What to enter here
The Free-form input should include everything that is already known about the paper. You can write in bullet points or complete sentences. A perfect structure is not required.
Not sure about your input? The AI gives you feedback
Important information includes, for example:
- topic of the paper
- research question or goal of the paper
- type of paper, for example term paper, bachelor thesis or master thesis
- planned length, for example page count
- subject area or degree program
- language of the paper
- desired citation style, if known
- submission date, if known
- information about methodology or empirical work, for example survey, interview, experiment or literature-only paper
- first ideas for the outline
- requirements from your university or lecturer
- preferences for sources, for example number, language or recency
- preferences for visualizations
Anything that can be described briefly belongs in the Free-form input.
Longer documents such as proposals, assignment sheets, sources or datasets are uploaded in the next step.
How to shape your input
Think of the Free-form input as a working brief. It does not need to sound academic yet. What matters is that the most important information is included.
Recommended approach:
- write concretely rather than perfectly
- start with an incomplete version instead of waiting too long
- mention known requirements directly
- state uncertainties openly
- use Example inputs: if you are not yet sure how to begin
If you want to see what this kind of input can look like in finished examples, you can use the example papersfor orientation.
What this step is for
While you write, the AI analyses your text in the background and identifies the first key details. These include, for example:
- type of paper
- page count
- methodology or empirical work
- ...
This step defines the thematic frame for the entire run. If the Free-form input is precise, the next steps become more fitting and more consistent.
Concrete effects:
- Your free-form input becomes the content foundation for all later steps, including literature search.
- It feeds into the generation of your Settings.
- It influences the later direction of methodology, proposal, research and outline.
- It helps the AI classify your topic correctly from the start.
In other words: the Free-form input does not control everything by itself, but it sets the direction for the whole workflow.
Do not forget to save!
After making changes, confirm them with the Save button before moving to the next step.