{"id":"study-thesis-arguable-labels","audience":"college","category":"writing-feedback","technique":"examples","track":"study","title":"Check which of your thesis drafts are arguable","free":false,"task":"Your History 201 professor wants an arguable thesis, and you wrote 3 drafts. Get exactly 3 numbered lines, one per draft in order, each labeled exactly 'Arguable' or 'Not arguable' with a reason under 15 words, plain text. Judge them only by your professor's definition, and don't rewrite any of them, since the thesis is graded.","materialLabel":"Your thesis drafts and the assignment sheet (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"HIST 201 - Paper 2 - Prof. Whitaker\n\nFrom the assignment sheet:\n\"An ARGUABLE thesis makes a specific claim that a reasonable, informed reader could disagree with. It answers HOW or WHY, not just WHAT. A fact is not a thesis. A claim so broad that no one could disagree is not a thesis.\"\n\nTopic: The Erie Canal (1817-1825) and the growth of New York\n\nMY 3 DRAFTS:\n\nDraft A: The Erie Canal was completed in 1825 and connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie.\n\nDraft B: The Erie Canal changed America in many important ways.\n\nDraft C: The Erie Canal did more to make New York City the nation's leading port than any federal policy of the 1820s, because it cut shipping costs from the Great Lakes by roughly 90 percent.\n\nMy roommate says Draft B is best because it's the safest and \"you can't get marked wrong.\"\n\nPaper is due Nov 14, 1,500 words, Chicago style. Writing center appointment Thursday 2 PM.\nNote to self: Prof. Whitaker docks a full letter grade for a thesis that's \"a topic, not a claim.\"","rules":[{"type":"numberedItems","count":3},{"type":"maxWords","max":75},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Asking which is best","why":"The AI picks one and then polishes it into a new thesis, which isn't your work anymore.","fix":"Say: \"Don't rewrite any draft. Just label each one.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Not giving exact labels","why":"Without fixed labels, the AI hedges with \"somewhat arguable\" or \"could be stronger\".","fix":"Say: \"Label each one exactly 'Arguable' or 'Not arguable'.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Letting the AI use its own standard","why":"The AI may agree with your roommate that a safe, broad claim is fine.","fix":"Add: \"Judge only by my professor's definition below.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Not saying how many lines","why":"The AI picks its own number, and it usually picks more lines than you need.","fix":"Be exact: \"Exactly 3 numbered lines.\"","checks":["numberedItems"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total and it often lands 20% over.","fix":"Cap each reason: \"reason under 12 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Forgetting where it will be read","why":"AI formats for a screen, with bold and headings that show up as stray symbols in your notes.","fix":"Say: \"Plain text, no bold, no headings.\"","checks":["plainText"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Gives exact labels","patterns":["arguable.{0,20}not arguable","label"]},{"label":"Uses the professor's definition","patterns":["professor","definition","assignment sheet","whitaker"]},{"label":"Says not to rewrite it","patterns":["(don't|do not|no|never|not).{0,20}(rewrite|rewritten|replacement|re-?write|write it for)","keep.{0,20}(my|own) words"]},{"label":"Says how many lines","patterns":["\\b(3|three)\\b.{0,25}line"]},{"label":"Sets a length limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)","under \\d+"]}],"hint":"Fixed labels get clear verdicts instead of hedging. Give the AI the two labels to choose from, the professor's definition as the standard, and tell it not to rewrite your work.","rubricLabels":["Each line uses exactly one of the two labels 'Arguable' or 'Not arguable', in draft order A, B, C","The labels match the professor's definition: Draft A Not arguable (a fact), Draft B Not arguable (too broad to disagree with), Draft C Arguable (a specific claim a reader could dispute)","Gives no rewritten thesis, suggested wording or new draft for the student to copy"]}