Welcome and what you will learn

A dissertation is the biggest piece of writing most students ever do. AI tools can make that work lighter and your thinking sharper, but only if you use them the right way.

This course is built on one simple idea: AI should help you think, not think for you. Used well, it is like a tireless study partner who reads fast, asks good questions, and never gets tired. Used badly, it writes work that is not yours, which is cheating and easy to get caught for.

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Find and sharpen a research topic
• Search and summarize academic sources, and spot fake ones
• Plan and structure your chapters
• Edit your own writing for clarity while keeping your voice
• Reference correctly and disclose your AI use honestly

Practice

Write one sentence in your notes: what is your dissertation about, or what area do you want it to be about? Keep it rough. We will sharpen it later in the course.