Using AI for Writing Feedback

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Introduction

Students often submit essays, research papers, and assignments with fingers crossed only to be surprised by their grades. What can make a real difference is learning to use AI tools like Claude to get targeted feedback before submission, especially when paired with the actual grading rubric. It’s like having a personal writing tutor who evaluates your work against the same criteria your professor will use.

Unlike generic writing advice, AI can deliver rubric-specific insights, helping you identify weak spots and refine your arguments which can improve your writing and may lead to better grades.

Specific Examples

Pre-submission Review: Before turning in any major paper, I upload my draft along with the professor’s rubric and ask AI to evaluate my work against each criterion, highlighting where I’m strong and where I need improvement.

Reviewing SOPs: The prompt can also be used for reviewing drafts of your Statements of Purpose for college admissions or scholarships. The feedback given can be leveraged to ensure your essay doesn’t drift too far from the rubric guidelines while maintaining your overall flow and personality.

Tools and Resources

Claude: Exceptional for rubric-based feedback due to its ability to handle long documents and maintain context.

ChatGPT: Strong for getting multiple perspectives on your writing and generating specific revision suggestions. Good at explaining why certain aspects of your writing do or don’t meet rubric criteria.

Before you start, it helps to:

Have your complete draft ready (even if rough)

A .DOC/.PDF version of the rubric

Be prepared for honest feedback

Prompt

“I’m a <level_of_study> student and I’ve written a <type of assignment> for my <course name> class. I’m uploading my draft and the rubric my professor will use for grading. Please evaluate my writing against each criterion in the rubric and provide specific feedback. For each rubric category, tell me: 1) What score/level I’m currently at, 2) Why you assessed it that way with specific examples from my text, and 3) Concrete suggestions for improvement. Be THOROUGH and HONEST.

IMPORTANT: Don’t rewrite any part of my paper – only point out issues and explain how I can fix them myself. Also, make sure your suggestions help me meet the rubric while preserving my personal writing style and voice.”

Follow-up Prompts:

“How can I strengthen my argument to meet the rubric requirements while maintaining my unique perspective and voice?”

“What are the 3 most important changes I should make to move from a B to an A based on this rubric?”

“Can you identify exactly where my draft is weak and explain what elements would make it stronger while keeping my writing style?”

Thoughts and Concerns to Keep in Mind

AI feedback is not your professor’s feedback. Different instructors interpret rubrics differently. Use AI feedback as a tool for improvement, not a grade guarantee.

Academic integrity matters. AI should only provide feedback and suggestions. You must do all the actual writing yourself. Follow your instructor’s/course’s AI use policies.

Don’t let AI erase your voice. AI should NEVER write or rewrite sections for you. It should only be used to identify problems and provide explanations on how to fix them. Meeting rubric criteria doesn’t mean adopting a generic academic voice. The goal is to improve YOUR writing while preserving what makes it uniquely yours.

Tips and Tricks

Reverse engineering: “Based on this rubric, what specific elements would an A paper need to include? Then tell me which of these elements my draft is missing.”

Rubric translation: “Translate each rubric criterion into a specific question I should ask myself while revising.”

REMEMBER: The goal isn’t just to check boxes on a rubric, but to genuinely improve your writing skills. Each revision teaches you what quality academic writing looks like, making you a stronger writer for future assignments.

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