates your knowledge and abilities.
A 5-Step Revision Process
Analyze the AI Draft
Begin by critically evaluating what the AI has produced:
- Read through the entire text for overall structure and flow
- Identify the key arguments or points being made
- Highlight sections that don't align with your understanding or assignment requirements
- Note any claims that need verification
- Look for generic language or overly formal phrasing that doesn't sound like your voice
Take notes during this process—the act of analyzing helps you engage more deeply with the content.
Add Your Expertise and Experience
Personalize the content by incorporating elements only you could contribute:
- Add examples from your own experience or observations
- Reference class discussions, lectures, or readings that weren't available to the AI
- Include your personal insights and reflections on the topic
- Connect ideas to other concepts you've learned in your coursework
- Replace generic references with specific sources you've studied
Research has shown that sleep deprivation negatively impacts cognitive performance.
As Dr. Walker discussed in our Psychology 101 lecture last week, REM sleep deprivation specifically impairs memory consolidation. This explains why, when I pulled an all-nighter before the midterm, I struggled to recall information I had studied thoroughly.
Restructure and Reorganize
AI often generates content in a predictable structure. Make it your own:
- Rearrange paragraphs to improve logical flow or create a more interesting narrative
- Break up long, complex sentences into shorter ones where appropriate
- Combine related points that the AI separated
- Create stronger transitions between ideas
- Consider alternative structures—chronological, problem/solution, compare/contrast
The structure should serve your arguments and insights, not the other way around.
Rewrite in Your Voice
Transform the language to match your authentic writing style:
- Read the AI text out loud—does it sound like something you would say?
- Replace overly formal or complex vocabulary with words you normally use
- Vary sentence structure to match your typical writing patterns
- Add transitions and phrases that you commonly use
- Incorporate your personal tone—whether thoughtful, enthusiastic, skeptical, etc.
The implementation of renewable energy infrastructure necessitates substantial initial capital investment, though the long-term economic benefits render such expenditures justifiable.
Sure, renewable energy is expensive to set up at first. But here's the thing—over time, it actually saves money. I think the upfront costs are worth it when you look at the bigger picture.
Verify and Cite Properly
Ensure academic integrity by verifying information and adding proper citations:
- Fact-check all specific claims, statistics, and quotations
- Replace AI-generated references with actual sources you've consulted
- Add citations in the correct format for your discipline
- Verify that quotations are accurate and properly attributed
- Ensure all borrowed ideas have appropriate citations
Remember that AI may "hallucinate" references that don't exist or misattribute quotes.
Advanced Revision Strategies
Guided Self-Questioning
Ask yourself these questions while revising:
- What would my professor think if they read this paragraph?
- What course concepts am I demonstrating understanding of?
- What's the strongest/weakest part of this argument?
- How does this connect to what we've discussed in class?
- What would someone who disagrees say in response?
Reverse Outlining
After getting the AI draft:
- Create a new outline based on what the AI wrote
- Compare it to your original assignment requirements
- Identify gaps or misalignments
- Restructure based on your analysis
- Rewrite sections to better address the assignment
Peer Review Strategy
Have a classmate review your revised work and specifically ask them:
- Does this sound like my writing style and voice?
- Are there sections that still feel generic or "AI-like"?
- Do my personal examples and insights strengthen the argument?
- Is the reasoning clear and does it reflect my understanding?
Their feedback can help identify areas that need further personalization.
Many educators consider using AI as a first-draft tool acceptable if:
- You substantially revise the content
- You're transparent about your process
- Your final work demonstrates your own understanding
When in doubt, ask your instructor about their policy on AI use for assignments.