ChatGPT Prompts for Evaluating Arguments

Many students and researchers struggle to determine whether a claim is actually supported by evidence or if it's just persuasive-sounding rhetoric. These ChatGPT prompts unlock deep critical analysis by forcing the AI to dissect logic, identify hidden assumptions, and evaluate the strength of evidence in any text. Below, you will find a curated list of copy/paste prompts designed to sharpen your evaluative skills and ensure you never take a weak argument at face value again.

The Quick Start Guide

To get the most out of these prompts, follow this simple framework:

• What to paste: Paste the specific text, article excerpt, or essay segment you are analyzing.

• What to replace: Adjust the [Tone/Complexity] to match your level (e.g., Undergraduate Philisophy or High School Debate).

• The 1 Rule: Always paste the source material first; if you ask ChatGPT to evaluate a general topic without a source, it may hallucinate arguments that aren't there.

How to Use These Prompts

Following a systematic process ensures you don't miss subtle logical gaps. First, paste your material clearly into the chat window. Second, set constraints by asking for specific outputs like a list of fallacies or a counter-argument table. Third, ask for a self-check by prompting the AI to find gaps in its own analysis. Finally, convert the logic into memory by using the results to create your own active recall questions or logic maps.

Bucket A: Understand the Structure

H3: Deconstruct the Logical Chain

Use this when you need to see the skeleton of an argument without the fluff.

"Act as a logic professor. Break down the provided text into its core premises and conclusion. Format this as a numbered list and identify which premises are explicit and which are hidden assumptions. Text: [Insert Text]"

"Act as a logic professor. Break down the provided text into its core premises and conclusion. Format this as a numbered list and identify which premises are explicit and which are hidden assumptions. Text: [Insert Text]"

"Act as a logic professor. Break down the provided text into its core premises and conclusion. Format this as a numbered list and identify which premises are explicit and which are hidden assumptions. Text: [Insert Text]"

A good answer will clearly separate evidence from the final claim and highlight what the author is 'assuming' to be true.

H3: The 'Socratic Method' Tutor

Use this to test your own understanding of a complex debate.

"I am going to provide a text. Do not summarize it. Instead, act as a Socratic tutor and ask me three challenging questions that force me to evaluate the validity of the author's logic. Text: [Insert Text]"

"I am going to provide a text. Do not summarize it. Instead, act as a Socratic tutor and ask me three challenging questions that force me to evaluate the validity of the author's logic. Text: [Insert Text]"

"I am going to provide a text. Do not summarize it. Instead, act as a Socratic tutor and ask me three challenging questions that force me to evaluate the validity of the author's logic. Text: [Insert Text]"

A good answer will pivot from explaining to asking, focusing on the weakest links in the argument.

H3: Identifying Logical Fallacies

Use this to spot manipulative or flawed reasoning patterns.

"Scan the following argument for logical fallacies (e.g., ad hominem, straw man, slippery slope). List any you find, explain why that specific part of the text fits the fallacy, and how it weakens the overall claim. Text: [Insert Text]"

"Scan the following argument for logical fallacies (e.g., ad hominem, straw man, slippery slope). List any you find, explain why that specific part of the text fits the fallacy, and how it weakens the overall claim. Text: [Insert Text]"

"Scan the following argument for logical fallacies (e.g., ad hominem, straw man, slippery slope). List any you find, explain why that specific part of the text fits the fallacy, and how it weakens the overall claim. Text: [Insert Text]"

A good output provides the name of the fallacy and a specific quote from the text as evidence.